The present invention relates to a virus-like particle for preventing or treating toxoplasmosis, comprising influenza virus matrix protein 1; and surface antigen proteins comprising an inner membrane complex, Rhoptry protein 18 and Microneme protein 8 derived from Toxoplasma gondii, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.

The present invention relates to a virus-like particle for preventing or treating toxoplasmosis, comprising influenza virus matrix protein 1; and surface antigen proteins comprising an inner membrane complex, Rhoptry protein 18 and Microneme protein 8 derived from Toxoplasma gondii, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.

In the present invention, inventors report the characterization of BCLA (Brain Cyst Load-associated Antigen), a protein exclusively expressed during the bradyzoite stage of the parasite. In cysts directly purified from the brain of mice, the protein is distributed within and at the surface of the cyst. ELISA antibody capture using a combination of serologically reactive BCLA peptides and a recombinantly expressed c-terminal domain (rBCLA) constitutes an efficient serological marker of latent infection with a high sensitivity that is clearly and exclusively correlated with the presence of cysts in the brain of mice Antibodies directed against BCLA antigen have been detected in human patients with enriched titers in patients qualified as seropositive to Sag1 or tachyzoite related antigens. Further correlation in humans between anti-BCLA IgG synthesis and cysts is brought by significantly stronger recorded titers in pathological panels strongly related to the presence of cyst. Furthermore, newborn infants with a confirmed congenital toxoplasmosis display significantly higher anti-BCLA IgGs at birth when compared to their mother, suggesting a specific in-utero neosynthesis of such IgGs. Thus the invention relates to a new Toxoplasma gondii protein, hereafter referred as BCLA, a new serological marker whose expression is restricted to the latent form of Toxoplasmosis (bradyzoite/cyst). This specific protein and its antigenic fragments can be used to detect autoantibodies in the sera of patient for the diagnosis of the latent form of Toxoplasmosis. The invention also relates to derived antibodies, generated by BCLA immunisation that specifically binds this new protein.

The present invention relates to a novel Toxoplasma gondii GRA8-derived recombinant peptide, and a pharmaceutical composition and functional food for preventing or treating cancer, which includes the same as an active ingredient. The Toxoplasma gondii GRA8-derived recombinant peptide according to the present invention is a novel recombinant peptide in which a specific mitochondrial targeting sequence and an ATP5A1/SIRT3 sequence of GRA8 are conjugated to an acidity-triggered rational membrane (ATRAM), and has considerably improved efficacy in which an inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) is improved up to 200-fold (in vitro) or 500-fold (in vivo), compared with a conventional GRA8-derived peptide (rGRA8). In addition, since the peptide treatment shows a notably distinct therapeutic effect in mouse models with cancer, the peptide may be effectively used in a pharmaceutical composition or functional food for preventing or treating cancer.

Disclosed is a Toxoplasma gondii cyst wall protein cst1 (CST1)-containing influenza virus-like particle, which includes a core consisting of an influenza virus matrix protein 1 (M1); and the CST1 protein of Toxoplasma gondii displayed on a surface thereof; and a vaccine using the same.

Provided are nucleic acid constructs, Toxoplasma comprising same, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same and methods using same for delivering a protein-of-interest to a tissue-of-interest of a subject, such as the CNS and further treating a pathology which is treatable by administration of a therapeutic polypeptide in a central nervous system of the subject.

Provided are nucleic acid constructs, Toxoplasma comprising same, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same and methods using same for delivering a protein-of-interest to a tissue-of-interest of a subject, such as the CNS and further treating a pathology which is treatable by administration of a therapeutic polypeptide in a central nervous system of the subject.

The invention, in part, includes methods and compounds useful to prepare and functional class XIV myosin. Functional class XIV myosin prepared using methods of the invention may be useful to screen for and identify compounds that inhibit and treat parasitic infections and contamination.

The invention, in part, includes methods and compounds useful to prepare and functional class XIV myosin. Functional class XIV myosin prepared using methods of the invention may be useful to screen for and identify compounds that inhibit and treat parasitic infections and contamination.

The present invention relates to methods of screening biological samples for the presence of T. gondii. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sensitive and specific screening test for the presence of Toxoplasmosis in subjects by using or detecting the in vivo-induced T. gondii RAP domain binding protein antigen. The invention further relates to the use of the in vivo-induced antigen in the prevention or therapy of Toxoplasmosis.