UC Riverside

This study investigates the relationship between extracellular vesicles derived from Toxoplasma gondii infected human foreskin fibroblast cells and naïve fibroblasts. It is unknown the role extracellular vesicles play in regulating immune response, parasite replication, and alterations in neurochemistry. For this reason, aimed to analyze the role extracellular vesicles by treating naïve cells with extracellular vesicles isolated from infected cells, then measuring for cell viability and production of the cytokine IL-6. Final results show that extracellular vesicles from infected cells induced cell death and production of IL-6. Therefore, I conclude extracellular vesicles are directly involved in cell-cell communication and participate in initiation of innate immune response during Toxoplasma infection.