Transcriptomic Analysis of Innate Immune Responses to Toxoplasma gondii in Bat Cells

Both type I and type II strains of Toxoplasma gondii invaded and replicated efficiently in black flying fox (Pteropus alecto) epithelial cell lines, with host transcriptional activation markedly delayed.

• Why it matters: Bats’ viral tolerance may reflect innate immune adaptations, but it is unclear whether similar regulation occurs during infection by nonviral intracellular pathogens like protozoa.
• What they did: Bat epithelial cells were infected with type I and type II Toxoplasma gondii, and transcriptomes were profiled to track early versus late host gene expression during progressive intracellular replication.
• The result: Early host responses were remarkably limited, while a pronounced transcriptional program emerged only at later infection stages, linked to inflammatory signaling, metabolic adaptation, and tissue remodeling, implying delayed activation during intracellular protozoan infection.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.