ABSTRACT
J toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic apicomplexan parasite that displays a broad host range and high prevalence among humans and animals worldwide. Successful parasitism requires Toxoplasma to ensure its quiet existence within the host, at least until further transmission. Thus, the parasite treads the border of coexistence that separates immunopathology due to an overwhelming proinflammatory crisis and rampant pathogen proliferation re sulting from an inadequate immune response. These disparate responses yield a similar and unproductive outcome-death of the host and thus, the parasite. Recent work highlighting the interplay between Toxoplasmas survival strategies and the host s immune response is discussed in this chapter.
