Abstract:
Uracil auxotroph mutants of apicomplexans are provided which lack a functional carbamoyl phosphate synthase II (CPSII) enzyme. Also provided are T. gondii autoxtroph mutants which express exogenous antigens, and methods of protecting an animal against a T. gondii and non-T. gondii disease.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mutant Toxoplasma gondii which exhibits enhanced homologous recombination. The mutant of the present invention is a knockout in the KU80-dependent nonhomologous end-joining pathway which finds application in generating T. gondii gene knockouts and gene replacements for use in vaccine and drug development.