Metabolic networks and metabolomics

Abstract Major advances have been made in our understanding of Toxoplasma gondii metabolism, through the use of computational approaches, comprehensive metabolomic analyses, and high-throughput CRISPR/Cas9 knockout studies. Delineation of the metabolic potential of different parasite developmental stages is driving current efforts to identify new drug targets, determine the mode of action of antitoxoplasmosis drugs, discover new biomarkers, and to understand the effects that the parasite has on its host. We review here recent advances in developing an in silico model of T. gondii metabolism, as well as the current knowledge of T. gondii central carbon metabolism and its requirements for the synthesis and uptake of various vitamins and cofactors. Lastly, we discuss how metabolomic approaches can be used to validate in silico studies and identify new pathways/enzyme activities that are required for parasite virulence.