NLRP1 and congenital toxoplasmosis: However, Toxoplasma gondii has been demonstrated to activate NLRP1 in mice and rats, and genetic variants in human NLRP1 increase susceptibility to congenital toxoplasmosis.27, 28, 29, 30 Dense granule proteins of the parasite have been identified to be essential for triggering NLRP1-dependent pyroptosis in rats.31