Toxoplasma
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyCoimmunoprecipitation with MYR1 Identifies Three Additional Proteins within the Toxoplasma gondii Parasitophorous Vacuole Required for Translocation of Dense Granule Effectors into Host CellsToxoplasma is an extremely successful intracellular parasite and important human pathogen. Upon infection of a new cell, Toxoplasma establishes a replicative vacuole and translocates parasite effectors across this vacuole to function from the host cytosol and nucleus. These effectors play a key role in parasite virulence. The work reported here newly identifies three parasite proteins that are necessary for protein...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyThe Secreted Acid Phosphatase Domain-Containing GRA44 from Toxoplasma gondii Is Required for c-Myc Induction in Infected CellsApproximately one-third of humans are infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma infections can lead to severe disease in those with a compromised or suppressed immune system. Additionally, infections during pregnancy present a significant health risk to the developing fetus. Drugs that target this parasite are limited, have significant side...
Commentary | Molecular Biology and PhysiologymSphere of Influence: Ushering in the CRISPR Revolution to Toxoplasma BiologyAlfredo J. Guerra works in the field of molecular parasitology and structural biology. In this mSphere of Influence article, he reflects on how “Efficient Gene Disruption in Diverse Strains of Toxoplasma gondii Using CRISPR/CAS9” by Bang Shen et al. (mBio 5:e01114-14, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01114-14) and...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologySimultaneous Ribosome Profiling of Human Host Cells Infected with Toxoplasma gondiiToxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that has infected up to one-third of the world’s population. Significant overhauls in gene expression in both the parasite and the host cell accompany parasite invasion, and a better understanding of these changes may lead to the development of new therapeutic agents. In this study, we employed ribosome profiling to...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyDifferential Roles for Inner Membrane Complex Proteins across Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona DevelopmentThe inner membrane complex (IMC) is a defining feature of apicomplexan parasites key to both their motility and unique cell division. To provide further insights into the IMC, we analyzed the dynamics and functions of representative alveolin domain-containing IMC proteins across developmental stages. Our work shows universal but distinct roles for IMC1, -3, and -7 during Toxoplasma asexual division but more specialized...