During host cell traversal and cell-to-cell passage, toxoplasma gondii sporozoites inhabit the parasitophorous vacuole and posteriorly release dense granule protein-associated membranous trails.

During host cell traversal and cell-to-cell passage, toxoplasma gondii sporozoites inhabit the parasitophorous vacuole and posteriorly release dense granule protein-associated membranous trails. Int J Parasitol. 2020 Aug 31;: Authors: Tartarelli I, Tinari A, Possenti A, Cherchi S, Falchi M, Dubey JP, Spano F Abstract Toxoplasma gondii has a worldwide distribution and infects virtually all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Ingestion of the environmentally resistant oocyst stage, excreted only in the feces of cats, is central to transmission of this apicomplexan parasite. There is vast literature on the host and T. gondii tachyzoite (proliferative stage of the parasite) but little is known of the host-parasite interaction and conversion of the free-living stage (sporozoite inside the oocyst) to the parasitic stage. Here, we present events that follow invasion of host cells with T. gondii sporozoites by using immunofluorescence (IF) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Several human type cell cultures were infected with T. gondii sporozoites of the two genotypes (Type II, ME49 and Type III, VEG) most prevalent worldwide. For the first known time, using anti- rhoptry neck protein 4 (RON4) antibodies, the moving junction was visualized in sporozoites during the invasion process and shortly after its completion. Surprisingly, IF and TEM evaluation revealed that intracellular sporozoites release, at their posterior end, long me...
Source: International Journal for Parasitology - Category: Parasitology Authors: Tags: Int J Parasitol Source Type: research