Search

Background: The highly expressed surface antigen 1 (SAG1)-related sequence (SRS) proteins of T. gondii tachyzoites, as a widespread zoonotic parasite, are critical for host cell invasion and represent promising vaccine targets. In this study, we employed a computer-aided multi-method approach for in silico design and evaluation of TgVax452, an epitope-based candidate vaccine against T. gondii tachyzoite-specific SRS proteins., Methods: Using immunoinformatics web-based tools, structural modeling, and static/dynamic molecular simulations, we identified and screened B- and T-cell immunodominant epitopes and predicted TgVax452's antigenicity, stability, safety, adjuvanticity, and physico-chemical properties., Results: The designed protein possessed 452 residues, a MW of 44.07 kDa, an alkaline pI (6.7), good stability (33.20), solubility (0.498), and antigenicity (0.9639) with no allergenicity. Comprehensive molecular dynamic (MD) simulation analyses confirmed the stable interaction (average potential energy: 3.3799 × 10 6 KJ/mol) between the TLR4 agonist residues (RS09 peptide) of the TgVax452 in interaction with human TLR4, potentially activating innate immune responses. Also, a dramatic increase was observed in specific antibodies (IgM and IgG), cytokines (IFN-γ), and lymphocyte responses, based on C-ImmSim outputs. Finally, we optimized TgVax452's codon adaptation and mRNA secondary structure for efficient expression in E. coli BL21 expression machinery., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that TgVax452 is a promising candidate vaccine against T. gondii tachyzoite-specific SRS proteins and requires further experimental studies for its potential use in preclinical trials., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, has developed sophisticated molecular strategies to subvert host processes and promote growth and survival. During infection, T. gondii replicates in a parasitophorous vacuole (PV) and modulates host functions through a network of secreted proteins. Of these, Mitochondrial Association Factor 1b (MAF1b) recruits host mitochondria to the PV, a process that confers an in vivo growth advantage, though the precise mechanisms remain enigmatic. To address this knowledge gap, we mapped the MAF1b interactome in human fibroblasts using a commercial Yeast-2-hybrid (Y2H) screen, which revealed several previously unidentified binding partners including the GAP domain of Ral GTPase Accelerating Protein α1 (RalGAPα1(GAP)). Recombinantly produced MAF1b and RalGAPα1(GAP) formed as a stable binary complex as shown by size exclusion chromatography with a K d of 334 nM as measured by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Notably, no binding was detected between RalGAPα1(GAP) and the structurally conserved MAF1b homolog, MAF1a, which does not recruit host mitochondria. Next, we used hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) to map the RalGAPα1(GAP)-MAF1b interface, which led to identification of the "GAP-binding loop" on MAF1b that was confirmed by mutagenesis and ITC to be necessary for complex formation. A high-confidence Alphafold model predicts the GAP-binding loop to lie at the RalGAPα1(GAP)-MAF1b interface further supporting the HDX-MS data. Mechanistic implications of a RalGAPα1(GAP)-MAF1b complex are discussed in the context of T. gondii infection and indicates that MAF1b may have evolved multiple independent functions to increase T. gondii fitness., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Sexual reproduction plays a crucial role in the transmission and life cycle of toxoplasmosis. The merozoites are the only developmental stage capable of differentiation into male and female gametes, thereby initiating sexual reproduction to form oocysts that are excreted into the environment. Hence, our study aimed to perform proteomic analyses of T. gondii Pru strain merozoites, a pre-sexual developmental stage in cat IECs, and tachyzoites, an asexual developmental stage, using the tandem mass tag (TMT) method in order to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of merozoites. Proteins functions were subjected to cluster analysis, and DEPs were validated through the qPCR method. The results showed that a total of 106 proteins were identified, out of which 85 proteins had quantitative data. Among these, 15 proteins were differentially expressed within merozoites, with four exhibiting up-regulation and being closely associated with the material and energy metabolism as well as the cell division of T. gondii. Two novel DEPs, namely S8GHL5 and A0A125YP41, were identified, and their homologous family members have been demonstrated to play regulatory roles in oocyte maturation and spermatogenesis in other species. Therefore, they may potentially exhibit regulatory functions during the differentiation of micro- and macro-gametophytes at the initiation stage of sexual reproduction in T. gondii. In conclusion, our results showed that the metabolic and divisional activities in the merozoites surpass those in the tachyzoites, thereby providing structural, material, and energetic support for gametophytes development. The discovery of two novel DEPs associated with sexual reproduction represents a significant advancement in understanding Toxoplasma sexual reproduction initiation and oocyst formation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest On behalf of my co-authors, I hereby declare that we have no financial interests or personal relationships with any individuals or organizations that may have influenced the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The Toxoplasma inner membrane complex (IMC) is a unique organelle that plays critical roles in parasite motility, invasion, egress, and replication. The IMC is delineated into the apical, body, and basal regions, defined by proteins that localize to these distinct subcompartments. The IMC can be further segregated by proteins that localize specifically to the maternal IMC, the daughter bud IMC, or both. While the function of the maternal IMC has been better characterized, the precise roles of most daughter IMC components remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the daughter protein IMC29 plays an important role in parasite replication. We show that Δ imc29 parasites exhibit severe replication defects, resulting in substantial growth defects and loss of virulence. Deletion analyses revealed that IMC29 localization is largely dependent on the N-terminal half of the protein containing four predicted coiled-coil domains while IMC29 function requires a short C-terminal helical region. Using proximity labeling, we identify eight novel IMC proteins enriched in daughter buds, significantly expanding the daughter IMC proteome. We additionally report four novel proteins with unique localizations to the interface between two parasites or to the outer face of the IMC, exposing new subregions of the organelle. Together, this work establishes IMC29 as an important early daughter bud component of replication and uncovers an array of new IMC proteins that provides important insights into this organelle. IMPORTANCE The inner membrane complex (IMC) is a conserved structure across the Apicomplexa phylum, which includes obligate intracellular parasites that cause toxoplasmosis, malaria, and cryptosporidiosis. The IMC is critical for the parasite to maintain its intracellular lifestyle, particularly in providing a scaffold for daughter bud formation during parasite replication. While many IMC proteins in the later stages of division have been identified, components of the early stages of division remain unknown. Here, we focus on the early daughter protein IMC29, demonstrating that it is crucial for faithful parasite replication and identifying specific regions of the protein that are important for its localization and function. We additionally use proximity labeling to reveal a suite of daughter-enriched IMC proteins, which represent promising candidates to further explore this IMC subcompartment.

The apicoplast, which harbors key pathways involved in biosynthesis of vital metabolites, is a unique and essential nonphotosynthetic plastid organelle in apicomplexan parasites. Intriguingly, autophagy-related protein 8 (Atg8), a highly conserved eukaryotic protein, can localize to the outermost membrane of the apicoplast and modulate its inheritance in both Toxoplasma and Plasmodium parasites. The Atg8-Atg3 interaction plays a key role in Atg8 lipidation and localization, and our previously work in Toxoplasma has suggested that the core Atg8-family interacting motif (AIM) in TgAtg3, 239 FADI 242 , and the R27 residue of TgAtg8 contribute to TgAtg8-TgAtg3 interaction in vitro . However, little is known about the function of this interaction or its importance in tachyzoite growth in Toxoplasma gondii . Here, we generated two complemented cell lines, TgAtg3 F239A/I242A and TgAtg8 R27E , based on the TgAtg3 and TgAtg8 conditional knockdown cell lines, respectively. We found that both mutant complemented cell lines were severely affected in terms of tachyzoite growth and displayed delayed death upon conditional knockdown of endogenous TgAtg3 or TgAtg8. Intriguingly, both complemented lines appeared to be defective in TgAtg8 lipidation and apicoplast inheritance. Moreover, we showed that the interaction of TgAtg8 and TgAtg3 is critical for TgAtg8 apicoplast localization. In addition, we found that the TgAtg3 F239A/I242A complemented line exhibits an integral mitochondrial network upon ablation of endogenous TgAtg3, which is distinct from TgAtg3-depleted parasites with a fragmented mitochondrial network. Taken together, this work solidifies the contribution of the TgAtg8-TgAtg3 interaction to apicoplast inheritance and the growth of T. gondii tachyzoites. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread intracellular parasite infecting a variety of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Current frontline treatment of toxoplasmosis suffers many drawbacks, including toxicity, drug resistance, and failure to eradicate tissue cysts, underscoring the need to identify novel drug targets for suppression or treatment of toxoplasmosis. TgAtg8 is thought to serve multiple functions in lipidation and is considered essential to the growth and development of both tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Here, we show that Toxoplasma gondii has adapted a conserved Atg8-Atg3 interaction, required for canonical autophagy in other eukaryotes, to function specifically in apicoplast inheritance. Our finding not only highlights the importance of TgAtg8-TgAtg3 interaction in tachyzoite growth but also suggests that this interaction is a promising drug target for the therapy of toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan of severe threat to humans and livestock, whose life history harbors both gamic and apogamic stages. Chinese 1 (ToxoDB#9) was a preponderant genotype epidemic in food-derived animals and humans in China, with a different pathogenesis from the strains from the other nations of the world. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins were critical mediators of the biology, developmental transforms, and pathogenesis of protozoan parasites. The phosphoprotein profiling and the difference between the developmental phases of T. gondii , contributing to development and infectivity, remain unknown. A quantitative phosphoproteomic approach using IBT integrated with TiO 2 affinity chromatography was applied to identify and analyze the difference in the phosphoproteomes between the sporulated oocysts and the tachyzoites of the virulent ToxoDB#9 (PYS) strain of T. gondii . A total of 4058 differential phosphopeptides, consisting of 2597 upregulated and 1461 downregulated phosphopeptides, were characterized between sporulated the oocysts and tachyzoites. Twenty-one motifs extracted from the upregulated phosphopeptides contained 19 serine motifs and 2 threonine motifs (GxxTP and TP), whereas 16 motifs identified from downregulated phosphopeptides included 13 serine motifs and 3 threonine motifs (KxxT, RxxT, and TP). Beyond the traditional kinases, some infrequent classes of kinases, including Ab1, EGFR, INSR, Jak, Src and Syk, were found to be corresponding to motifs from the upregulated and downregulated phosphopeptides. Remarkable functional properties of the differentially expressed phosphoproteins were discovered by GO analysis, KEGG pathway analysis, and STRING analysis. S8GFS8 (DNMT1-RFD domain-containing protein) and S8F5G5 (Histone kinase SNF1) were the two most connected peptides in the kinase-associated network. Out of these, phosphorylated modifications in histone kinase SNF1 have functioned in mitosis and interphase of T. gondii , as well as in the regulation of gene expression relevant to differentiation. Our study discovered a remarkable difference in the abundance of phosphopeptides between the sporulated oocysts and tachyzoites of the virulent ToxoDB#9 (PYS) strain of T. gondii , which may provide a new resource for understanding stage-specific differences in PTMs and may enhance the illustration of the regulatory mechanisms contributing to the development and infectivity of T. gondii .

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, with few effective treatments available and only 10% of those diagnosed surviving 5 years. Although immunotherapeutics is a growing field of study in cancer biology, there has been little progress in its use for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is considered a nonimmunogenic tumor because the tumor microenvironment does not easily allow for the immune system, even when stimulated, to attack the cancer. Infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been shown to enhance the immune response to clear cancer tumors. A subset of T. gondii proteins called soluble Toxoplasma antigen (STAg) contains an immunodominant protein called profilin. Both STAg and profilin have been shown to stimulate an immune response that reduces viral, bacterial, and parasitic burdens. Here, we use STAg and profilin to treat pancreatic cancer in a KPC mouse-derived allograft murine model. These mice exhibit pancreatic cancer with both Kras and P53 mutations as subcutaneous tumors. Pancreatic cancer tumors in C57BL/6J mice with a wild-type background showed a significant response to treatment with either profilin or STAg, exhibiting a decrease in tumor volume accompanied by an influx of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells into the tumors. Both IFN-γ -/- mice and Batf3 -/- mice, which lack conventional dendritic cells, failed to show significant decreases in tumor volumes when treated. These results indicate that gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and dendritic cells may play critical roles in the immune response necessary to treat pancreatic cancer.

The cytoskeleton of Toxoplasma gondii is composed of the inner membrane complex (IMC) and an array of underlying microtubules that provide support at the periphery of the parasite. Specific subregions of the IMC carry out distinct roles in replication, motility, and host cell invasion. Building on our previous in vivo biotinylation (BioID) experiments of the IMC, we identified here a novel protein that localizes to discrete puncta that are embedded in the parasite's cytoskeleton along the IMC sutures. Gene knockout analysis showed that loss of the protein results in defects in cytoskeletal suture protein targeting, cytoskeletal integrity, parasite morphology, and host cell invasion. We then used deletion analyses to identify a domain in the N terminus of the protein that is critical for both localization and function. Finally, we used the protein as bait for in vivo biotinylation, which identified several other proteins that colocalize in similar spot-like patterns. These putative interactors include several proteins that are implicated in membrane trafficking and are also associated with the cytoskeleton. Together, these data reveal an unexpected link between the IMC sutures and membrane trafficking elements of the parasite and suggest that the suture puncta are likely a portal for trafficking cargo across the IMC. IMPORTANCE The inner membrane complex (IMC) is a peripheral membrane and cytoskeletal system that is organized into intriguing rectangular plates at the periphery of the parasite. The IMC plates are delimited by an array of IMC suture proteins that are tethered to both the membrane and the cytoskeleton and are thought to provide structure to the organelle. Here, we identified a protein that forms discrete puncta that are embedded in the IMC sutures, and we show that it is important for the proper sorting of a group of IMC suture proteins as well as maintaining parasite shape and IMC cytoskeletal integrity. Intriguingly, proximity labeling experiments identified several proteins that are involved in membrane trafficking or endocytosis, suggesting that the IMC puncta provide a gateway for transporting molecules across the structure.

Protozoan contamination in produce is of growing importance due to their capacity to cause illnesses in consumers of fresh leafy greens. Viability assays are essential to accurately estimate health risk caused by viable parasites that contaminate food. We evaluated the efficacy of reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), propidium monoazide coupled with (q)PCR, and viability staining using propidium iodide through systematic laboratory spiking experiments for selective detection of viable Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia enterica, and Toxoplasma gondii. In the presence of only viable protozoa, the RT-qPCR assays could accurately detect two to nine (oo)cysts/g spinach (in 10 g processed). When different proportions of viable and inactivated parasite were spiked, mRNA concentrations correlated with increasing proportions of viable (oo)cysts, although low levels of false-positive mRNA signals were detectable in the presence of high amounts of inactivated protozoa. Our study demonstrated that among the methods tested, RT-qPCR performed more effectively to discriminate viable from inactivated C. parvum, G. enterica and T. gondii on spinach. This application of viability methods on leafy greens can be adopted by the produce industry and regulatory agencies charged with protection of human public health to screen leafy greens for the presence of viable protozoan pathogen contamination., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ) infection causes severe zoonotic toxoplasmosis, which threatens the safety of almost one-third of the human population globally. However, there is no effective protective vaccine against human toxoplasmosis. This necessitates anti- T. gondii vaccine development, which is a main priority of public health. In this study, we optimized the adjuvant system 04 (AS04), a vaccine adjuvant constituted by 3-O-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A (a TLR4 agonist) and aluminum salts, by packing it within natural extracts of β-glucan particles (GPs) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to form a GP-AS04 hybrid adjuvant system. Through a simple mixing procedure, we loaded GP-AS04 particles with the total extract (TE) of T. gondii lysate, forming a novel anti- T. gondii vaccine GP-AS04-TE. Results indicated that the hybrid adjuvant can efficiently and stably load antigens, mediate antigen delivery, facilitate the dendritic uptake of antigens, boost dendritic cell maturation and stimulation, and increase the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the mouse inoculation model, GP-AS04-TE significantly stimulated the function of dendritic cells, induced a very strong TE-specific humoral and cellular immune response, and finally showed a strong and effective protection against toxoplasma chronic and acute infections. This work proves the potential of GP-AS04 for exploitation as a vaccine against a range of pathogens.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that causes a long-term latent infection of neurons. Using a custom MATLAB-based mapping program in combination with a mouse model that allows us to permanently mark neurons injected with parasite proteins, we found that Toxoplasma -injected neurons (TINs) are heterogeneously distributed in the brain, primarily localizing to the cortex followed by the striatum. In addition, we determined that cortical TINs are commonly (>50%) excitatory neurons (FoxP2 + ) and that striatal TINs are often (>65%) medium spiny neurons (MSNs) (FoxP2 + ). By performing single neuron patch clamping on striatal TINs and neighboring uninfected MSNs, we discovered that TINs have highly aberrant electrophysiology. As approximately 90% of TINs will die by 8 weeks post-infection, this abnormal physiology suggests that injection with Toxoplasma protein-either directly or indirectly-affects neuronal health and survival. Collectively, these data offer the first insights into which neurons interact with Toxoplasma and how these interactions alter neuron physiology in vivo., Competing Interests: OM, EF, JL, AK No competing interests declared, (© 2021, Mendez et al.)

Our studies on novel cyst wall proteins serendipitously led us to the discovery that cyst wall and vacuolar matrix protein MAG1, first identified a quarter of a century ago, functions as a secreted immunomodulatory effector. MAG1 is a dense granular protein that is found in the parasitophorous vacuolar matrix in tachyzoite vacuoles and the cyst wall and matrix in bradyzoite vacuoles. In the current study, we demonstrated that MAG1 is secreted beyond the parasitophorous vacuole into the host cytosol in both tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Secretion of MAG1 gradually decreases as the parasitophorous vacuole matures, but prominent MAG1 puncta are present inside host cells even at 4 and 6 days following infection. During acute murine infection, Δ mag1 parasites displayed significantly reduced virulence and dissemination. In the chronic stage of infection, Δ mag1 parasites generated almost no brain cysts. To identify the mechanism behind the attenuated pathology seen with Δ mag1 parasites, various immune responses were screened in vitro using bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). Infection of BMDM with Δ mag1 parasites induced a significant increase in interleukin 1β (IL-1β) secretion, which is a hallmark of inflammasome activation. Heterologous complementation of MAG1 in BMDM cells prevented this Δ mag1 parasite-induced IL-1β release, indicating that secreted MAG1 in host cytosol dampens inflammasome activation. Furthermore, knocking out GRA15 (an inducer of IL-1β release) in Δ mag1 parasites completely inhibited all IL-1β release by host cells following infection. These data suggest that MAG1 has a role as an immunomodulatory molecule and that by suppressing inflammasome activation, it would favor survival of the parasite and the establishment of latent infection. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is an Apicomplexan that infects a third of humans, causing encephalitis in AIDS patients and intellectual disabilities in congenitally infected patients. We determined that one of the cyst matrix proteins, MAG1, which had been thought to be an innate structural protein, can be secreted into the host cell and suppress the host immune reaction. This particular immune reaction is initiated by another parasite-secreted protein, GRA15. The intricate balance of inflammasome activation by GRA15 and suppression by MAG1 protects mice from acute death while enabling parasites to disseminate and establish chronic cysts. Our finding contributes to our understanding of how parasites persist in the host and how T. gondii modulates the host immune system., (Copyright © 2021 Tomita et al.)

The inner membrane complex (IMC) is a unique organelle of apicomplexan parasites that plays critical roles in parasite motility, host cell invasion, and replication. Despite the common functions of the organelle, relatively few IMC proteins are conserved across the phylum and the precise roles of many IMC components remain to be characterized. Here, we identify a novel component of the Toxoplasma gondii IMC (IMC32) that localizes to the body portion of the IMC and is recruited to developing daughter buds early during endodyogeny. IMC32 is essential for parasite survival, as its conditional depletion results in a complete collapse of the IMC that is lethal to the parasite. We demonstrate that localization of IMC32 is dependent on both an N-terminal palmitoylation site and a series of C-terminal coiled-coil domains. Using deletion analyses and functional complementation, we show that two conserved regions within the C-terminal coiled-coil domains play critical roles in protein function during replication. Together, this work reveals an essential component of parasite replication that provides a novel target for therapeutic intervention of T. gondii and related apicomplexan parasites. IMPORTANCE The IMC is an important organelle that apicomplexan parasites use to maintain their intracellular lifestyle. While many IMC proteins have been identified, only a few central players that are essential for internal budding have been described and even fewer are conserved across the phylum. Here, we identify IMC32, a novel component of the Toxoplasma gondii IMC that localizes to very early daughter buds, indicating a role in the early stages of parasite replication. We then demonstrate that IMC32 is essential for parasite survival and pinpoint conserved regions within the protein that are important for membrane association and daughter cell formation. As IMC32 is unique to these parasites and not present in their mammalian hosts, it serves as a new target for the development of drugs that exclusively affect these important intracellular pathogens., (Copyright © 2021 Torres et al.)

Toxoplasma gondii 's tropism for and persistence in the central nervous system (CNS) underlies the symptomatic disease that T. gondii causes in humans. Our recent work has shown that neurons are the primary CNS cell with which Toxoplasma interacts and which it infects in vivo This predilection for neurons suggests that T. gondii 's persistence in the CNS depends specifically upon parasite manipulation of the host neurons. Yet, most work on T. gondii -host cell interactions has been done in vitro and in nonneuronal cells. We address this gap by utilizing our T. gondii -Cre system that allows permanent marking and tracking of neurons injected with parasite effector proteins in vivo Using laser capture microdissection (LCM) and RNA sequencing using RNA-seq, we isolated and transcriptionally profiled T. gondii -injected neurons (TINs), Bystander neurons (nearby non- T. gondii -injected neurons), and neurons from uninfected mice (controls). These profiles show that TIN transcriptomes significantly differ from the transcriptomes of Bystander and control neurons and that much of this difference is driven by increased levels of transcripts from immune cells, especially CD8 + T cells and monocytes. These data suggest that when we used LCM to isolate neurons from infected mice, we also picked up fragments of CD8 + T cells and monocytes clustering in extreme proximity around TINs and, to a lesser extent, Bystander neurons. In addition, we found that T. gondii transcripts were primarily found in the TIN transcriptome, not in the Bystander transcriptome. Collectively, these data suggest that, contrary to common perception, neurons that directly interact with or harbor parasites can be recognized by CD8 + T cells. IMPORTANCE Like other persistent intracellular pathogens, Toxoplasma gondii , a protozoan parasite, has evolved to evade the immune system and establish a chronic infection in specific cells and organs, including neurons in the CNS. Understanding T. gondii 's persistence in neurons holds the potential to identify novel, curative drug targets. The work presented here offers new insights into the neuron- T. gondii interaction in vivo By transcriptionally profiling neurons manipulated by T. gondii , we unexpectedly revealed that immune cells, and specifically CD8 + T cells, appear to cluster around these neurons, suggesting that CD8 + T cells specifically recognize parasite-manipulated neurons. Such a possibility supports evidence from other labs that questions the long-standing dogma that neurons are often persistently infected because they are not directly recognized by immune cells such as CD8 + T cells. Collectively, these data suggest we reconsider the broader role of neurons in the context of infection and neuroinflammation., (Copyright © 2020 Merritt et al.)

The AROM complex is a multifunctional metabolic machine with ten enzymatic domains catalyzing the five central steps of the shikimate pathway in fungi and protists. We determined its crystal structure and catalytic behavior, and elucidated its conformational space using a combination of experimental and computational approaches. We derived this space in an elementary approach, exploiting an abundance of conformational information from its monofunctional homologs in the Protein Data Bank. It demonstrates how AROM is optimized for spatial compactness while allowing for unrestricted conformational transitions and a decoupled functioning of its individual enzymatic entities. With this architecture, AROM poses a tractable test case for the effects of active site proximity on the efficiency of both natural metabolic systems and biotechnological pathway optimization approaches. We show that a mere colocalization of enzymes is not sufficient to yield a detectable improvement of metabolic throughput.

Previous studies showed that three clonal strain types (I, II, and III) of Toxoplasma gondii can be distinguished using serotyping based on a series of polymorphic proteins. However, to establish a systematic serotyping method with higher resolution even being equal to that of genotyping, more specific peptide markers are needed. The objective of the present study was to determine the possibility of the polymorphic dense granule protein 15 (GRA15) for diagnosis and serotyping of T. gondii infection. Three different T. gondii GT1 strain GRA15 gene fragments encoding a 584-residue peptide, a 199-residue peptide and a 84-residue peptide were amplified, expressed and purified, respectively. Anti-T. gondii GT1 strain antibodies, anti-T. gondii RH strain antibodies and anti-T. gondii PRU strain antibodies were used for immunoblotting analysis of the three peptides. Western blotting analysis showed that the 584-residue peptide of GT1 strain GRA15 was a potential candidate for serological diagnosis of T. gondii infection. RH strain from GT1 strain could be distinguished by serotyping based on the GRA15 199 or GRA15 84 , and T. gondii GT1 strain could be distinguished from PRU strain by using serotyping based on the GRA15 84 . These findings reveal, for the first time, a novel potential role of GRA15-derived peptides in diagnosis and serological differentiation of T. gondii infection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The glycosylated mucin domain of the Toxoplasma gondii cyst wall glycoprotein CST1 is heavily stained by Dolichos biflorus agglutinin, a lectin that binds to N -acetylgalactosamine. The cyst wall is also heavily stained by the chitin binding lectin succinylated wheat germ agglutinin (s-WGA), which selectively binds to N- acetylglucosamine-decorated structures. Here, we tracked the localization of N- acetylglucosamine-decorated structures that bind to s-WGA in immature and mature in vitro cysts. s-WGA localization was observed at the cyst periphery 6 h after the differentiation of the tachyzoite-stage parasitophorous vacuole. By day 1 and at all later times after differentiation, s-WGA was localized in a continuous staining pattern at the cyst wall. Coinciding with the maturation of the cyst matrix by day 3 of cyst development, s-WGA also localized in a continuous matrix pattern inside the cyst. s-WGA localized in both the outer and inner layer regions of the cyst wall and in a continuous matrix pattern inside mature 7- and 10-day-old cysts. In addition, s-WGA colocalized in the cyst wall with CST1, suggesting that N -acetylglucosamine- and N -acetylgalactosamine-decorated molecules colocalized in the cyst wall. In contrast to CST1, GRA4, and GRA6, the relative accumulation of the molecules that bind s-WGA in the cyst wall was not dependent on the expression of GRA2. Our results suggest that GRA2-dependent and GRA2-independent mechanisms regulate the trafficking and accumulation of glycosylated molecules that colocalize in the cyst wall. IMPORTANCE Chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection is maintained in the central nervous system by thick-walled cysts. If host immunity wanes, cysts recrudesce and cause severe and often lethal toxoplasmic encephalitis. Currently, there are no therapies to eliminate cysts, and little biological information is available regarding cyst structure(s). Here, we investigated cyst wall molecules recognized by succinylated wheat germ agglutinin (s-WGA), a lectin that specifically binds to N- acetylglucosamine-decorated structures. N- Acetylglucosamine regulates cell signaling and plays structural roles at the cell surface in many organisms. The cyst wall and cyst matrix were heavily stained by s-WGA in mature cysts and were differentially stained during cyst development. The relative accumulation of molecules that bind to s-WGA in the cyst wall was not dependent on the expression of GRA2. Our findings suggest that glycosylated cyst wall molecules gain access to the cyst wall via GRA2-dependent and GRA2-independent mechanisms and colocalize in the cyst wall., (Copyright © 2020 Guevara et al.)

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that is globally distributed and can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. While vaccines are not available for prophylaxis, there are limited therapeutic options which often do not result in eradication of parasites from patients. ME49 is a cystogenic strain of T. gondii with a potential as a vaccine candidate. Excretory and secretory (ES) proteins are thought to play crucial roles in host-parasite interactions. Hence, we predicted and functionally annotated the ES proteins in T. gondii ME49 using public databases. ES proteins were further examined for the characteristics and possible functions through gene ontology (GO) term enrichment and analyses of metabolic pathways, enzyme code distribution (EC distributing) and protein domains. The potential antigenicity of T. gondii ME49 ES proteins was evaluated for the first time using Abundance of Antigenic Regions (AAR) value to predict the antigenic potential by measuring sequence length and number of antigenic regions. The results showed that the ES proteins have different AAR values at RNA and microarray level. Our studies provide valuable information for future experimental studies, including the identification of novel ES proteins of therapeutic, diagnostic and immunoprophylactic interests., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interests and non-financial interests., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: TgDCX is a doublecortin-domain protein associated with the conoid fibers, a set of strongly curved non-tubular tubulin-polymers in Toxoplasma. TgDCX deletion impairs conoid structure and parasite invasion. TgDCX contains two tubulin-binding domains: a partial P25α and the DCX/doublecortin domain. Orthologues are found in apicomplexans and their free-living relatives Chromera and Vitrella., Results: We report that isolated TgDCX-containing conoid fibers retain their pronounced curvature, but loss of TgDCX destabilizes the fibers. We crystallized and determined the 3D-structure of the DCX-domain, which is similar to those of human doublecortin and well-conserved among TgDCX orthologues. However, the orthologues vary widely in targeting to the conoid in Toxoplasma and in modulating microtubule organization in Xenopus cells. Several orthologues bind to microtubules in Xenopus cells, but only TgDCX generates short, strongly curved microtubule arcs. EM analysis shows microtubules decorated with TgDCX bundled into rafts, often bordered on one edge by a "C"-shaped incomplete tube. A Chromera orthologue closely mimics TgDCX targeting in Toxoplasma and binds to microtubules in Xenopus cells, but does not generate arcs or "C"-shaped tubes, and fails to rescue the defects of the TgDCX-knockout parasite., Conclusions: These observations suggest that species-specific features of TgDCX enable it to generate strongly curved tubulin-polymers to support efficient host-cell invasion.

Toxoplasma gondii causes a chronic infection that affects a significant portion of the world's population, and this latent infection is the source of reactivation of toxoplasmosis. An attribute of the slowly growing bradyzoite stage of the parasite is the formation of a cyst within infected cells, allowing the parasite to escape the host's immune response. In this study, a new bradyzoite cyst m atrix a nti g en (MAG) was identified through a hybridoma library screen. This cyst matrix antigen, m atrix a nti g en 2 (MAG2), contains 14 tandem repeats consisting of acidic, basic, and proline residues. Immunoblotting revealed that MAG2 migrates at a level higher than its predicted molecular weight, and computational analysis showed that the structure of MAG2 is highly disordered. Cell fractionation studies indicated that MAG2 was associated with both insoluble and soluble cyst matrix material, suggesting that it interacts with the intracyst network (ICN). Examination of the kinetics of MAG2 within the cyst matrix using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) demonstrated that MAG2 does not readily diffuse within the cyst matrix. Kinetic studies of MAG1 demonstrated that this protein has different diffusion kinetics in tachyzoite and bradyzoite vacuoles and that its mobility is not altered in the absence of MAG2. In addition, deletion of MAG2 does not influence growth, cystogenesis, or cyst morphology. IMPORTANCE This report expands on the list of characterized Toxoplasma gondii cyst matrix proteins. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we have shown that matrix proteins within the cyst matrix are not mainly in a mobile state, providing further evidence of how proteins behave within the cyst matrix. Understanding the proteins expressed during the bradyzoite stage of the parasite reveals how the parasite functions during chronic infection., (Copyright © 2020 Tu et al.)

Toxoplasma gondii, one of the extensively studied Apicomplexan parasites, is prevalent worldwide in animals and humans. Apart from its nuclear genome, T. gondii contains an apicoplast genome in 35 kb length which is originated from a secondary endosymbiotic event. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antigenic potential of apicoplast genome encoded proteins (n:28) of T. gondii using in silico analysis. For this purpose, proteins were primarily predicted to reveal antigenic probability and then, several bioinformatics analyses were applied for all predicted antigenic apicoplast proteins to analyze physico-chemical parameters, subcellular localization and transmembrane domain. Also, further prediction analyses including structural, B cell and MHC-I/II epitope sites as well as post-translational modifications were performed for antigenic proteins that have a signal peptide or a high antigenicity value. Of the 28 apicoplast proteins, 19 were predicted as probable antigen. Among antigenic proteins, ribosomal protein S5, L11 and S2 were predicted to have signal peptide whereas ribosomal protein L36 and S17 were predicted to have a significantly high antigenicity value (P < 0.05). In addition, ribosomal protein S5, L11, S2, L36 and S17 were predicted to have a lot of epitopes which have low IC50 and percentile rank value indicating a strong binding among epitopes and MHC-I/II alleles, and post-translational modifications such as N-linked glycosylation, acetylation and phosphorylation. To the best of authors' knowledge this is the first study to show the antigenic potential and other properties of apicoplast-derived proteins of T. gondii., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Rhoptry protein 18 (ROP18) is a major determinant of strain-specific virulence in Toxoplasma gondii. The kinase activity of ROP18 is required for acute virulence, while the aspartate in the catalytic loop of ROP18 is considered essential for phosphoryl transfer. We showed that a single amino acid mutation at the catalytic aspartate residue (D409A mutation) significantly altered ROP18 kinase activity in vitro, and abolished ROP18-mediated ATF6β degradation. Furthermore, the investigated single amino acid mutation in ROP18 led to alternation of subcellular localization of ROP18 protein. Our findings demonstrate that a single amino acid mutation on the proton transport catalytic aspartic acid induced alternations associated with ROP18 protein., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The apical annuli are among the most intriguing and understudied structures in the cytoskeleton of the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. We mapped the proteome of the annuli in Toxoplasma by reciprocal proximity biotinylation (BioID), and validated five apical annuli proteins (AAP1-5), Centrin2, and an apical annuli methyltransferase. Moreover, inner membrane complex (IMC) suture proteins connecting the alveolar vesicles were also detected and support annuli residence within the sutures. Super-resolution microscopy identified a concentric organisation comprising four rings with diameters ranging from 200 to 400 nm. The high prevalence of domain signatures shared with centrosomal proteins in the AAPs together with Centrin2 suggests that the annuli are related and/or derived from the centrosomes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the AAPs are conserved narrowly in coccidian, apicomplexan parasites that multiply by an internal budding mechanism. This suggests a role in replication, for example, to provide pores in the mother IMC permitting exchange of building blocks and waste products. However, presence of multiple signalling domains and proteins are suggestive of additional functions. Knockout of AAP4, the most conserved compound forming the largest ring-like structure, modestly decreased parasite fitness in vitro but had no significant impact on acute virulence in vivo. In conclusion, the apical annuli are composed of coiled-coil and signalling proteins assembled in a pore-like structure crossing the IMC barrier maintained during internal budding., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins typically localise to lipid rafts. GPI-anchored protein microdomains may be present in the plasma membrane; however, they have been studied using heterogeneously expressed GPI-anchored proteins, and the two-dimensional distributions of endogenous molecules in the plasma membrane are difficult to determine at the nanometre scale. Here, we used immunoelectron microscopy using a quick-freezing and freeze-fracture labelling (QF-FRL) method to examine the distribution of the endogenous GPI-anchored protein SAG1 in Toxoplasma gondii at the nanoscale. QF-FRL physically immobilised molecules in situ, minimising the possibility of artefactual perturbation. SAG1 labelling was observed in the exoplasmic, but not cytoplasmic, leaflets of T. gondii plasma membrane, whereas none was detected in any leaflet of the inner membrane complex. Point pattern analysis of SAG1 immunogold labelling revealed mostly random distribution in T. gondii plasma membrane. The present method obtains information on the molecular distribution of natively expressed GPI-anchored proteins and demonstrates that SAG1 in T. gondii does not form significant microdomains in the plasma membrane.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Toxoplasma gondii excretory-secretory antigens (ESA) on CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + T (Treg) cells in mice carrying Lewis lung carcinoma, and examine the inhibitory effect of T. gondii ESA on tumor growth., Methods: C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into the PBS group ( n = 14) and the Lewis group ( n = 34). Mice in the Lewis group were subcutaneously injected with 2 × 105 Lewis lung carcinoma cells in the right axilla, while animals in the PBS group were injected with the same volume of sterile PBS. On day 7 post-injection (D7), mice in the PBS group were further divided into the PBS2 group and the PBS2 + ESA group, of 7 mice in each group, and mice in the Lewis group were further divided into the Lewis2 group and the Lewis2 + ESA group, of 17 mice in each group. Then, mice in the PBS2 + ESA group and the Lewis2 + ESA group were intraperitoneally injected with 100 μL of ESA. The mouse spleen coefficient was calculated in each group 7 days post-injection with ESA, and the changes of Treg cell counts and the long-term tumor growth were measured in tumor-bearing mice., Results: The spleen coefficient was significantly greater in the PBS2 + ESA group and the Lewis2 + ESA group than in the PBS2 (0.66% ± 0.09% vs. 0.30% ± 0.02%, P < 0.05) and Lewis2 groups (0.69% ± 0.07% vs. 0.33% ± 0.03%, P < 0.05) 7 days post-treatment with ESA, respectively, and the percentage of splenic Treg cells in splenocytes was significantly lower in the PBS2 + ESA group and the Lewis2 + ESA group than in the PBS2 (1.28% ± 0.14% vs. 2.06% ± 0.07%, P < 0.05) and Lewis2 groups (1.58% ± 0.14% vs. 2.44% ± 0.23%, P < 0.05), respectively. T. gondii ESA treatment caused a delay in tumor growth, and the tumor size was significantly smaller in the Lewis2 + ESA group than in the Lewis2 group ( P < 0.05)., Conclusions: T. gondii ESA may reduce the proportion of splenic Treg cells in splenocytes and inhibit tumor growth in mice carrying Lewis lung carcinoma.

Toxoplasmosis, while often an asymptomatic parasitic disease in healthy individuals, can cause severe complications in immunocompromised persons and during pregnancy. The most common method to diagnose Toxoplasma gondii infections is the serological determination of antibodies directed against parasite protein antigens. Here we report the use of a bead-based multiplex assay containing a synthetic phosphoglycan portion of the Toxoplasma gondii glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI 1 ) for the detection of GPI 1 -specific antibodies in human sera. The glycan was conjugated to beads at the lipid site to retain its natural orientation and its immunogenic groups. We compared the response against GPI 1 with that against the protein antigen SAG1, a common component of commercial serological assays, via the detection of parasite-specific human IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. The GPI 1 -based test is in excellent agreement with the results for the commercial ELISA, as the ROC analysis of the GPI 1 test shows 97% specificity and 98% sensitivity for the assay. GPI 1 was a more reliable predictor for a parasite-specific IgM response compared to SAG1, indicating that a bead-based multiplex assay using GPI 1 in combination with SAG1 may strengthen Toxoplasma gondii serology, in particular in seroepidemiological studies.

The tissue cyst of Toxoplasma gondii , found in latent infection, serves a critical role in both transmission and reactivation of this organism. Within infected cells, slowly replicating parasites (bradyzoites) are surrounded by a cyst matrix, cyst wall, and cyst membrane. The cyst wall is clearly delineated by ultrastructural analysis; however, the composition and function of this layer in host-parasite interactions are not fully understood. In order to understand the composition of the cyst wall, a proteomic analysis of purified cyst wall fragments, that were enriched with Percoll gradients and subsequently immunoprecipitated with CST1 antibody, was performed. Known cyst wall proteins, such as CST1, BPK1, MCP4, MAG1, GRA2, GRA3, and GRA5, were identified in this preparation by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, dense granule proteins (GRAs) not previously shown to associate with the cyst wall, as well as uncharacterized hypothetical proteins, were identified in this cyst wall preparation. Several of these hypothetical cyst wall (CST) proteins were epitope tagged, and immunofluorescence assays confirmed their localization as novel cyst matrix and cyst wall proteins. Expression of two of these newly identified cyst wall proteins was eliminated by gene knockout (CST2-KO and CST3-KO). CST2-KO parasites were highly attenuated in virulence and did not establish detectable cyst burdens. This targeted proteomic approach allowed the identification of new components of the cyst wall that probably have roles in the parasite/host interface. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is a highly prevalent parasite worldwide that presents life-threatening risks to immunocompromised and pregnant individuals. Whereas the life stage responsible for acute infection can be treated, the life stage responsible for chronic infection is refractory to currently available therapeutics. Little is known about the protein composition of the cyst wall, an amorphous structure formed by parasites that is suspected to facilitate persistence within muscle and nervous tissue during chronic (latent) infection. By implementing a refined approach to selectively purify cyst wall fragments, we identified several known and novel cyst wall proteins from our sample preparations. We confirmed the localizations of several proteins from this data set and identified one that is involved in parasite virulence. These data will propel further studies on cyst wall structure and function, leading to therapeutic strategies that can eliminate the chronic infection stage., (Copyright © 2019 Tu et al.)

Elongation has emerged as a highly regulated step in the multistage process of transcription. Control of gene expression mediated through transcription elongation remains an unexplored area of study in Toxoplasma gondii where the demands of complex lifecycle necessitate a regulated transcription program. Here, we elucidate the central role of Spt5 homolog in T. gondii mRNA transcription. We demonstrate that TgSpt5 functions in conjunction with a small zinc finger protein TgSpt4. TgSpt5 interacts with TgRpb1, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II and associates with actively transcribed genes. Enrichment of TgSpt5 towards the 3' end of genes coinciding with P-Ser2 form of RNAPII, a marker of active elongation further underscores its pivotal role in transcription. TgSpt5 undergoes phosphorylation mediated through Toxoplasma Cdk9 homolog, TgCrk9, which appears crucial for its function. Inhibition of TgCrk9, which also regulates RNAPII by differential phosphorylation of its C terminal domain, results in loss of TgSpt5 enrichment at 3' sites of the genes and an overall repressive effect on parasite progression. TgSpt5 along with TgSpt4 could successfully complement the loss of function mutations in yeast counterparts emphasizing its functional significance. Together, the results highlight the possible role of TgSpt5 in transcript elongation regulated through phosphorylation by TgCrk9., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic pathogen infecting humans and a variety of vertebrate animals. Secretory dense-granule proteins (GRAs) play diverse roles in the mediation of host-parasite interactions and facilitate parasitism, but many of them still remain to be identified. Here, we used two proximity-based protein labeling techniques to identify novel GRA proteins. Taking GRA1 as bait, transgenic strains expressing GRA1-BirA* or GRA1-APEX were constructed to biotinylate GRAs. Using these methods, a total of 46 proteins were identified, 20 of which were known GRA proteins. Among these 46, 17 were identified by both strategies, and 14 out of the 17 were known GRAs. The other three were all confirmed to localize to dense granules. Nonetheless a significant portion of the proteins were only identified by either APEX or BirA*, indicating that there are differences between these methods. Of the 26 novel GRAs, 5 were validated as bona fide GRAs by localization studies. The majority of these novel GRAs are only present in coccidian parasites and are likely dispensable for parasite growth in vitro; they may play roles during animal infections. The identification of novel GRAs laid the foundation for further studies investigating the mechanisms underlying parasite-host interactions.

Intracellular pathogens must egress from the host cell to continue their infectious cycle. Apicomplexans are a phylum of intracellular protozoans that have evolved members of the membrane attack complex and perforin (MACPF) family of pore forming proteins to disrupt cellular membranes for traversing cells during tissue migration or egress from a replicative vacuole following intracellular reproduction. Previous work showed that the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii secretes a perforin-like protein (TgPLP1) that contains a C-terminal Domain (CTD) which is necessary for efficient parasite egress. However, the structural basis for CTD membrane binding and egress competency remained unknown. Here, we present evidence that TgPLP1 CTD prefers binding lipids that are abundant in the inner leaflet of the lipid bilayer. Additionally, solving the high-resolution crystal structure of the TgPLP1 APCβ domain within the CTD reveals an unusual double-layered β-prism fold that resembles only one other protein of known structure. Three direct repeat sequences comprise subdomains, with each constituting a wall of the β-prism fold. One subdomain features a protruding hydrophobic loop with an exposed tryptophan at its tip. Spectrophotometric measurements of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence are consistent with insertion of the hydrophobic loop into a target membrane. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing we show that parasite strains bearing mutations in the hydrophobic loop, including alanine substitution of the tip tryptophan, are equally deficient in egress as a strain lacking TgPLP1 altogether. Taken together our findings suggest a crucial role for the hydrophobic loop in anchoring TgPLP1 to the membrane to support its cytolytic activity and egress function., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Locus expansion and diversification is pervasive in apicomplexan genomes and is predominantly found in loci encoding secreted proteins that interact with factors outside of the parasite. Key for understanding the impact of each of these loci on the host requires identification and functional characterization of their protein products, but these repetitive loci often are refractory to genome assembly. In this review we focus on Toxoplasma gondii and its nearest relatives to highlight the known impact of duplicated and diversified loci on our understanding of the host-pathogen molecular arms race. We describe current tools used for the identification and characterization of these loci, and review the most recent examples of how gene-expansion driven diversification can lead to novel gene functions., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular apicomplexan, causes latent infection in about one third of the human population. During latent infection, T. gondii bradyzoites are found within cysts, a modified parasitophorous vacuole. This parasite has a large family of SRS (surface antigen-1 related sequence) proteins which are reported to be involved in attachment of these organisms to their mammalian host cells and in immune subversion during latent infection. We have identified a novel mucin domain containing SRS protein, using a glycoepitope-specific antibody, which recognizes the cyst wall. SRS13 has two SRS domains and between these domains is a threonine-rich tandem repeat mucin-like domain that is similar to the mucin-like domain seen in another cyst wall specific SRS protein CST1 (SRS44). SRS13 is upregulated in bradyzoites and O-GalNAc glycosylated by ppGalNAc-T2 and T3. Similar to the cyst wall protein CST1, SRS13 localizes to the cyst wall, but unlike CST1, SRS13 is dispensable for normal cyst wall formation. Together, these findings elucidate the role of a second SRS mucin domain protein, SRS13, in bradyzoite biology and expands the previously reported functions of the SRS protein family.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes congenital toxoplasmosis, as well as other serious clinical presentations in immune compromised humans. The parasite has also been recently linked to behavioral diseases in humans and other mammalian hosts. New antigens are being evaluated to develop a diagnostic kit for the diagnosis of acute infection or a protective vaccine., Methods: In this study, we have focused on the discovery of new antigenic proteins from T. gondii genomic data using a high throughput protein microarray screening. To date, microarrays containing > 2870 candidate exon products of T. gondii have been probed with sera collected from patients with toxoplasmosis. Here, the protein microarrays are probed with well-characterized serum samples from animal models administered orally with oocysts or tissue cysts. The aim was to discover the antigens that overlap in the mouse profile with human antibody profiles published previously. For this, a reactive antigen list of 240 antigens recognized by murine IgG and IgM was identified using pooled sera from orally infected mice., Results: Analyses of screening data have identified plenty of antigens and showed strong immunogenicity in both mouse and human antibody profiles. Among them, ROP1, GRA2, GRA3, GRA4, GRA5, GRA6, GRA7, GRA8, GRA14, MIC1, MIC2 and MAG1 have shown strong immunogenicity and used as antigen in development of vaccines or serological diagnostic assays in previous studies., Conclusion: In addition to the above findings, ROP6, MIC12, SRS29A and SRS13 have shown strong immunogenicity but have not been tested in development of a diagnostic assay or a vaccine model yet.

Toxoplasma gondii infects almost all the warm-blooded animals. ROP20 protein is expressed in the rhoptry of Toxoplasma gondii. In this study, the secondary structure of ROP20 was analyzed using SMART software. We constructed and analyzed the 3D model of ROP20 protein using SWISS-MODEL online procedure and Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) software. The structure analysis fully indicated that ROP20 protein is an important member of the ROP family. Furthermore, We used DNASTAR software and Epitope Database online service to analyze liner-B cell epitopes and T-cell epitopes of ROP20 protein. All the analysis results of ROP20 protein can provide positive information on treatment and vaccine for toxoplasmosis. Moreover, ROP20 gene was obtained from PCR, and a recombinant eukaryotic expression vector (pEGFP-C1-ROP20) was constructed in the following study. After restriction enzyme digestion, the constructed plasmid was transfected into HEK 293-T cells. The RT-PCR result indicated that the recombinant plasmid could transcribe successfully in HEK 293-T cell. The results of western blotting indicated the expressed proteins can be recognized by anti-STAg mouse sera.

Phosphoinositide (PtdInsP) lipids recruit effector proteins to membranes to mediate a variety of functions including signal transduction and membrane trafficking. Each PtdInsP binds to a specific set of effectors through characteristic protein domains such as the PH, FYVE and PX domains. Domains with high affinity for a single PtdInsP species are useful as probes to visualize the distribution and dynamics of that PtdInsP. The endolysosomal system is governed by two primary PtdInsPs: phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P] and phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(3,5)P2], which are thought to localize and control early endosomes and lysosomes/late endosomes, respectively. While PtdIns(3)P has been analysed with mammalian-derived PX and FYVE domains, PtdIns(3,5)P2 indicators remain controversial. Thus, complementary probes against these PtdInsPs are needed, including those originating from non-mammalian proteins. Here, we characterized in mammalian cells the dynamics of the PH domain from PH-containing protein-1 from the parasite Toxoplasma gondii (TgPH1), which was previously shown to bind PtdIns(3,5)P2 in vitro. However, we show that TgPH1 retains membrane-binding in PIKfyve-inhibited cells, suggesting that TgPH1 is not a viable PtdIns(3,5)P2 marker in mammalian cells. Instead, PtdIns(3)P depletion using pharmacological and enzyme-based assays dissociated TgPH1 from membranes. Indeed, TgPH1 co-localized with Rab5-positive early endosomes. In addition, TgPH1 co-localized and behaved similarly to the PX domain of p40phox and FYVE domain of EEA1, which are commonly used as PtdIns(3)P indicators. Collectively, TgPH1 offers a complementary reporter for PtdIns(3)P derived from a non-mammalian protein and that is distinct from commonly employed PX and FYVE domain-based probes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry neck protein 4 (TgRON4) is a component of the moving junction, a key structure for host cell invasion. We previously showed that host cellular β-tubulin is a binding partner of TgRON4 in the invasion process. Here, to identify other binding partners of TgRON4 in the host cell, we examined the binding of TgRON4 to components of the host cell surface. TgRON4 binds to various mammalian cells, but this binding disappeared in glycosaminoglycan- and heparan sulfate-deficient CHO cells and after heparitinase treatment of mammalian cells. The C-terminal half of TgRON4 showed relatively strong binding to cells and heparin agarose. A glycoarray assay indicated that TgRON4 binds to heparin and modified heparin derivatives. Immunoprecipitation of T. gondii-infected CHO cell lysates showed that TgRON4 interacts with glypican 1 during Toxoplasma invasion. This interaction suggests a role for heparan sulfate in parasite invasion., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Profilin is one of the actin-binding proteins that regulate dynamics of actin polymerization. It plays a key role in cell motility and invasion. It also interacts with several other proteins notably through its poly-L-proline (PLP) binding site. Profilin in apicomplexa is characterized by a unique mini-domain consisting of a large β-hairpin extension and an acidic loop which is relatively longer in Plasmodium species. Profilin is essential for the invasive blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum. In the current study, unbound profilins from Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), Toxoplasma gondii (Tg), and Homo sapiens (Hs) were subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for a timeframe of 100 ns each to understand the conformational dynamics of these proteins. It was found that the β-hairpin of profilins from Pf and Tg shows a hinge-like movement. This movement in Pf profilin may possibly be driven by the loss of a salt-bridge within profilin. The impact of this conformational change on actin binding was assessed by docking three dimensional (3D) structures of profilin from Pf and Tg with their corresponding actins using ClusPro2.0. The stability of docked Pf profilin-actin complex was assessed through a 50 ns MD simulation. As Hs profilin I does not have the apicomplexa specific mini-domain, MD simulation was performed for this protein and its dynamics was compared to that of profilins from Pf and Tg. Using an immunoinformatics approach, potential epitope regions were predicted for Pf profilin. This has a potential application in the design of vaccines as they mapped to its unique mini-domain., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective To investigate the effect of rhoptry protein 38 (ROP38) from Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) on the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) induction in vitro. Methods The total RNA from T. gondii RH strain was extracted by guanidine thiocyanate method, and then cDNA was synthesized with reverse transcription reaction. After ROP38 gene was amplified by PCR, the recombinant pGEX-4T-ROP38 was constructed and expressed under IPTG induction. The recombinant ROP38 protein was detected by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. The secondary structure and antigenicity of the ROP38 were predicted through DNAStar8.0 and ProtScale. In vitro, DCs were isolated and cultured for 6 days, then reacted with ROP38 antigen for 2 hours. The CD11c was detected by flow cytometry, and the data were analyzed with ANOVA by SPSS 23.0 software. Results The amplified gene was about 516 bp as expected. The sequence analysis showed that its homology was 99% compared with the reported sequence (XM&#95;002366710.2) from GenBank. It was found that the relative molecular mass (M r ) of recombinant ROP38 was 45 kD. The prediction of structure indicated that there were 5 α-helices, 5 β-sheets, 5 hydrophilic regions and 8 potential epitopes in ROP38 protein. In vitro, the expression of CD11c on DCs was significantly up-regulated after stimulated with ROP38, and the expression level of CD11c in ROP38 infection group was significantly higher than that of the other groups. Conclusion ROP38 promotes the maturation of DCs mediated by TLR4.

Background: Congenital infection of Toxoplasma gondii is an important factor causing birth defects. The neural stem cells (NSCs) are found to be one of the target cells for the parasite during development of the brain. As a key virulence factor of the parasite that hijacks host cellular functions, ROP18 has been demonstrated to mediate the inhibition of host innate and adaptive immune responses through specific binding different host immunity related molecules. However, its pathogenic actions in NSCs remain elusive., Results: In the present study, ROP18 recombinant adenovirus (Ad-ROP18) was constructed and used to infect C17.2 NSCs. After 3d- or 5d-culture in differentiation medium, the differentiation of C17.2 NSCs and the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were detected. The results showed that the protein level of βIII-tubulin, a marker of neurons, in the Ad-ROP18-transfected C17.2 NSCs was significantly decreased, indicating that the differentiation of C17.2 NSCs was inhibited by the ROP18. The β-catenin level in the Ad-ROP18-transfected C17.2 NSCs was found to be lower than that in the Ad group. Also, neurogenin1 (Ngn1) and neurogenin2 (Ngn2) were downregulated significantly (P < 0.05) in the Ad-ROP18-transfected C17.2 NSCs compared to the Ad group. Accordingly, the TOP flash/FOP flash dual-luciferase report system showed that the transfection of Ad-ROP18 decreased the Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity in the C17.2 NSCs., Conclusions: The inhibition effect of the ROP18 from T. gondii (TgROP18) on the neuronal differentiation of C17.2 NSCs was at least partly mediated through inhibiting the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, eventually resulting in the downregulation of Ngn1 and Ngn2. The findings help to better understand potential mechanisms of brain pathology induced by TgROP18.

Epidemiological and experimental studies have shown an inverse relationship between infections with certain parasites and a reduced incidence of allergic diseases. We and others have shown that infection with Toxoplasma gondii prevents the development of allergy in mice. To establish whether this beneficial effect could be recapitulated by soluble products of this parasite, we tested an extract derived from T. gondii tachyzoites. Immunization of BALB/c mice with tachyzoites lysate antigen (TLA) elicited mixed Th1/Th2 responses. When TLA was applied together with the sensitizing ovalbumin (OVA), the development of allergic airway inflammation was reduced, with decreased airway hyperresponsiveness associated with reduced peribronchial and perivascular cellular infiltration, reduced production of OVA-specific Th2 cytokines in lungs and spleens and reduced levels of serum OVA-specific IgG1 as well as IgE-dependent basophil degranulation. Of note, TLA retained its immunomodulatory properties, inducing high levels of IL-6, TNFα, IL-10 and IL-12p70 in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells after heat-inactivation or proteinase K-treatment for disruption of proteins, but not after sodium metaperiodate-treatment that degrades carbohydrate structures, suggesting that carbohydrates may play a role in immunomodulatory properties of TLA. Here we show that extracts derived from parasites may replicate the benefits of parasitic infection, offering new therapies for immune-mediated disorders.

Dense granule protein-7 (GRA-7) is an excretory protein of Toxoplasma gondii. It is a potential serodiagnostic marker and vaccine candidate for toxoplasmosis. Previous reports demonstrated that GRA-7 induces innate immune responses in macrophages by interacting with TRAF6 via the MyD88-dependent pathway. In the present study, we evaluated the antiviral activity and induction of an antiviral state by GRA-7 both in vitro and in vivo. It was observed that GRA-7 markedly reduced the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-GFP), influenza A virus (PR8-GFP), coxsackievirus (H3-GFP), herpes simplex virus (HSV-GFP), and adenovirus-GFP in epithelial (HEK293T/HeLa) and immune (RAW264.7) cells. These antiviral activities of GRA-7 were attributed to the induction of type I interferon (IFN) signaling, resulting in the secretion of IFNs and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, in BALB/c mice, intranasal administration of GRA-7 prevented lethal infection by influenza A virus (H1N1) and exhibited prophylactic effects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV-GFP). Collectively, these results suggested that GRA-7 exhibits immunostimulatory and broad spectrum antiviral activities via type I IFN signaling. Thus, GRA-7 can be potentially used as a vaccine adjuvant or as a candidate drug with prophylactic potential against viruses.

Oocyst stage of Toxoplasma gondii is characterized by a durable wall that confers a strong protection to this protozoan parasite in face of harsh environmental conditions. Thus, it is considered the key for transmission of T. gondii. Analysis of oocyst wall composition is mandatory therefore; the aim of this study was to identify novel T. gondii oocyst wall proteins and test their use in detection of these oocysts in environmental samples. Five candidates of novel T. gondii oocyst wall proteins (TgOWPs) were identified and named TgOWP8 through TgOWP12. Recombinant protein of TgOWP8 was expressed in E. coli using glutathione S-transferase as fusion protein. Polyclonal antibody was produced and validated by indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA). For detection by IFA, we used different methods for fixation and permeabilization of oocysts to improve the antigen-antibody detection. Specificity to wall of T. gondii oocyst was confirmed and revealed absence of cross reactivity with bradyzoite cyst wall and tachyzoites. Although some TgOWPs were identified previously, our study represents a continuation of molecular investigations of oocyst wall proteins as an essential structure for the longevity and infectivity of this stage and also provided new trial to improve T. gondii oocysts detection., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

As an indispensable molecular machine universal in all living organisms, the ribosome has been selected by evolution to be the natural target of many antibiotics and small-molecule inhibitors. High-resolution structures of pathogen ribosomes are crucial for understanding the general and unique aspects of translation control in disease-causing microbes. With cryo-electron microscopy technique, we have determined structures of the cytosolic ribosomes from two human parasites, Trichomonas vaginalis and Toxoplasma gondii, at resolution of 3.2-3.4 Å. Although the ribosomal proteins from both pathogens are typical members of eukaryotic families, with a co-evolution pattern between certain species-specific insertions/extensions and neighboring ribosomal RNA (rRNA) expansion segments, the sizes of their rRNAs are sharply different. Very interestingly, rRNAs of T. vaginalis are in size comparable to prokaryotic counterparts, with nearly all the eukaryote-specific rRNA expansion segments missing. These structures facilitate the dissection of evolution path for ribosomal proteins and RNAs, and may aid in design of novel translation inhibitors.

Toxoplasmosis is a serious zoonoses disease and opportunistic, and can be life-threatening. Dexamethasone (DEX) is widely used in the clinic for treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. However, long-term use of DEX is often easy to lead to acute toxoplasmosis in patients, and the potential molecular mechanism is still not very clear. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of DEX on proliferation of Toxoplasma and its molecular mechanisms, and to establish the corresponding control measures. All the results showed that dexamethasone could enhance the proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. After 72 h of DEX treatment, 566 (±7) tachyzoites were found in 100 host cells, while only 86 (±8) tachyzoites were counted from the non-treated control cells (P < 0·01). Gas chromatography (GC) analysis showed changes in level and composition of fatty acids in DEX-treated host cells, and T. gondii. Fish oil was added as a modulator of lipid metabolism in experimental mice. It was found that mice fed with fish oil did not develop the disease after infection with T. gondii, and the structure of fatty acids in plasma changed significantly. The metabolism of fatty acid in the parasites was limited, and the desaturase gene expression was downregulated. These results indicate that the molecular mechanism of dexamethasone to promote the proliferation of T. gondii may be that dexamethasone induces the change of fatty acids composition of tachyzoites and host cells. Therefore, we recommend supplementation of fatty acid in immunosuppressive and immunocompromised patients in order to inhibit toxoplasmosis.

Extracellular nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) are enzymes that hydrolyze extracellular nucleotides to the respective monophosphate nucleotides. In the past 20 years, NTPDases belonging to mammalian, parasitic and prokaryotic domains of life have been discovered, cloned and characterized. We reveal the first structures of NTPDases from the legume plant species Trifolium repens (7WC) and Vigna unguiculata subsp. cylindrica (DbLNP). Four crystal structures of 7WC and DbLNP were determined at resolutions between 1.9 and 2.6 Å. For 7WC, structures were determined for an -apo form (1.89 Å) and with the product AMP (2.15 Å) and adenine and phosphate (1.76 Å) bound. For DbLNP, a structure was solved with phosphate and manganese bound (2.60 Å). Thorough kinetic data and analysis is presented. The structure of 7WC and DbLNP reveals that these NTPDases can adopt two conformations depending on the molecule and co-factor bound in the active site. A central hinge region creates a "butterfly-like" motion of the domains that reduces the width of the inter-domain active site cleft upon molecule binding. This phenomenon has been previously described in Rattus norvegicus and Legionella pneumophila NTPDaseI and Toxoplasma gondii NTPDaseIII suggesting a common catalytic mechanism across the domains of life., (© 2017 The Protein Society.)

The ability to replace genes coding for cellular proteins with DNA that codes for fluorescent protein-tagged versions opens the way to counting the number of molecules of each protein component of macromolecular assemblies in vivo by measuring fluorescence microscopically. Converting fluorescence to absolute numbers of molecules requires a fluorescent standard whose molecular composition is known precisely. In this report, the construction, properties and mode of using a set of fluorescence calibration standards are described. The standards are based on an icosahedral virus engineered to contain exactly 240 copies of one of seven different fluorescent proteins. Two applications of the fluorescent standards to counting molecules in the human parasite Toxoplasma gondii are described. Methods for improving the preciseness of the measurements and minimizing potential inaccuracies are emphasized., (© 2017 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2017 Royal Microscopical Society.)

The intracellular Toxoplasma gondii parasite replicates within a parasitophorous vacuole (PV). T. gondii secretes proteins that remain soluble in the PV space, are inserted into PV membranes or are exported beyond the PV boundary. In addition to supporting T. gondii growth, these proteins can be processed and presented by MHC I for CD8 + T-cell recognition. Yet it is unclear whether membrane binding influences the processing pathways employed and if topology of membrane antigens impacts their MHC I presentation. Here we report that the MHC I pathways of soluble and membrane-bound antigens differ in their requirement for host ER recruitment. In contrast to the soluble SAG1-OVA model antigen, we find that presentation of the membrane-bound GRA6 is independent from the SNARE Sec22b, a key molecule for transfer of host endoplasmic reticulum components onto the PV. Using parasites modified to secrete a transmembrane antigen with opposite orientations, we further show that MHC I presentation is highly favored when the C-terminal epitope is exposed to the host cell cytosol, which corresponds to GRA6 natural orientation. Our data suggest that the biochemical properties of antigens released by intracellular pathogens critically guide their processing pathway and are valuable parameters to consider for vaccination strategies., (© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The aim of our study was to detect differentially regulated proteins and specific signaling pathways in Mongolian gerbil brains during chronic Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) PRU strain infection. We use a iTRAQ-based strategy to detecte 4935 proteins, out of which 110 proteins were differentially expressed (>/=2.0-fold, p value <0.05) when the brain of gerbils infected with T.gondii was compared to control brain tissues. We confirmed the authenticity and the accuracy of iTRAQ results through quantitative real-time PCR and western blot (WB), which was consistent with mass spectrometry analysis. Pathway analysis and GO (Gene Ontology) annotations indicated the deregulation of several pathways related to immune response, metabolism and neurological processes, like neuronal growth and neurotransmitter transport. Through the iTRAQ-based strategy, we obtained a comparative proteome profile of brain tissues from Mongolian gerbils with chronic infection of T.gondii. Several differentially expressed proteins involved in neurological pathways, like Parvalbumin, Drebrin or Synaptotagmin, can be further investigated to enhance our understanding of central nervous system (CNS) injury caused by T.gondii., Biological Significance: T.gondii can infect almost all nucleated cells with a preference for the CNS, which can induce Toxoplasma encephalitis (TE). However, the pathogenesis and mechanisms between the parasite and host associated with TE are largely unexplored. Around 30% of the world population is considered to have latent infection with T.gondii and >90% patients died of TE, while the proportion of secondary paralysis is also high. Patients of TE may have highly varied neurological symptoms with both focal and diffuse neurological lesions, while mental symptoms and behavior disorders are frequently accompanied, like the Alzheimer's disease (AD). We present a comparative proteomics analysis to explore the differences of protein expression caused by chronic T.gondii infection. The results of this analysis can be helpful for identifying key proteins involved in the pathogenesis of TE. In addition, the study can contribute to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the host-parasite relationship in chronic infection of T.gondii and facilitate further development of new therapies for TE., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

SAG1-related sequence 3 (SRS3) is one of the major Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite surface antigens and has been shown to be potentially useful for the detection of toxoplasmosis. This protein is highly conformational due to the presence of six disulfide bonds. To achieve solubility and antigenicity, SRS3 depends on proper disulfide bond formation. The aim of this study was to over-express the SRS3 protein with correct folding for use in serodiagnosis of the disease. To achieve this, a truncated SRS3 fusion protein (rtSRS3) was produced, containing six histidyl residues at both terminals and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The refolding process was performed through three methods, namely dialysis in the presence of chemical additives along with reduced/oxidized glutathione and drop-wise dilution methods with reduced/oxidized glutathione or reduced DTT/oxidized glutathione. Ellman's assay and ELISA showed that the protein folding obtained by the dialysis method was the most favorable, probably due to the correct folding. Subsequently, serum samples from individuals with chronic infection (n = 76), probable acute infection (n = 14), and healthy controls (n = 81) were used to determine the usefulness of the refolded rtSRS3 for Toxoplasma serodiagnosis. The results of the developed IgG-ELISA showed a diagnostic specificity of 91% and a sensitivity of 82.89% and 100% for chronic and acute serum samples, respectively. In conclusion, correctly folded rtSRS3 has the potential to be used as a soluble antigen for the detection of human toxoplasmosis., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Toxoplasma gondii microneme proteins (TgMICs), secreted by micronemes upon contact with host cells, are reported to play important roles in multiple stages of the T. gondii life cycle, including parasite motility, invasion, intracellular survival, and egress from host cells. Meanwhile, during these processes, TgMICs participate in many protein-protein and protein-carbohydrate interactions, such as undergoing proteolytic maturation, binding to aldolase, engaging the host cell receptors and forming the moving junction (MJ), relying on different types of ectodomains, transmembrane (TM) domains and cytoplasmic domains (CDs). In this review, we summarize the research advances in protein-protein and protein-carbohydrate interactions related to TgMICs, and their intimate associations with corresponding biological processes during T. gondii infection, which will contribute to an improved understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of T. gondii infection, and provide a basis for developing effective control strategies against T. gondii., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)