Translocation of effector proteins into host cells by Toxoplasma gondii.

• Toxoplasma introduces ROP and GRA effectors into host cells to coopt host functions. • ROP effector secretion occurs during invasion via an unknown mechanism. • MYR1-3, ROP17, and ASP5 are required for transit of GRAs across Toxoplasma 's PVM. • Plasmodium employs different machinery (PTEX) to transport GRAs across the PVM. • Translocation of effector proteins into host cells by Toxoplasma gondii. The Apicomplexan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is an obligate intracellular organism that must co-opt its host cell to survive. To this end, Toxoplasma parasites introduce a suite of effector proteins from two secretory compartments called rhoptries and dense granules into the host cells. Once inside, these effectors extensively modify the host cell to facilitate parasite penetration, replication and persistence. In this review, we summarize the most recent advances in current understanding of effector translocation from Toxoplasma 's rhoptry and dense granule organelles into the host cell, with comparisons to Plasmodium spp. for broader context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]