TgMAPK1 is a Toxoplasma gondii MAP kinase that hijacks host MKK3 signals to regulate virulence and interferon-γ-mediated nitric oxide production.

Highlights: [•] TgMAPK1 is a Toxoplasma gondii mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). [•] It affects parasite proliferation in an IFN-γ, iNOS and MKK3-dependent manner. [•] Parasite tissue burden is regulated by TgMAPK1 expression in iNOS-replete tissues. [•] Thus TgMAPK1 ultimately affects virulence by manipulating host IFN-γ-mediated iNOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]