Eukaryot Cell. 2014 Jun 20. pii: EC.00081-14. [Epub ahead of print]

Toxoplasma Development of Its Replicative Niche: In Its Host Cell and Beyond

Blader IJ¹, Koshy AA².

 

Intracellular pathogens can only replicate efficiently after they manipulate and modify their host cells to create an environment conducive for its replication. While diverse cellular pathways are targeted by different pathogens, metabolism, membrane and cytoskeletal architecture, and cell death are the three primary cellular processes that are modified by infections. Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that infects ∼30% of the world's population and causes severe and life-threatening disease in developing fetuses, immune-comprised patients, and in certain otherwise healthy individuals who are primarily in South America. The high prevalence of Toxoplasma in humans is in large part a result of its ability to modulate these three host cell processes. Here, we will highlight recent work defining the mechanisms by which Toxoplasma interacts with the processes. In addition, we will hypothesize why some processes are modified not only in the infected host cell but also in neighboring uninfected cells.
Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

PMID:

24951442

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]