Toxoplasma gondii infects many people worldwide and is commonly spread through uncooked meat and contaminated produce. The infection, toxoplasmosis, is often mild but can be dangerous for pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. If caught within the first two weeks, it can be treated; otherwise the parasite can turn chronic and form brain cysts.
Scientists at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine changed a fluorescent imaging system normally used for human cells so they could observe the parasite's growth in real time. They searched for proteins that appear at specific growth points and are visible in large structures such as the nucleus. After testing different markers and colors, they attached two bright green tags to a protein called PCNA1 and got a clear signal.
Using that signal, the team mapped the parasite cell cycle and found that later stages overlap instead of following a strict order. With this map, researchers are now seeking weak points to stop multiplication and testing how drugs affect specific stages. The research appears in mBio.
Difficult words
- infect — to make a person or animal sickinfects
- parasite — an organism that lives on or in anotherparasite's
- chronic — lasting a long time, not easily cured
- cyst — a small, closed lump or sac in the bodycysts
- fluorescent — producing visible light when excited by energy
- nucleus — the central part of a cell containing genetic material
- marker — a substance used to show or identify somethingmarkers
- cell cycle — the series of stages a cell goes through
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What steps could people take to reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis from food?
- Why is it useful for researchers to know which stage a drug affects in the parasite?
- How could mapping the parasite cell cycle help scientists find ways to stop multiplication?
Related articles
New analysis: Titan may have a slushy interior, not a deep ocean
Reanalysis of Cassini data suggests Titan has a thick, slushy layer with tunnels and pockets of meltwater near a rocky core rather than a single deep ocean. The result could change ideas about habitability and will be testable by the Dragonfly mission.
Cleaner air in East Asia linked to faster global warming
A study in Nature Communications, Earth and Environment finds recent reductions in aerosol pollution across East Asia, especially China, have probably contributed to faster global surface warming since about 2010. Experts say urgent cuts to emissions and more adaptation finance are needed.
Some chemotherapy drugs trigger immune attack by mimicking viruses
New research finds that some chemotherapy agents can make cancer cells behave like virus‑infected cells. This viral mimicry activates the innate immune system and could let doctors use lower drug doses with better results.