Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kim Chi Vo, Liberta Ruga, Olympia Ekaterini Psathaki, Rico Franzkoch, Ute Distler, Stefan Tenzer, Michael Hensel, Peter Hegemann, Nishith Gupta
Summary: This study reveals the catalytic function, subcellular localization, and drug inhibition of key phosphodiesterases in Toxoplasma gondii, highlighting the unexpected plasticity and therapeutic potential of cyclic nucleotide signaling in the parasite.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yongle Song, Longjiao Li, Xinyu Mo, Ming Pan, Bang Shen, Rui Fang, Min Hu, Junlong Zhao, Yanqin Zhou
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogen that poses a threat to human and animal health. Calcium ions play a crucial role in regulating important biological processes in the parasite. This study explored the function of calmodulin (CaM), a calcium-binding protein, in T. gondii and identified more than 300 interacting proteins using BioID technology.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Biology
Ines L. S. Delgado, Alexandra Tavares, Samuel Francisco, Dulce Santos, Joao Coelho, Afonso P. Basto, Sara Zuquete, Joachim Mueller, Andrew Hemphill, Markus Meissner, Helena Soares, Alexandre Leitao, Sofia Nolasco
Summary: The study reveals that TgMOB1 is not essential for the growth of Toxoplasma gondii, but plays a crucial role in cell division. TgMOB1 mediates the replication speed of T. gondii parasites at a fine level. The research uncovers new features of MOB1 and its potential implications for disease processes.
Article
Immunology
Ahlam Elmasry, Wafaa A. Aboukamar, Heba Hany, Manar S. Elmehankar
Summary: The study found that Roflumilast has a potential effect on the tachyzoite-bradyzoite transition in toxoplasmosis. The group treated earlier with 10 mg/kg of Roflumilast showed the best results, significantly reducing T. gondii cyst count, size, and IL-12 level.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sae Muniz-Hernandez, Angelica Luna-Nophal, Carmen T. Gomez-De Leon, Lenin Dominguez-Ramirez, Olga A. Patron-Soberano, Karen E. Nava-Castro, Pedro Ostoa-Saloma, Jorge Morales-Montor
Summary: This study demonstrated the toxoplasmicidal effect of DHEA on extracellular tachyzoites, altering cytoskeleton structures and reducing cellular viability. In vitro, DHEA treatment decreased the survival of tachyzoites and inhibited their passive invasion process. In vivo, treatment with DHEA led to a reduction in parasitic load in male mice.
Article
Microbiology
Agnieszka Lis, Carlos Gustavo Baptista, Kelsey Dahlgren, Maria M. Corvi, Ira J. Blader
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite, has metabolic and cellular pathways designed for its survival within host cells. Under extracellular stress, the elongation phase of protein synthesis is regulated by the oxygen-sensing protein PHYb. The parasite kinase CDPK3, highly homologous to yeast eEF2 kinase RCK2, is responsible for the phosphorylation of eEF2. Loss of CDPK3 in stressed parasites leads to enhanced elongation rates. Furthermore, CDPK3 and eEF2 interact in stressed parasites through the relocalization of CDPK3 to the cytosol.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erica S. Martins-Duarte, Juliana de Araujo Portes, Ramon Borges da Silva, Hugo Silva Pires, Simon J. Garden, Wanderley de Souza
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasitic disease worldwide, with limited therapy options. Chemical modification of 1,10-phenanthroline to new derivatives has significantly improved anti-T. gondii activity, potentially serving as lead compounds for the treatment of acute and chronic phases of toxoplasmosis.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Rajshekhar Y. Gaji, Amanda K. Sharp, Anne M. Brown
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a life-threatening intracellular pathogen that depends on protein kinases for its life cycle. Research on Toxoplasma kinases aims to understand their functions and potentially develop therapeutics against this parasite.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Xinchao Liu, Chunjing Li, Xiaoyu Li, Muhammad Ehsan, Mingmin Lu, Ke Li, Lixin Xu, Ruofeng Yan, Xiaokai Song, XiangRui Li
Summary: The study revealed the significant role of eIF-5A in T. gondii transmission and pathogenicity by regulating tachyzoite growth, protein synthesis, invasion process, and parasite replication. These findings provide new insights for the development of targeted drugs for controlling T. gondii infection.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yaqiong Li, Zhipeng Niu, Jichao Yang, Xuke Yang, Yukun Chen, Yingying Li, Xiaohan Liang, Jingwen Zhang, Fuqiang Fan, Ping Wu, Chao Peng, Bang Shen
Summary: In this study, the researchers identified the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in Toxoplasma gondii's metabolic programming during its lytic cycle. They found that AMPK phosphorylation is dynamically regulated to satisfy the parasites' metabolic needs at different stages.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Xuke Yang, Xiaoyan Yin, Jiaojiao Liu, Zhipeng Niu, Jichao Yang, Bang Shen
Summary: PPi-PFK plays a crucial role in glycolysis, coordinating anabolism and catabolism in parasites by maintaining pyrophosphate homeostasis and maximizing nutrient utilization efficiency. Its physiological significance in Toxoplasma and other organisms has been highlighted, suggesting a potential drug target for combating toxoplasmosis.
Article
Cell Biology
Christopher Swale, Valeria Bellini, Matthew W. Bowler, Nardella Flore, Marie-Pierre Brenier-Pinchart, Dominique Cannella, Lucid Belmudes, Caroline Mas, Yohann Coute, Fabrice Laurent, Artur Scherf, Alexandre Bougdour, Mohamed-Ali Hakimi
Summary: The Apicomplexa, a phylum of single-celled protozoa, cause severe parasitic diseases in humans and animals. Current therapeutics are limited by their efficacy and resistance. In this study, altiratinib, originally developed for glioblastoma, is identified as a potential drug candidate with broad spectrum activity against apicomplexans. Altiratinib specifically targets the TgPRP4K of T. gondii and inhibits the development of intracellular parasites. The molecular basis of the inhibitory mechanism and species selectivity is further elucidated.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Runhui Zhang, Wanpeng Zheng, Arwid Daugschies, Berit Bangoura
Summary: This study found that the parasites Eimeria tenella and Toxoplasma gondii have significant effects on chickens. Chicken macrophages, as phagocytic cells, participate in the innate immune response against these parasites. The study observed that E. tenella modulates host cell responses to T. gondii, reducing its invasion and replication in chicken macrophages.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Celine Christiansen, Deborah Maus, Ellen Hoppenz, Mateo Murillo-Leon, Tobias Hoffmann, Jana Scholz, Florian Melerowicz, Tobias Steinfeldt, Frank Seeber, Martin Blume
Summary: In this study, a human myotube-based in vitro culture model was developed to successfully culture functionally mature tissue cysts of Toxoplasma gondii, the parasites that cause chronic infections. The cultured cysts were orally infectious to mice and tolerant to various antibiotics and temperature stresses. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant changes in the metabolism of the cysts compared to the fast replicating tachyzoite forms, including increased levels of amino acids and decreased abundance of nucleobase- and tricarboxylic acid cycle-associated metabolites. This study provides a crucial tool for dissecting important host-parasite interactions and drug evasion mechanisms, as well as identifying new therapeutic strategies.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Joachim Kloehn, Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi, Dominique Soldati-Favre
Summary: The apicomplexans, such as Toxoplasma gondii, are obligate intracellular parasites that rely on host metabolism for energy sources and nutrients. Host metabolites directly affect parasite development. There is an ongoing battle over metabolites between the parasite and its host.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Haiyan Gong, Kyousuke Kobayashi, Tatsuki Sugi, Hitoshi Takemae, Taisuke Horimoto, Xuenan Xuan, Hiroomi Akashi, Kentaro Kato
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2016)
Article
Parasitology
Kyousuke Kobayashi, Kentaro Kato
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2016)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takeshi Haraguchi, Masayuki Kondo, Ryo Uchikawa, Kazuyoshi Kobayashi, Hiroaki Hiramatsu, Kyousuke Kobayashi, Ung Weng Chit, Takanobu Shimizu, Hideo Iba
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2016)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kazuyoshi Kobayashi, Hiroaki Hiramatsu, Shinya Nakamura, Kyousuke Kobayashi, Takeshi Haraguchi, Hideo Iba
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2017)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kyousuke Kobayashi, Fumiko Suemasa, Hiroshi Sagara, Shinya Nakamura, Yasushi Ino, Kazuyoshi Kobayashi, Hiroaki Hiramatsu, Takeshi Haraguchi, Kazuo Kurokawa, Tomoki Todo, Akihiko Nakano, Hideo Iba
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2017)
Article
Virology
Kyousuke Kobayashi, Yui Sudaka, Ayako Takashino, Ayumi Imura, Ken Fujii, Satoshi Koike
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2018)
Article
Virology
Ken Fujii, Yui Sudaka, Ayako Takashino, Kyousuke Kobayashi, Chikako Kataoka, Tadaki Suzuki, Naoko Iwata-Yoshikawa, Osamu Kotani, Yasushi Ami, Hiroyuki Shimizu, Noriyo Nagata, Katsumi Mizuta, Yoko Matsuzaki, Satoshi Koike
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2018)
Article
Parasitology
Hitoshi Takemae, Kyousuke Kobayashi, Tatsuki Sugi, Yongmei Han, Haiyan Gong, Akiko Ishiwa, Frances C. Recuenco, Fumi Murakoshi, Ryo Takano, Yuho Murata, Kisaburo Nagamune, Taisuke Horimoto, Hiroomi Akashi, Kentaro Kato
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hiroaki Hiramatsu, Kazuyoshi Kobayashi, Kyousuke Kobayashi, Takeshi Haraguchi, Yasushi Ino, Tomoki Todo, Hideo Iba
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2017)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hiroaki Hiramatsu, Kazuyoshi Kobayashi, Kyousuke Kobayashi, Takeshi Haraguchi, Yasushi Ino, Tomoki Todo, Hideo Iba
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2018)
Article
Oncology
Ping-Hsiu Wu, Yasuhito Onodera, Frances C. Recuenco, Amato J. Giaccia, Quynh-Thu Le, Shinichi Shimizu, Hiroki Shirato, Jin-Min Nam
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Son T. Chu, Kyousuke Kobayashi, Xiuqiong Bi, Azumi Ishizaki, Tu T. Tran, Thuy T. B. Phung, Chung T. T. Pham, Lam Nguyen, Tuan A. Ta, Dung T. K. Khu, Masanobu Agoh, An N. Pham, Satoshi Koike, Hiroshi Ichimura
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Review
Cell Biology
Kyousuke Kobayashi, Satoshi Koike
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Frances C. Recuenco, Ryo Takano, Tatsuki Sugi, Hitoshi Takemae, Fumi Murakoshi, Akiko Ishiwa, Atsuko Inomata, Yukiko Enomoto-Rogers, Noreen Grace V. Fundador, Tadahisa Iwata, Taisuke Horimoto, Hiroomi Akashi, Kentaro Kato
JAPANESE JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2017)