Breaking and entering: How parasites prepare host cells for invasion
Researchers have discovered that the Toxoplasma gondii parasite actively remodels host cell membranes to facilitate its own invasion. By reorganizing sugar-coated proteins, the parasite creates specialized patches that trigger its entry machinery.
Why it matters
Understanding the specific mechanisms parasites use to invade cells is critical for developing new treatments for diseases like toxoplasmosis and malaria.
by Alice McCarthy, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Scanning electron micrograph of Toxoplasma bursting from an infected cell to spread. Parasites are artificially colored green. Credit: Arthur Charles-Orszag and Dylan Valleau/Marine Biological Laboratory Before the parasite Toxoplasma gondii can invade a cell, it has to know it has reached the right place. New research from the Whitehead Institute reveals that the parasite doesn't simply recognize a ready-made doorway into the cell. Instead, it helps create the conditions for its own entry.
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