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Cell invasion by un-palatable parasites.
1Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark)
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Intracellular protozoa like Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma cruzi use unique invasion strategies. Toxoplasma glides into cells using actin/myosin, while T. cruzi hijacks calcium-regulated pathways for entry.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Some intracellular pathogens invade phagocytic cells, while others induce uptake by non-phagocytic cells via macropinocytosis.
- Protozoan parasites, larger than bacteria, employ distinct invasion mechanisms, either targeting professional phagocytes or using unusual entry routes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the cell invasion strategies of two major intracellular protozoan parasites: Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma cruzi.
- To highlight the diverse mechanisms parasites use to enter host cells.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of invasion mechanisms based on existing literature.
- Focus on actin/myosin-dependent motility and calcium-regulated pathways.
Main Results:
- Toxoplasma gondii employs actin/myosin-dependent gliding motility for invasion.
- Trypanosoma cruzi utilizes a calcium-regulated lysosomal exocytic pathway to enter host cells.
Conclusions:
- Intracellular protozoa exhibit remarkable and diverse strategies for host cell invasion, distinct from bacterial mechanisms.
- Understanding these unique pathways is crucial for developing targeted anti-parasitic therapies.