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Updated: Sep 27, 2026
Determination of Chemical Inhibitor Efficiency against Intracellular Toxoplasma Gondii Growth Using a Luciferase-Based Growth Assay
Published on: April 29, 2020
[The effect of nitric oxide donor on the DNA content in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite]
1Department of Molecular Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004.
Objective:
To determine the role of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in regulating DNA synthesis of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites.
Methods:
Hypodiploid peak of tachyzoite DNA induced by SNP was assessed according to DNA fragmentation. The effect of SNP on appearance of hypodiploid peak and the effect of Ca2+ on the growth of tachyzoites were evaluated. The intracellular Ca2+ chelator (BAPTA/AM), antagonist of Ca2+ channel (verapamil) and the extracellular Ca2+ chelator (EGTA) were used. The change of DNA content was measured by flow cytometry.
Results:
SNP inhibited DNA synthesis of tachyzoites in a dose- and time-dependent pattern. The antiproliferative effect of SNP on tachyzoites was inhibited by verapamil, EGTA and BAPTA/AM. The inhibition of the growth of tachyzoites by SNP was associated with increased subploid peak through a Ca(2+)-dependent mechanism.
Conclusion:
SNP induced a hypodiploid peak in tachyzoites by altering the Ca2+ concentration in the plasma of tachyzoite, resulting in damages of the parasite.
