Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Preparing Lamellae from Vitreous Biological Samples Using a Dual-Beam Scanning Electron Microscope for Cryo-Electron Tomography
07:00

Preparing Lamellae from Vitreous Biological Samples Using a Dual-Beam Scanning Electron Microscope for Cryo-Electron Tomography

Published on: August 5, 2021

The parasitophorous vacuole membrane of Encephalitozoon cuniculi lacks host cell membrane proteins immediately after

Verena Fasshauer1, Uwe Gross, Wolfgang Bohne

  • 1Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

Eukaryotic Cell
|January 12, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Microsporidia parasites form a unique vacuole during infection. This parasitophorous vacuole (PV) avoids cellular pathways and remains nonfusogenic, even after drug treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites.
  • Encephalitozoon species cause opportunistic infections.
  • The origin and nature of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) are poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the origin and characteristics of the PV in Encephalitozoon infections.
  • To determine if the PV interacts with host endocytic or endoplasmic reticulum pathways.
  • To assess the effect of anti-parasitic drugs on PV properties.

Main Methods:

  • Colocalization studies using specific cellular markers.
  • Immunofluorescence microscopy to visualize PV and host markers.
  • Treatment with albendazole and fumagillin.

Main Results:

  • The PV was absent from endocytic pathway markers (early endosomal autoantigen 1, transferrin receptor, lysosome-associated membrane protein 1).
  • The PV marker calnexin (endoplasmic reticulum) was also absent.
  • The PV exhibited nonfusogenic characteristics within 1 minute postinfection.
  • Drug treatments with albendazole and fumagillin did not alter the PV's nonfusogenic nature.

Conclusions:

  • The parasitophorous vacuole (PV) in Encephalitozoon infections originates independently of host endocytic and endoplasmic reticulum pathways.
  • The PV rapidly acquires a nonfusogenic state upon infection.
  • This nonfusogenic characteristic is resistant to common anti-microsporidial drugs.

More Related Videos

Analysis of the Epithelial Damage Produced by Entamoeba histolytica Infection11:49

Analysis of the Epithelial Damage Produced by Entamoeba histolytica Infection

Published on: June 12, 2014

Isolation And Dendritic Cell-Uptake of Small Extracellular Vesicles from Echinococcus granulosus09:04

Isolation And Dendritic Cell-Uptake of Small Extracellular Vesicles from Echinococcus granulosus

Published on: March 28, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
Amebiasis01:28

Amebiasis

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...