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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Toxoplasma gondii Cyst Wall Formation in Activated Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages and Bradyzoite Conditions
Published on: August 12, 2010
Toxoplasma gondii induces changes in intracellular calcium in macrophages
K S Masek1, P Zhu, B D Freedman
1Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Room 313, Hill Pavilion, 380 South University Avenue, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Abstract:
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that interacts with calcium storage organelles and induces calcium-dependent signalling in macrophages. This study was performed to determine whether Toxoplasma induces changes in intracellular calcium in these cells. Ratiometric imaging of live, Fura-2 loaded macrophages challenged with T. gondii revealed robust elevations in intracellular calcium. These elevations were late in onset, beginning 15-20 min after addition of parasites and occurred in up to 20% of macrophages in an imaging field. Further characterization of these events revealed that they follow from challenge with live T. gondii, but not heat-killed parasites or soluble Toxoplasma antigen (STAg). Parasite-induced calcium elevations derived from extracellular sources, and were independent of host recognition factors MyD88 and CCR5. These findings indicate that Toxoplasma gondii alters calcium homeostasis in macrophages and this activity is independent of known pathways involved in the innate recognition of this organism.
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