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13:54

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Invasion factors of apicomplexan parasites: essential or redundant?

Markus Meissner1, David J P Ferguson, Freddy Frischknecht

  • 1Welcome Trust and University of Glasgow, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, Office b-613, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom. markus.meissner@glasgow.ac.uk

Current Opinion in Microbiology
|June 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Apicomplexa parasites invade host cells via gliding motility. However, new research indicates invasion can occur even when gliding is blocked, suggesting alternative mechanisms are at play.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Cell Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Apicomplexa are significant intracellular parasites causing global diseases.
  • Parasite invasion is traditionally linked to gliding motility.
  • Existing models suggest passive host cell involvement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms of Apicomplexa host cell invasion.
  • To explore alternative invasion pathways independent of gliding motility.
  • To critically evaluate current invasion models.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of knockdown mutants.
  • Use of specific inhibitors targeting gliding machinery components.
  • Observation of host cell invasion when gliding is inhibited.

Main Results:

  • Gliding motility is generally linked to Apicomplexa invasion.
  • Host cell invasion can still occur when gliding motility is blocked.
  • This suggests motor-independent invasion mechanisms may exist.

Conclusions:

  • Current models of Apicomplexa invasion require revision.
  • Alternative, motor-independent invasion mechanisms, possibly involving host cell activity, are proposed.
  • Further research is needed to understand these discrepancies in invasion.

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