3D morphological and biophysical changes in a single tachyzoite and its infected cells using three-dimensional...

Area of Science:

• Parasitology
• Cell Biology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an apicomplexan parasite causing toxoplasmosis, infecting diverse warm-blooded hosts.
• Understanding the pathophysiology of T. gondii infections is crucial due to its ability to infect nearly all nucleated cells.
• Imaging techniques are vital for elucidating the structural and biochemical changes in infected cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate structural and biochemical alterations in single T. gondii tachyzoites and infected host cells.
• To employ digital holotomography as a label-free and quantitative method for this investigation.
• To assess the utility of holotomography in studying the pathophysiology of T. gondii infections.

Main Methods:

• Digital holotomography was utilized to image individual T. gondii tachyzoites and infected cells.
• Label-free imaging allowed for direct observation without exogenous markers.
• Quantitative analysis involved measuring refractive index distribution to determine dry mass and concentration.

Main Results:

• Holotomography successfully identified structural and biochemical modifications in T. gondii-infected cells.
• The refractive index measurements provided quantitative data on cellular dry mass and concentration changes.
• The technique demonstrated effectiveness across a wide range of cell types.

Conclusions:

• Digital holotomography is a powerful tool for label-free, quantitative analysis of cellular changes.
• This technique significantly supports pathophysiological research, particularly for T. gondii-caused diseases.
• Holotomography offers valuable insights into the host-parasite interactions at a cellular level.