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Updated: Aug 26, 2025

Toxoplasma gondii Cyst Wall Formation in Activated Bone Marrow-derived Macrophages and Bradyzoite Conditions
Published on: August 12, 2010
The Toxoplasma plant-like vacuolar compartment (PLVAC)
Andrew J Stasic1, Silvia N J Moreno2,3, Vern B Carruthers4
1Department of Microbiology, Heartland FPG, Carmel, Indiana, USA.
Abstract:
Toxoplasma gondii belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa and is an important cause of congenital disease and infection in immunocompromised patients. T. gondii shares several characteristics with plants including a nonphotosynthetic plastid termed apicoplast and a multivesicular organelle that was named the plant-like vacuole (PLV) or vacuolar compartment (VAC). The name plant-like vacuole was selected based on its resemblance in composition and function to plant vacuoles. The name VAC represents its general vacuolar characteristics. We will refer to the organelle as PLVAC in this review. New findings in recent years have revealed that the PLVAC represents the lysosomal compartment of T. gondii which has adapted peculiarities to fulfill specific Toxoplasma needs. In this review, we discuss the composition and functions of the PLVAC highlighting its roles in ion storage and homeostasis, endocytosis, exocytosis, and autophagy.
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