mSphere of Influence: Systemic decoding gene function in Toxoplasma gondii pathogenesis-CRISPR screens and beyond

Area of Science:

• Molecular Parasitology
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Functional Genomics

Background:

• The study of apicomplexan parasites, such as *Toxoplasma*, is crucial for understanding infectious diseases.
• Host-pathogen interactions are complex and require advanced techniques to unravel.
• Traditional methods for gene function discovery can be time-consuming and limited in scope.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reflect on the impact of specific high-throughput screening studies on understanding pathogen biology.
• To highlight how functional genomics approaches advance the study of apicomplexan parasites.
• To discuss the significance of genome-wide screens in identifying essential genes for parasite survival.

Main Methods:

• Genome-wide CRISPR screens for identifying essential genes in *Toxoplasma*.
• Dual Perturb-seq for mapping host-microbe transcriptional interactions.
• High-throughput screening methodologies.

Main Results:

• Identification of essential apicomplexan genes using CRISPR technology.
• Elucidation of host-microbe transcriptional crosstalk through Perturb-seq.
• Demonstration of the power of functional genomics in pathogen research.

Conclusions:

• Genome-wide screens and functional genomics are transformative tools in molecular parasitology.
• These approaches provide critical insights into pathogen pathogenesis and host-pathogen dynamics.
• The reviewed studies significantly influenced the understanding of essential genes in apicomplexan parasites.