Dataset Information

Functional Characterization of Dense Granule Proteins in Toxoplasma gondii RH Strain Using CRISPR-Cas9 System.

ABSTRACT: Infection with the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is an ongoing public health problem. The parasite's ability to invade and replicate within the host cell is dependent on many effectors, such as dense granule proteins (GRAs) released from the specialized organelle dense granules, into host cells. GRAs have emerged as important determinants of T. gondii pathogenesis. However, the functions of some GRAs remain undefined. In this study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 technique to disrupt 17 GRA genes (GRA11, GRA12 bis, GRA13, GRA14, GRA20, GRA21, GRA28-31, GRA33-38, and GRA40) in the virulent T. gondii RH strain. The CRISPR-Cas9 constructs abolished the expression of the 17 GRA genes. Functional characterization of single ?GRA mutants was achieved in vitro using cell-based plaque assay and egress assay, and in vivo in BALB/c mice. Targeted deletion of these 17 GRA genes had no significant effect neither on the in vitro growth and egress of the mutant strains from the host cells nor on the parasite virulence in the mouse model of infection. Comparative analysis of the transcriptomics data of the 17 GRA genes suggest that GRAs may serve different functions in different genotypes and life cycle stages of the parasite. In sum, although these 17 GRAs might not be essential for RH strain growth in vitro or virulence in mice, they may have roles in other strains or parasite stages, which warrants further investigations.

SUBMITTER: Bai MJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6121064 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Functional Characterization of Dense Granule Proteins in Toxoplasma gondii RH Strain Using CRISPR-Cas9 System.

Bai Meng-Jie MJ Wang Jin-Lei JL Elsheikha Hany M HM Liang Qin-Li QL Chen Kai K Nie Lan-Bi LB Zhu Xing-Quan XQ

Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology 20180828

Infection with the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is an ongoing public health problem. The parasite's ability to invade and replicate within the host cell is dependent on many effectors, such as dense granule proteins (GRAs) released from the specialized organelle dense granules, into host cells. GRAs have emerged as important determinants of T. gondii pathogenesis. However, the functions of some GRAs remain undefined. In this study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 technique ...[more]

PMID: 30211128

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Project description:Toxoplasma gondii is a globally distributed obligate intracellular parasite which can cause zoonotic toxoplasmosis with great harms. The average death time of mice that infected with Toxoplasma gondii RH strain tachyzoites recovered from the liquid nitrogen was shortened after multiple generations. It has been reported that the parasite is in a state of static virulence during cryopreservation and the virulence of the protozoan parasite can be enhanced after continuous passages in hosts under laboratory conditions. However, no research has been conducted to elucidate its biological mechanism. Herein, we sequenced the T. gondii transcriptome using RNA-Seq technology and performed de novo assembly to investigated the virulence factors expression changes by comparing gene expression profiles between incipiently recovered and completely resuscitated tachyzoites. Transcriptome analysis identified 1,951 differentially expressed transcripts in infected liver, of which 1,752 were significantly downregulated and 199 upregulated. We identified many differentially expressed proteins and genes, including serine/threonine kinase, calnexin, myosin and microtubule-associated protein which have previously been reported to be either involved in cell adhesion, parasite gliding or participate in cell invasion. The great majority of the virulence factors including microneme proteins, rhoptry proteins and dense granule proteins were upregulated in fully recovered tachyzoites. The enhanced virulence of recovered Toxoplasma gondii RH strain from the liquid nitrogen is associated with the up-regulated expression of MICs, ROPs and GRAs. Our data will facilitate future genomic research and in-depth annotation of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain genomes. This study provides a profile of the candidate genes that are suspected to be involved with virulence enhancement of recovered Toxoplasma gondii RH strain tachyzoites. Many further studies should be carried out to confirm the function of the candidate genes. Moreover, the preliminary identification of genes and pathways exhibiting differential expression in complete resuscitation stage may further our general understanding of virulence enhancement in this parasite.

Dataset Information

Functional Characterization of Dense Granule Proteins in Toxoplasma gondii RH Strain Using CRISPR-Cas9 System.

Publications

Functional Characterization of Dense Granule Proteins in <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> RH Strain Using CRISPR-Cas9 System.

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