Hijacking of host mitochondria by Toxoplasma gondi and SARS-CoV-2

Mitochondria regulate energy production, cell cycle, and immune signaling. Li et al. recently reported that Toxoplasma gondii induces the shedding of mitochondrial outer membrane to promote its growth. Intriguingly, the hijacking of host mitochondria has been shown to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Automated summary

Mitochondria play crucial roles in energy regulation, cell cycle control, and immune signaling. Recent studies have shown that certain pathogens, such as Toxoplasma gondii and SARS-CoV-2, hijack host mitochondria to facilitate their growth and pathogenesis in the infected cells.