Intracellular life of protozoan Toxoplasma gondii: Parasitophorous vacuole establishment and survival strategies

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan of worldwide distribution and the agent of toxoplasmosis. It is estimated that 30%-50% of the world population could be infected with this parasite. Although the infection in immunocompetent individuals is mostly asymptomatic, the disease in immunosuppressed and pregnant is a risk condition. As a member of the phylum Apicomplexa, T. gondii has an obligatory intracellular lifestyle; therefore, invading a host cell and establishing it inside a parasitophorous vacuole (PV) are mandatories for the survival of this parasite. The construction of a perfect intracellular niche for T. gondii requires the secretion of an arsenal of proteins from unique secretory organelles. These proteins will remodel the vacuolar environment and the host cell organization and functions, allowing the parasite to access essential nutrients and stay invisible inside a host cell. In the present review, we will discuss the main steps involved in the PV formation and its differentiation to tissue cyst, focusing mainly on the strategies employed in the acquisition of nutrients and proteins involved in host cell modification.

Automated summary

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis and can infect up to 50% of the world population. It invades host cells and forms a parasitophorous vacuole (PV) to ensure its survival. Secretion of proteins from specialized organelles allows T. gondii to modify the PV environment and manipulate host cell functions, enabling it to access nutrients and remain undetected. This review focuses on the formation of PV and its differentiation into tissue cyst, with emphasis on strategies for nutrient acquisition and host cell modification proteins.