Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Influence of calcium ion on host cell invasion and intracellular replication by Toxoplasma gondii

  • Song, Hyun-Ouk (Department of Parasitology and Institute of Biomedical Science, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Ahn, Myoung-Hee (Department of Parasitology and Institute of Biomedical Science, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Ryu, Jae-Sook (Department of Parasitology and Institute of Biomedical Science, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Min, Duk-Young (Department of Parasitology and Institute of Biomedical Science, Hanyang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Joo, Kyoung-Hwan (Department of Parasitology, Korea University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Young-Ha (Department of Parasitology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine)
  • Published : 2004.12.01
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Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, which invades a wide range of hosts including humans. The exact mechanisms involved in its invasion are not fully understood. This study focused on the roles of $Ca^{2+}$ in host cell invasion and in T. gondii replication. We examined the invasion and replication of T. gondii pretreated with several calcium modulators, the conoid extrusion of tachyzoites. Calmodulin localization in T. gondii were observed using the immunogold method, and $Ca^{2+}$ levels in tachyzoites by confocal microscopy. In light microscopic observation, tachyzoites co-treated with A23187 and EGTA showed that host cell invasion and intracellular replication were decreased. The invasion of tachyzoites was slightly inhibited by the $Ca^{2+}$ channel blockers, bepridil and verapamil, and by the calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium. We observed that calcium saline containing A23187 induced the extrusion of tachyzoite conoid. By immunoelectron microscopy, gold particles bound to anti-calmodulin or anti-actin mAb, were found to be localized on the anterior portion of tachyzoites. Remarkably reduced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ was observed in tachyzoites treated with BAPTA/AM by confocal microscopy. These results suggest that host cell invasion and the intracellular replication of T. gondii tachyzoites are inhibited by the calcium ionophore, A23187, and by the extracellular calcium chelator, EGTA.

Keywords

References

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