State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China.
MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, P. R. China.
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023 May;10(14):e2206595. doi: 10.1002/advs.202206595. Epub 2023 Feb 25.
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis and can infect numerous warm-blooded animals. An improved understanding of the fine structure of this parasite can help elucidate its replication mechanism. Previous studies have resolved the ultrastructure of the cytoskeleton using purified samples, which eliminates their cellular context. Here the application of cryo-electron tomography to visualize T. gondii tachyzoites in their native state is reported. The fine structure and cellular distribution of the cytoskeleton are resolved and analyzed at nanometer resolution. Additionally, the tachyzoite structural characteristics are annotated during its endodyogeny for the first time. By comparing the structural features in mature tachyzoites and their daughter buds, it is proposed that the conoid fiber of the Apicomplexa originates from microtubules. This work represents the detailed molecular anatomy of T. gondii, particularly during the budding replication stage of tachyzoite, and provides a reference for further studies of this fascinating organism.
刚地弓形虫（Toxoplasma gondii）是弓形体病的病原体，可感染众多温血动物。深入了解这种寄生虫的精细结构有助于阐明其复制机制。以前的研究使用纯化样本解析了细胞骨架的超微结构，从而消除了其细胞环境。本研究应用冷冻电镜断层扫描技术，以原生状态可视化刚地弓形虫速殖子。以纳米分辨率解析和分析了细胞骨架的精细结构和细胞内分布。此外，首次在其内共生过程中对速殖子的结构特征进行注释。通过比较成熟速殖子和其子孢子芽的结构特征，提出了顶复门的锥体纤维来源于微管。这项工作代表了刚地弓形虫的详细分子解剖结构，特别是在速殖子出芽复制阶段，为进一步研究这个迷人的生物提供了参考。
