Protein trafficking through the endosomal system prepares intracellular parasites for a home invasion

PLoS Pathog. 2013 Oct;9(10):e1003629. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003629. Epub 2013 Oct 24.

Abstract

Toxoplasma (toxoplasmosis) and Plasmodium (malaria) use unique secretory organelles for migration, cell invasion, manipulation of host cell functions, and cell egress. In particular, the apical secretory micronemes and rhoptries of apicomplexan parasites are essential for successful host infection. New findings reveal that the contents of these organelles, which are transported through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi, also require the parasite endosome-like system to access their respective organelles. In this review, we discuss recent findings that demonstrate that these parasites reduced their endosomal system and modified classical regulators of this pathway for the biogenesis of apical organelles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Malaria / metabolism*
  • Malaria / pathology
  • Plasmodium / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism*
  • Toxoplasma / metabolism*
  • Toxoplasmosis / metabolism*
  • Toxoplasmosis / pathology

Substances

  • Protozoan Proteins