Cell Death by Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is a dangerous intracellular parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis, a disease that has several clinical manifestations¹. One explanation for its diverse clinical features is the wide variability in parasite strains across the globe². Here, we used scanning electron microscopy to reveal the instant when a group of parasites kills a cell. These parasites can infect any nucleated cell³ and a similar mechanism occurs in human cells. In Figure 1, T. gondii tachyzoites are observed immediately after infection in the HeLa cell culture. In the image, the small size of the parasites can be compared to the cell that will be parasitized. In Figure 2, approximately 20 h after infection, the dead cell can be seen owing to the remarkable reproductive capacity and pathogenicity of this parasite.

FIGURE 1:
Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites around a Hela cell after the cell culture is infected. Scanning electron microscopic image. FIGURE 2: Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites after death of the infected Hela cell, approximately 20 h after infection. Scanning electron microscopic image.

FIGURE 2:
Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites after death of the infected Hela cell, approximately 20 h after infection. Scanning electron microscopic image.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We deeply thank the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte that provided the technical support required for the development and implementation of this study.

REFERENCES

• ¹
  Montoya JG, Liesenfeld O. Toxoplasmosis. The lancet. 2004;363(9425):1965-76.
• ²
  Oliveira CBS. Polymorphisms in Toxoplasma gondii: role of atypical strains in unusual clinical manifestations of toxoplasmosis. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2017;50(4):578-9.
• ³
  Dubey JP, Su C. Population biology of Toxoplasma gondii: what's out and where did they come from. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009;104(2):190-5.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  12 June 2020
• Date of issue
  2020

History

• Received
  04 Jan 2020
• Accepted
  31 Mar 2020