<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> virulence in mice is determined by the pseudokinase ROP5B and countered by an IRG-GBP protein interplay.

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) virulence in mice depends on different multiprotein complexes that assemble at the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) of the parasite. Individual rhoptry proteins within these complexes inhibit different Immunity-Related GTPases (IRG proteins). The rhoptry pseudokinase ROP5 is a central element to achieve IRG-specific rhoptry kinase activity and/or efficient complex formation. The rop5 locus of each of the canonical T. gondii strains encodes three major isoforms, ROP5A, ROP5B and ROP5C, and was shown to have the largest impact on virulence. By reverse genetics, we have generated T. gondii strains expressing either ROP5A, ROP5B or ROP5C in a RHΔrop5 genetic background and demonstrate that ROP5B is mainly responsible

SUBMITTER: Singh S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12283572 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature