Intestinal delta-6-desaturase activity determines host range for Toxoplasma sexual reproduction.

ABSTRACT: Many eukaryotic microbes have complex life cycles that include both sexual and asexual phases with strict species specificity. Whereas the asexual cycle of the protistan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can occur in any warm-blooded mammal, the sexual cycle is restricted to the feline intestine. The molecular determinants that identify cats as the definitive host for T. gondii are unknown. Here, we defined the mechanism of species specificity for T. gondii sexual development and break the species barrier to allow the sexual cycle to occur in mice. We determined that T. gondii sexual development occurs when cultured feline intestinal epithelial cells are supplemented with linoleic acid. Felines are the only mammals that lack delta-6-desaturase activity in their intestines, which is required for l

SUBMITTER: Martorelli Di Genova B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6701743 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature