The secreted kinase ROP17 promotes Toxoplasma gondii dissemination by hijacking monocyte tissue migration.

ABSTRACT: The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is thought to exploit monocyte trafficking to facilitate dissemination across endothelial barriers such as the blood-brain barrier. Here, we analysed the migration of parasitized monocytes in model endothelial and interstitial environments. We report that infection enhanced monocyte locomotion on the surface of endothelial cells, but profoundly inhibited monocyte transmigration across endothelial barriers. By contrast, infection robustly increased monocyte and macrophage migration through collagen-rich tissues in a Rho-ROCK-dependent manner consistent with integrin-independent interstitial migration. We further demonstrated that the secreted T. gondii protein kinase ROP17 was required for enhanced tissue migration. In vivo, ROP17-deficient parasites

SUBMITTER: Drewry LL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6814536 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature