This work was funded by American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant 0635480N and National Institutes of Health research grant AI081220. BIC is supported by a Knights Templar Eye Foundation research grant.

Overview
Protocols are provided to first define the dosage of the mutagen leading to a 70% killing of the parasites (protocol 1). The next procedure is provided to enrich the induced egress mutants from a mutagenized parasite pool (protocol 2, Figure 2). This is followed by a protocol to test the incidence of egress mutants in the enriched pool, or to validate the egress phenotype in individual mutants (protocol 3). Finally, a protocol is provided to generate single parasite clones from enriched ...

<ol>
	<li>Carruthers, V. B., Moreno, S. N., Sibley, L. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ethanol+and+acetaldehyde+elevate+intracellular+[Ca2+]+and+stimulate+microneme+discharge+in+Toxoplasma+gondii.">Ethanol and acetaldehyde elevate intracellular [Ca2+] and stimulate microneme discharge in Toxoplasma gondii.</a> Biochem. J. 342 (Pt 2), 379-386 (1999).</li><li>Moudy, R., Manning, T. J., Beckers, C. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+loss+of+cytoplasmic+potassium+upon+host+cell+breakdown+triggers+egress+of+Toxoplasma+gondii.">The loss of cytoplasmic potassium upon host cell breakdown triggers egress of Toxoplasma gondii.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 276 (44), 41492-41501 (2001).</li><li>Silverman, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Induced+activation+of+the+Toxoplasma+gondii+nucleoside+triphosphate+hydrolase+leads+to+depletion+of+host+cell+ATP+levels+and+rapid+exit+of+intracellular+parasites+from+infected+cells.">Induced activation of the Toxoplasma gondii nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase leads to depletion of host cell ATP levels and rapid exit of intracellular parasites from infected cells.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 273 (20), 12352-12359 (1998).</li><li>Stommel, E. W., Ely, K. H., Schwartzman, J. D., Kasper, L. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toxoplasma+gondii:+dithiol-induced+Ca2++flux+causes+egress+of+parasites+from+the+parasitophorous+vacuole.">Toxoplasma gondii: dithiol-induced Ca2+ flux causes egress of parasites from the parasitophorous vacuole.</a> Exp. Parasitol. 87 (2), 88-97 (1997).</li><li>Fruth, I. A., Arrizabalaga, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toxoplasma+gondii:+induction+of+egress+by+the+potassium+ionophore+nigericin.">Toxoplasma gondii: induction of egress by the potassium ionophore nigericin.</a> Int. J. Parasitol. 37 (14), 1559-1567 (2007).</li><li>Endo, T., Sethi, K. K., Piekarski, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toxoplasma+gondii:+calcium+ionophore+A23187-mediated+exit+of+trophozoites+from+infected+murine+macrophages.">Toxoplasma gondii: calcium ionophore A23187-mediated exit of trophozoites from infected murine macrophages.</a> Exp. Parasitol. 53 (2), 179-188 (1982).</li><li>Hoff, E. F., Carruthers, V. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Is+Toxoplasma+egress+the+first+step+in+invasion.">Is Toxoplasma egress the first step in invasion.</a> Trends Parasitol. 18 (6), 251-255 (2002).</li><li>Wetzel, D. M., Chen, L. A., Ruiz, F. A., Moreno, S. N., Sibley, L. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium-mediated+protein+secretion+potentiates+motility+in+Toxoplasma+gondii.">Calcium-mediated protein secretion potentiates motility in Toxoplasma gondii.</a> J. Cell. Sci. 117 (Pt 24), 5739-5748 (2004).</li><li>Lourido, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Calcium-dependent+protein+kinase+1+is+an+essential+regulator+of+exocytosis+in+Toxoplasma.">Calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 is an essential regulator of exocytosis in Toxoplasma.</a> Nature. 465 (7296), 359-362 (2010).</li><li>Arrizabalaga, G., Ruiz, F., Moreno, S., Boothroyd, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ionophore-resistant+mutant+of+Toxoplasma+gondii+reveals+involvement+of+a+sodium/hydrogen+exchanger+in+calcium+regulation.">Ionophore-resistant mutant of Toxoplasma gondii reveals involvement of a sodium/hydrogen exchanger in calcium regulation.</a> J. Cell. Biol. 165 (5), 653-662 (2004).</li><li>Black, M. W., Arrizabalaga, G., Boothroyd, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Ionophore-resistant+mutants+of+Toxoplasma+gondii+reveal+host+cell+permeabilization+as+an+early+event+in+egress.">Ionophore-resistant mutants of Toxoplasma gondii reveal host cell permeabilization as an early event in egress.</a> Mol. Cell. Biol. 20 (24), 9399-9408 (2000).</li><li>Chandramohanadas, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Apicomplexan+Parasites+Co-Opt+Host+Calpains+to+Facilitate+Their+Escape+from+Infected+Cells.">Apicomplexan Parasites Co-Opt Host Calpains to Facilitate Their Escape from Infected Cells.</a> Science. , (2009).</li><li>Eidell, K. P., Burke, T., Gubbels, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Development+of+a+screen+to+dissect+Toxoplasma+gondii+egress.">Development of a screen to dissect Toxoplasma gondii egress.</a> Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 171 (2), 97-103 (2010).</li><li>Pfefferkorn, E. R., Pfefferkorn, L. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toxoplasma+gondii:+isolation+and+preliminary+characterization+of+temperature-sensitive+mutants.">Toxoplasma gondii: isolation and preliminary characterization of temperature-sensitive mutants.</a> Exp. Parasitol. 39 (3), 365-376 (1976).</li><li>Pfefferkorn, E. R., Schwartzman, J. D., Kasper, L. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toxoplasma+gondii:+use+of+mutants+to+study+the+host-parasite+relationship.">Toxoplasma gondii: use of mutants to study the host-parasite relationship.</a> Ciba. Found. Symp. 99, 74-91 (1983).</li><li>Striepen, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+complementation+in+apicomplexan+parasites.">Genetic complementation in apicomplexan parasites.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 99 (9), 6304-6309 (2002).</li><li>White, M. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+rescue+of+a+Toxoplasma+gondii+conditional+cell+cycle+mutant.">Genetic rescue of a Toxoplasma gondii conditional cell cycle mutant.</a> Mol. Microbiol. 55 (4), 1060-1071 (2005).</li><li>Gubbels, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Forward+Genetic+Analysis+of+the+Apicomplexan+Cell+Division+Cycle+in+Toxoplasma+gondii.">Forward Genetic Analysis of the Apicomplexan Cell Division Cycle in Toxoplasma gondii.</a> PLoS Pathog. 4 (2), e36-e36 (2008).</li><li>Carruthers, V. B., Hakansson, S., Giddings, O. K., Sibley, L. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toxoplasma+gondii+uses+sulfated+proteoglycans+for+substrate+and+host+cell+attachment.">Toxoplasma gondii uses sulfated proteoglycans for substrate and host cell attachment.</a> Infect. Immun. 68 (7), 4005-4011 (2000).</li><li>Camps, M., Boothroyd, J. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toxoplasma+gondii:+selective+killing+of+extracellular+parasites+by+oxidation+using+pyrrolidine+dithiocarbamate.">Toxoplasma gondii: selective killing of extracellular parasites by oxidation using pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate.</a> Exp. Parasitol. 98 (4), 206-214 (2001).</li><li>Roos, D. S., Donald, R. G., Morrissette, N. S., Moulton, A. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+tools+for+genetic+dissection+of+the+protozoan+parasite+Toxoplasma+gondii.">Molecular tools for genetic dissection of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.</a> Methods Cell Biol. 45, 27-63 (1994).</li><li>Gubbels, M. J., Li, C., Striepen, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=High-throughput+growth+assay+for+Toxoplasma+gondii+using+yellow+fluorescent+protein.">High-throughput growth assay for Toxoplasma gondii using yellow fluorescent protein.</a> Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 47 (1), 309-316 (2003).</li><li>Carey, K. L., Westwood, N. J., Mitchison, T. J., Ward, G. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+small-molecule+approach+to+studying+invasive+mechanisms+of+Toxoplasma+gondii.">A small-molecule approach to studying invasive mechanisms of Toxoplasma gondii.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 101 (19), 7433-7438 (2004).</li><li>Kafsack, B. F., Carruthers, V. B., Pineda, F. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kinetic+modeling+of+Toxoplasma+gondii+invasion.">Kinetic modeling of Toxoplasma gondii invasion.</a> J. Theor. Biol. 249 (4), 817-825 (2007).</li><li>Hanash, S. M., Boehnke, M., Chu, E. H., Neel, J. V., Kuick, R. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nonrandom+distribution+of+structural+mutants+in+ethylnitrosourea-treated+cultured+human+lymphoblastoid+cells.">Nonrandom distribution of structural mutants in ethylnitrosourea-treated cultured human lymphoblastoid cells.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 85 (1), 165-169 (1988).</li><li>Kafsack, B. F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rapid+membrane+disruption+by+a+perforin-like+protein+facilitates+parasite+exit+from+host+cells.">Rapid membrane disruption by a perforin-like protein facilitates parasite exit from host cells.</a> Science. 323 (5913), 530-533 (2009).</li><li>Lovett, J. L., Marchesini, N., Moreno, S. N., Sibley, L. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Toxoplasma+gondii+microneme+secretion+involves+intracellular+Ca(2+)+release+from+inositol+1,4,5-triphosphate+(IP(3))/ryanodine-sensitive+stores.">Toxoplasma gondii microneme secretion involves intracellular Ca(2+) release from inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP(3))/ryanodine-sensitive stores.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 277 (29), 25870-25876 (2002).</li><li>Nagamune, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Abscisic+acid+controls+calcium-dependent+egress+and+development+in+Toxoplasma+gondii.">Abscisic acid controls calcium-dependent egress and development in Toxoplasma gondii.</a> Nature. 451 (7175), 207-210 (2008).</li><li>Tomita, T., Yamada, T., Weiss, L. M., Orlofsky, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Externally+triggered+egress+is+the+major+fate+of+Toxoplasma+gondii+during+acute+infection.">Externally triggered egress is the major fate of Toxoplasma gondii during acute infection.</a> J. Immunol. 183 (10), 6667-6680 (2009).</li><li>Persson, E. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Death+receptor+ligation+or+exposure+to+perforin+trigger+rapid+egress+of+the+intracellular+parasite+Toxoplasma+gondii.">Death receptor ligation or exposure to perforin trigger rapid egress of the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii.</a> J. Immunol. 179 (12), 8357-8365 (2007).</li></ol>

We have nothing to disclose.

The described protocol provides an efficient method to isolate Toxoplasma mutants with an egress defect. We have successfully isolated mutants along various steps of the egress pathway, some of which have a dual invasion phenotype13. Potential effects on invasion can be determined using the so-called red-green assay, which differentiates invaded from non-invaded parasites by differential antibody staining23,24. For both invasion and egress assays it could be convenient to express an autoflu...

<table border="1">
<tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name of the reagent</td>
 <td>Company</td>
 <td>Catalogue number</td>
 <td>Comments </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>ENU</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>N3385</td>
 <td>1 M Stock in DMSO, store at -20&deg;C</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>EMS</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>M0880</td>
 <td>1 M Stock in DMSO, store at -20&deg;C</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Dextran Sulfate</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>D4911</td>
 <td>&nbsp; </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>PDTC</td>
 <td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
 <td>P8765</td>
 <td>100 mM Stock in PBS</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Diff Quick</td>
 <td>EMD Chemicals</td>
 <td> 65044-93</td>
 <td>&nbsp; </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Filter holder</td>
 <td>Cole-Parmer</td>
 <td>540100</td>
 <td>&nbsp; </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>3 &mu;m polycarbonate 			filter</td>
 <td>Whatman
 Schleicher &amp; Schuell</td>
 <td>110612</td>
 <td>&nbsp; </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Hemocytometer</td>
 <td>Hausser Scientific</td>
 <td>1475</td>
 <td>&nbsp; </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>CO2 incubators</td>
 <td>Various manufacturers</td>
 <td>&nbsp; </td>
 <td>Humidified, 5% CO2, at 35, 37 and 40&deg;C</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Fluorescence microscope</td>
 <td>Various manufacturers</td>
 <td>&nbsp; </td>
 <td>Ideally inverted, wide-field with 63x or 100x oil 			objective</td>
 </tr>
 </tbody>
</table>
HBSSc (according to Black et al.11):
<ul>
<li>98.0 ml Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (Hyclone catalog number SH30588)</li>
<li>100 &mu;l 1M MgCl2 (100 mM end)</li>
<li>100 &mu;l 1M CaCl2 (100 mM end)</li>
<li>2.0 ml 1M Hepes pH 7.3 (20 mM end)</li>
<li>84 mg NaHCO3 (10 mM end) </li>
</ul>

a genetic screen to isolate toxoplasma gondii host-cell egress mutants

The widespread, obligate intracellular, protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes opportunistic disease in immuno-compromised patients and causes birth defects upon congenital infection. The lytic replication cycle is characterized by three stages: 1. active invasion of a nucleated host cell; 2. replication inside the host cell; 3. active egress from the host cell. The mechanism of egress is increasingly being appreciated as a unique, highly regulated process, which is still poorly understood at the molecular level. The signaling pathways underlying egress have been characterized through the use of pharmacological agents acting on different aspects of the pathways1-5. As such, several independent triggers of egress have been identified which all converge on the release of intracellular Ca2+, a signal that is also critical for host cell invasion6-8. This insight informed a candidate gene approach which led to the identification of plant like calcium dependent protein kinase (CDPK) involved in egress9. In addition, several recent breakthroughs in understanding egress have been made using (chemical) genetic approaches10-12. To combine the wealth of pharmacological information with the increasing genetic accessibility of Toxoplasma we recently established a screen permitting the enrichment for parasite mutants with a defect in host cell egress13. Although chemical mutagenesis using N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) or ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) has been used for decades in the study of Toxoplasma biology11,14,15, only recently has genetic mapping of mutations underlying the phenotypes become routine16-18. Furthermore, by generating temperature-sensitive mutants, essential processes can be dissected and the underlying genes directly identified. These mutants behave as wild-type under the permissive temperature (35 &deg;C), but fail to proliferate at the restrictive temperature (40 &deg;C) as a result of the mutation in question. Here we illustrate a new phenotypic screening method to isolate mutants with a temperature-sensitive egress phenotype13. The challenge for egress screens is to separate egressed from non-egressed parasites, which is complicated by fast re-invasion and general stickiness of the parasites to host cells. A previously established egress screen was based on a cumbersome series of biotinylation steps to separate intracellular from extracellular parasites11. This method also did not generate conditional mutants resulting in weak phenotypes. The method described here overcomes the strong attachment of egressing parasites by including a glycan competitor, dextran sulfate (DS), that prevents parasites from sticking to the host cell19. Moreover, extracellular parasites are specifically killed off by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), which leaves intracellular parasites unharmed20. Therefore, with a new phenotypic screen to specifically isolate parasite mutants with defects in induced egress, the power of genetics can now be fully deployed to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying host cell egress.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Genetic Screen to Isolate Toxoplasma gondii Host-cell Egress Mutants at JoVE.com

A Genetic Screen to Isolate Toxoplasma gondii Host-cell Egress Mutants

Forward genetics is a powerful method to unravel the molecular level of how Toxoplasma egresses from its host cell. Protocols are provided to chemically mutagenize parasites, enrich for mutants with defects in induced egress, and validate the phenotype of cloned mutants.

A Genetic Screen to Isolate Toxoplasma gondii Host-cell Egress Mutants

The widespread, obligate intracellular, protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes opportunistic disease in immuno-compromised patients and causes birth ...

a-genetic-screen-to-isolate-toxoplasma-gondii-host-cell-egress-mutants

Research

JoVE Journal

Immunology and Infection

12.9K visualizações.  Boston College. Encaminhar a genética é um método poderoso para desvendar a nível molecular de como Toxoplasma Egressos de sua célula hospedeira. Protocolos são fornecidos para mutagenizar quimicamente parasitas, enriquecer para os mutantes com defeitos na saída induzido, e validar o fenótipo de mutantes clonados.