Open AccessSubversion of host cellular functions by the apicomplexan parasites
Author(s) -
Kemp Louise E.,
Yamamoto Masahiro,
SoldatiFavre Dominique
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6976.12013
Subject(s) - rhoptry , biology , apicomplexa , intracellular parasite , plasmodium (life cycle) , microbiology and biotechnology , parasite hosting , immunology , intracellular , plasmodium falciparum , malaria , world wide web , computer science
Rhoptries are club‐shaped secretory organelles located at the anterior pole of species belonging to the phylum of A picomplexa . Parasites of this phylum are responsible for a huge burden of disease in humans and animals and a loss of economic productivity. Members of this elite group of obligate intracellular parasites include P lasmodium spp. that cause malaria and C ryptosporidium spp. that cause diarrhoeal disease. Although rhoptries are almost ubiquitous throughout the phylum, the relevance and role of the proteins contained within the rhoptries varies. Rhoptry contents separate into two intra‐organellar compartments, the neck and the bulb. A number of rhoptry neck proteins are conserved between species and are involved in functions such as host cell invasion. The bulb proteins are less well‐conserved and probably evolved for a particular lifestyle. In the majority of species studied to date, rhoptry content is involved in formation and maintenance of the parasitophorous vacuole; however some species live free within the host cytoplasm. In this review, we will summarise the knowledge available regarding rhoptry proteins. Specifically, we will discuss the role of the rhoptry kinases that are used by T oxoplasma gondii and other coccidian parasites to subvert the host cellular functions and prevent parasite death.