Figure 7.

Absence of the GRA2 protein results in asynchrony of proliferation with loss of MNN, RB, and intravacuolar parasite cohesion. SEM-Tanaka micrographs of MDCK cells, infected by ΔGRA2 mutants for 24 h, show loss of interparasite cohesion with presence of isolated parasite aggregates within the same PV (a, b). Arrowheads indicate membranous fibers cross-linking parasites and parasites connected to the PVM. Phase contrast micrographs of live MDCK cells infected with (c) RH Toxoplasma strain or (d, e) ΔGRA2 parasites. Dotted lines were drawn to delimit the PVs. Bars = 1 μm.