Figure 1.

Active invasion of T. gondii. In Apicomplexan, three types of secretory organelles are observed: micronemes, rhoptries, and dense granules, carrying characteristic proteins. Attachment to host cell membrane via micronemes (MIC) proteins (1). Invasion and moving junction development by secretion of proteins from rhoptries neck (RON) and rhoptires (ROP) (2,3). Internalization via secretion of RON/AMA proteins (4). Parasitophorous vacuole development via granule dense proteins (GRA) (5). Proliferation and tachyzoite asexual replication (6). Increases immune response, interconversion to bradyzoite, and tissue cyst formation (7). Decreases immune response, interconversion to bradyzoites-tachyzoites, and dissemination of the parasite (8). Tachyzoites cause acute infection, leading to severe toxoplasmosis. While several drugs are available against tachyzoites, there is no treatment against tissue cysts, which are responsible for chronic infection. An ideal anti-Toxoplasma drug should be effective against both stages and prevent interconversion. Protein targeting secretory organelles is a matter of interest. Created with BioRender.com under license to publish by Anacleto SJ.