Conditional genome engineering in Toxoplasma gondii uncovers alternative invasion mechanisms.

Andenmatten, Nicole; Egarter, Saskia; Jackson, Allison J; Jullien, Nicolas; Herman, Jean-Paul; Meissner, Markus · Nat Methods · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We established a conditional site-specific recombination system based on dimerizable Cre recombinase-mediated recombination in the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Using a new single-vector strategy that allows ligand-dependent, efficient removal of a gene of interest, we generated three knockouts of apicomplexan genes considered essential for host-cell invasion. Our findings uncovered the existence of an alternative invasion pathway in apicomplexan parasites.

Medical subject headings