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PLoS Pathogens Issue Image | Vol. 6(12) December 2010

GCN5-mediated histone modifications in the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma tachyzoites proliferating within human fibroblast cells were stained for an immunofluorescence assay using an antibody that recognizes acetylated lysine 18 of histone H3, a primary substrate of histone acetyltransferase TgGCN5-A, and a nuclear co-stain (red). The antibody illuminates chromatin within parasite nuclei (smaller, yellow) and the larger host cell nucleus. Toxoplasma, which causes congenital birth defects and opportunistic infection, is incurable because it can develop into a tissue cyst. Parasites lacking TgGCN5-A are no longer capable of activating genes induced during cyst formation triggered by alkaline stress (see Naguleswaran et al., doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1001232).

Image Credit: William J. Sullivan Jr., Indiana University School of Medicine

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GCN5-mediated histone modifications in the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma tachyzoites proliferating within human fibroblast cells were stained for an immunofluorescence assay using an antibody that recognizes acetylated lysine 18 of histone H3, a primary substrate of histone acetyltransferase TgGCN5-A, and a nuclear co-stain (red). The antibody illuminates chromatin within parasite nuclei (smaller, yellow) and the larger host cell nucleus. Toxoplasma, which causes congenital birth defects and opportunistic infection, is incurable because it can develop into a tissue cyst. Parasites lacking TgGCN5-A are no longer capable of activating genes induced during cyst formation triggered by alkaline stress (see Naguleswaran et al., doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1001232).

Image Credit: William J. Sullivan Jr., Indiana University School of Medicine

https://doi.org/10.1371/image.ppat.v06.i12.g001