Figures
A Germinated Microsporidian Spore in Close Proximity to the Host Cell Surface
Transmission electron micrograph shows a germinated microsporidian spore adjacent to a host cell, with a polar tube extending to transfer sporoplasm into the host cytoplasm. The study identified EnP1, a nucleus-targeted effector secreted by microsporidia, which enhances their proliferation by interacting with host histone H2A and inhibiting ferroptosis. This research highlights how microsporidia alter host cell functions through secreted effector proteins, ultimately facilitating their own survival and contributing to disease progression. Guan et al. 2026
Image Credit: Bing Han
Citation: (2026) PLoS Pathogens Issue Image | Vol. 22(1) February 2026. PLoS Pathog 22(1): ev22.i01. https://doi.org/10.1371/image.ppat.v22.i01
Published: February 10, 2026
Copyright: © 2026 . This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Transmission electron micrograph shows a germinated microsporidian spore adjacent to a host cell, with a polar tube extending to transfer sporoplasm into the host cytoplasm. The study identified EnP1, a nucleus-targeted effector secreted by microsporidia, which enhances their proliferation by interacting with host histone H2A and inhibiting ferroptosis. This research highlights how microsporidia alter host cell functions through secreted effector proteins, ultimately facilitating their own survival and contributing to disease progression. Guan et al. 2026
Image Credit: Bing Han