Abstract

Micronemes are specialized secretory organelles present in all motile forms of apicomplexan parasites. Microneme vesicles hold adhesins and other proteins that are secreted to facilitate parasite attachment, invasion of host cells, and egress following replication—all processes indispensable for cell-to-cell transmission of these obligate intracellular parasites. Defining the signaling pathways that lead to microneme secretion is an important part of understanding the infectious cycle of apicomplexan parasites. However, the classical method of measuring microneme secretion by immunoblotting for microneme proteins in parasite excreted/secreted antigen (ESA) preparations is low-throughput and only semiquantitative. We recently reported a new luciferase-based method for measuring microneme secretion in a 96-well format with high sensitivity in the model apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii. Here, we aim to elaborate on this detection method and review current practices for stimulating microneme secretion in vitro.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMethods in Molecular Biology
PublisherHumana Press Inc.
Pages157-169
Number of pages13
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Publication series

NameMethods in Molecular Biology
Volume2071
ISSN (Print)1064-3745
ISSN (Electronic)1940-6029

Keywords

  • Luciferase
  • Microneme secretion
  • Reporter
  • Toxoplasma gondii

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