GRA12 is a common virulence factor across Toxoplasma gondii strains and mouse subspecies

Authors:
Francesca Torelli, Simon Butterworth, Eloise Lockyer, Ana N. Matias, Franziska Hildebrandt, Ok-Ryul Song, Jennifer Pearson-Farr & Moritz Treeck
In:
Source: Nat Commun.
Publication Date: (2025)
Issue: 16:
Research Area:
Parasitology
Cells used in publication:
Toxoplasma gondii
Species: unicellular
Tissue Origin:
Platform:
4D-Nucleofector® X-Unit
Experiment

Parasite transfection was performed in 3–5 replicates and each replicate was sequenced to ensure transfection reproducibility. Libraries were linearised with KpnI-HF or NheI-HF (NEB) for the HXGPRT or DHFR-TS vectors respectively, with an overnight digestion prior to phenol-chloroform purification and transfection with the P3 Primary Cell 4D-Nucleofector kit (Lonza V4XP-3032) in a Amaxa 4D Nucleofector (Lonza AAF-1003X) with the programme EO-115.

Abstract

oxoplasma gondii parasites exhibit extraordinary host promiscuity owing to over 250 putative secreted proteins that disrupt host cell functions, enabling parasite persistence. However, most of the known effector proteins are specific to Toxoplasma genotypes or hosts. To identify virulence factors that function across different parasite isolates and mouse strains that differ in susceptibility to infection, we performed systematic pooled in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 screens targeting the Toxoplasma secretome. We identified several proteins required for infection across parasite strains and mouse species, of which the dense granule protein 12 (GRA12) emerged as the most important effector protein during acute infection. GRA12 deletion in IFN?-activated macrophages results in collapsed parasitophorous vacuoles and increased host cell necrosis, which is partially rescued by inhibiting early parasite egress. GRA12 orthologues from related coccidian parasites, including Neospora caninum and Hammondia hammondi, complement Tg?GRA12 in vitro, suggesting a common mechanism of protection from immune clearance by their hosts.