Metal uptake and distribution by Toxoplasma gondii

Transition metals, such as iron and zinc, play essential roles during infection. Our work focuses on the eukaryotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, a ubiquitous
pathogen of humans and animals, which needs to subvert transition metals from its host cells to power the parasite's replication. We have identified the proposed iron
transporter, but recent work suggests it also has a role in zinc uptake. In this proposal, we seek to confirm this, and determine for the first time how T. gondii infection alters the quantity and localization of both iron and zinc in human cells. Recently, we have also created two parasite lines deficient in putative copper transporters and we plan to compare copper localisation in these cell lines to identify the first potential Toxoplasma copper transporters. This work continues our recent, successful visit in May, expanding on these results to fully determine the role of iron at this host-parasite interface.