Scientific article
OA Policy
English

Cryptosporidium secreted proteins form a complex layered interface with the host cell

Published inPLOS pathogens, vol. 22, no. 5, e1014212
Publication date2026-05
First online date2026-05-14
Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum, one of the leading causes of diarrheal death in children, remodels its infection site through secreted effector proteins. Several of them accumulate at the host-parasite interface, forming a complex structure whose function and importance for infection remain poorly understood. Here, we localized and functionally characterized the putative dense granule protein DG8. We confirmed the protein to be in the dense granules, forming a ring structure once secreted at the host-parasite interface. Deletion of DG8 showed reduced infection in mice in vivo and early defect in vitro, revealing the importance of DG8 for parasite fitness. Additional secreted proteins were identified as potential partners, among which SG4, a small granule protein, was shown to partially co-localize with DG8. Applying ultrastructure expansion microscopy on intestinal sections with newly generated antibodies against DG8 and SG4, we could precisely position the ring structure above the electron-dense band, around the feeder organelle at the base of the parasitophorous vacuole membrane with an unprecedent resolution. Altogether, better visualization and understanding of the host-parasite interface through expanded intestinal tissue and effectors characterization reveal a complex and essential layered host-parasite interface.

Keywords
  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / parasitology
  • Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
  • Cryptosporidiosis / metabolism
  • Cryptosporidiosis / parasitology
  • Cryptosporidium parvum / metabolism
  • Cryptosporidium parvum / pathogenicity
  • Epithelial Cells / parasitology
  • Epithelial Cells / ultrastructure
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Intestines / parasitology
  • Intestines / ultrastructure
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • Vacuoles / parasitology
Citation (ISO format)
PUTHENPURACKAL, Annet et al. Cryptosporidium secreted proteins form a complex layered interface with the host cell. In: PLOS pathogens, 2026, vol. 22, n° 5, p. e1014212. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1014212
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Secondary files (1)
Supplemental data
accessLevelPublic
Identifiers
Journal ISSN1553-7366
5views
15downloads

Technical informations

Creation04/06/2026 15:14:32
First validation22/07/2026 09:20:18
Update22/07/2026 09:20:18
Status update22/07/2026 09:20:18
Last indexation22/07/2026 09:20:19
All rights reserved by Archive ouverte UNIGE and the University of GenevaunigeBlack