We are excited to share our latest preprint, now available on bioRxiv: Pathogen-induced formation of a nascent organelle derived from mitochondria.
In this study, we uncover a striking new mechanism by which the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii reprograms host mitochondria to generate a novel, infection-supporting organelle. Upon infection, host mitochondria shed large outer membrane–derived structures, termed SPOTs, which mature into acidified, multivesicular compartments. These compartments incorporate cytosolic material and host lysosomes through a process requiring both host ESCRT machinery and the parasite effector TgGRA7.
Importantly, SPOT acidification is critical for parasite growth, revealing a previously unrecognized strategy by which T. gondii reshapes host organelle biology to promote infection. More broadly, this work suggests that mitochondria can be reprogrammed to form new organelles with specialized functions.
We are especially excited that this study has already been highlighted in a News & Views article in Nature, underscoring the significance and broad interest of these findings.
Preprints allow us to share discoveries with the community ahead of peer review, and we’re thrilled to see this work already gaining attention.
Please join us in celebrating this exciting milestone! 🚀