Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40240328›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

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

Francesca Torelli, Simon Butterworth, Eloise Lockyer, Ana N Matias, Franziska Hildebrandt, Ok-Ryul Song, Jennifer Pearson-Farr, Moritz Treeck

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. The role of autophagy in protozoan infections.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026
    Review
  3. Dense granule proteins: key mediators ofFrontiers in medicine · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Francesca TorelliSignalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
Simon ButterworthSignalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4605-291X
Eloise LockyerSignalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
Ana N MatiasThe Cell Biology of Host-Pathogen Interactions Lab, Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-9534-0248
Franziska HildebrandtThe Cell Biology of Host-Pathogen Interactions Lab, Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal.
Ok-Ryul SongHigh-Throughput Screening Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8462-2741
Jennifer Pearson-FarrElectron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
Moritz TreeckSignalling in Apicomplexan Parasites Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK. moritz.treeck@gimm.pt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7883-6743

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) TO 1349/1-1Francis Crick Institute (Francis Crick Institute Limited) CR2023/030/2132Francis Crick Institute (Francis Crick Institute Limited) CR2132Ministry of Education and Science | Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation) 2023.06167.CEECINDWellcome Trust 223192Wellcome Trust CC0199Wellcome Trust CC2132Wellcome Trust (Wellcome) 223192/Z/21/ZWenner-Gren Foundation (Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, Inc.) WGF2024-0027
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Toxoplasma 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 IFNγ-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 TgΔGRA12 in vitro, suggesting a common mechanism of protection from immune clearance by their hosts.

Indexed as

Protozoan ProteinsToxoplasmaToxoplasmosis, AnimalVirulence FactorsAnimalsCRISPR-Cas SystemsFemaleHost-Parasite InteractionsInterferon-gammaMacrophagesMiceMice, Inbred C57BLToxoplasmosisInterferon-gammaProtozoan ProteinsVirulence Factors

Identifiers

PMID40240328
PMCPMC12003902

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.