Nature Podcast

Cat parasite Toxoplasma tricked to grow in a dish

Dec 13, 2023

Researchers discover a way to grow a difficult-to-study parasite in vitro, potentially advancing understanding of it. Other intriguing topics include VR goggles for mice, coffee grinding consistency, rise of highly productive authors, and the search for the world's longest protein. Tune in for engaging discussions!

25:48

Creator website

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

A new method has been developed to cultivate a crucial part of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite's life cycle in the lab, allowing for further research without the need for cats.

Genome sequencing has identified potentially giant proteins in omnitrophotia bacteria, offering insight into their role in predation and the need for further investigation.

Deep dives

New Method Developed to Cultivate Toxoplasma without Cats

Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, affects a significant portion of the global population. Researchers have long struggled to study the sexual stages of the parasite's life cycle due to the need to infect cats. However, a new method developed by Ali Hakimi and his colleagues at Inserm in France allows the cultivation of a critical part of the parasite's life cycle in the lab, without the use of cats. By manipulating specific genes, they were able to grow pre-sexual merozoites, which closely resemble those grown in cat cells. This breakthrough not only eliminates the need for cats, but also opens up opportunities for further research into toxoplasma and its complex life cycle.

Introduction

2min

Growing Toxoplasma Parasite Without Cats

10min

Effects of Charge Accumulation on Coffee Grinding and Beverage Consistency

2min

The Rise of Highly Productive Authors: Concerns and Implications

6min

Discovery of a Potentially Giant Protein

7min

Wrapping up the episode and ads for Nature Plus and Nordstrom

2min

In this episode:

00:48 A new way to grow a tricky parasite in the lab

Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes the zoonotic disease toxoplasmosis, has a complex, multi-stage life cycle. Some of these stages will only grow in the intestines of cats, making it difficult to study. Now, a team has found a way to grow one of these stages in vitro for the first time, which they hope will help researchers learn more about this parasite, estimated to have infected around 30% of the world’s population.

Research Article: Antunes et al.