Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40156024›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2025

Phosphatase UBLCP1 is required for the growth, virulence and mitochondrial integrity of Toxoplasma gondii.

Kaiyin Sheng, Kaiyue Song, Yimin Yang, Haiyan Wu, Zhendong Du, Xueqiu Chen, Yi Yang, Guangxu Ma, Aifang Du

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Parasites & vectors, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

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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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Veterinary sciences · 2026
    Review
  2. ATG5 Plays a Role inTransboundary and emerging diseases · 2026
    Article
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

9 authors.

Kaiyin ShengCollege of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Kaiyue SongCollege of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Yimin YangCollege of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Haiyan WuCollege of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Zhendong DuCollege of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Xueqiu ChenCollege of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Yi YangCollege of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Guangxu MaCollege of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China. gxma1@zju.edu.cn.
Aifang DuCollege of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China. afdu@zju.edu.cn.

Funding

the National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 31672543the Zhejiang Province "Sannongliufang" Science and Technology Cooperation Project No. 2020SNLF007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe mitochondrion is proposed as an ideal target organelle for the control of apicomplexan parasites, whose integrity depends on well-controlled protein import, folding, and turnover. The ubiquitin-like domain-containing C-terminal domain phosphatase 1 (UBLCP1) was found to be associated with the mitochondrial integrity in Toxoplasma gondii. However, little is known about the roles and mechanisms of UBLCP1 in this apicomplexan parasite.

methodsThe subcellular localization of UBLCP1 in the tachyzoites of T. gondii was determined by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. The roles of UBLCP1 in the growth, cell cycle, and division of T. gondii were assessed by knocking out this molecule in the tachyzoites. Comparative phosphoproteomics between the UBLCP1-deficient and wild-type tachyzoites were performed to understand the roles of UBLCP1 in T. gondii. The virulence of UBLCP1-deficient tachyzoites of T. gondii was tested in mice.

resultsUBLCP1 is expressed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of T. gondii tachyzoites. Tachyzoites lacking UBLCP1 exhibit collapsed mitochondrion, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and compromised growth and proliferation in vitro. Proteins involved in protein turnover and intracellular trafficking have been found differentially phosphorylated in the UBLCP1-deficient tachyzoites compared with the control. Deletion of UBLCP1 also shows that this phosphatase is essential for the propagation and virulence of T. gondii tachyzoites. Mice immunized with UBLCP1-deficient T. gondii tachyzoites survived challenges with the virulent PRU or VEG strain.

conclusionsUBLCP1 is required for the mitochondrial integrity and essential in the lytic cycle (e.g., host cell invasion and parasite replication) in vitro and the pathogenicity of this parasite in vivo. UBLCP1 is a candidate target for a vaccine or a drug for toxoplasmosis in animals.

Indexed as

MitochondriaProtozoan ProteinsToxoplasmaAnimalsFemaleMiceMice, Inbred BALB CToxoplasmosisToxoplasmosis, AnimalVirulenceProtozoan ProteinsMitochondrial integrityPathogenicityToxoplasma gondiiUBLCP1Vaccine candidate

Identifiers

PMID40156024
PMCPMC11951701

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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 OpenQuestion graph.