Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41407671›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

A genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies GRA38 as a key regulator of lipid homeostasis during Toxoplasma gondii adaptation to lipid-rich conditions.

Mebratu A Bitew, Tatiana C Paredes-Santos, Parag Maru, Shruthi Krishnamurthy, Yifan Wang, Lamba O Sangaré, Samuel Duley, Yoshiki Yamaryo-Botté, Cyrille Y Botté, Jeroen P J Saeij

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 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. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Mebratu A BitewDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3684-9316
Tatiana C Paredes-SantosDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Parag MaruDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5607-2677
Shruthi KrishnamurthyDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Yifan WangDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9451-0041
Lamba O SangaréDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Samuel DuleyApicolipid Team & Gemeli Platform, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3419-8057
Yoshiki Yamaryo-BottéApicolipid Team & Gemeli Platform, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.
Cyrille Y BottéApicolipid Team & Gemeli Platform, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, CNRS UMR5309, INSERM U1209, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.
Jeroen P J SaeijDepartment of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA. jsaeij@ucdavis.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0289-7109

Funding

Restriction of Toxoplasma growth in human cellsR01AI173803 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · PI JEROEN SAEIJ · 2024 to 2026
$1.8M
Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Division of Intramural Research of the NIAID) R01AI173803NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI173803
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Intracellular parasites like Toxoplasma gondii scavenge host nutrients, particularly lipids, to support their growth and survival. Although Toxoplasma is known to adjust its metabolism based on nutrient availability, the mechanisms that mediate lipid sensing and metabolic adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, we perform a genome-wide CRISPR screen under lipid-rich (10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS)) and lipid-limited (1% FBS) conditions to identify genes critical for lipid-responsive fitness. We identify the Toxoplasma protein GRA38 as a lipid-dependent regulator of parasite fitness. GRA38 exhibits phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphatase (PAP) activity in vitro, which is significantly reduced by mutation of its conserved DxDxT/V catalytic motif. Disruption of GRA38 leads to the accumulation of PA species and widespread alterations in lipid composition, consistent with impaired PAP activity. These lipid imbalances correlate with reduced parasite virulence in mice. Our findings identify GRA38 as a metabolic regulator important for maintaining lipid homeostasis and pathogenesis in Toxoplasma gondii.

Indexed as

Lipid MetabolismProtozoan ProteinsToxoplasmaAdaptation, PhysiologicalAnimalsClustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic RepeatsCRISPR-Cas SystemsFemaleGenome, ProtozoanHomeostasisHumansMicePhosphatidate PhosphataseToxoplasmosisVirulencePhosphatidate PhosphataseProtozoan Proteins

Identifiers

PMID41407671
PMCPMC12711892

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Registered trials

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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.