Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42020723›Full record

ArticleNature microbiology2026

A single-cell atlas of Toxoplasma sexual development in the feline intestinal tract.

Hisham S Alrubaye, Sarah M Reilly, Rafaela da Silva, NyJaee Washington, Jon P Boyle

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Hisham S AlrubayeDepartment of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7393-8751
Sarah M ReillyDepartment of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Rafaela da SilvaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6772-4658
NyJaee WashingtonDepartment of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5613-8821
Jon P BoyleDepartment of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. boylej@pitt.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0000-9243

Funding

Comparative and functional genomics of Toxoplasma and Hammondia hammondiR01AI116855 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI BOYLE, JON P · 2015 to 2024
$3.2M
Interinstitutional Program in Cell and Molecular Biology: A Graduate Training Path to Promote Traditional and Non-Traditional Professional OutcomesT32GM133353 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI BRODSKY, JEFFREY L., MURRAY, SANDRA ANN · 2020 to 2024
$1.5M
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32GM133353U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) R01AI116855
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii undergoes sexual development exclusively in the feline intestine, a process critical for genetic diversity and population expansion. Recent studies have identified genes critical in suppressing presexual development and metabolic differences in felines that may promote sexual development, but to date, the gene regulatory networks driving development in the cat are unknown. To investigate this, we performed single-cell transcriptomics on parasites isolated from cat intestines, using fluorescent reporter strains and flow cytometry. From 15,068 cells across 2 experiments, we identified rare populations, including cells that bear all of the hallmarks of gametes. Candidate genes emerging from this study were tested via CRISPR-Cas9 perturb-seq, identifying AP2X6 as a regulator of macrogametocyte development. Our single-cell data extend what is known about gene expression changes throughout sexual development and should be useful to those in the field working towards inducing gametogenesis, mating and oocyst production in vitro.

Indexed as

IntestinesSexual DevelopmentToxoplasmaToxoplasmosis, AnimalAnimalsCatsOocystsProtozoan ProteinsSingle-Cell AnalysisSingle-Cell Gene Expression AnalysisProtozoan Proteins

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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 OpenQuestion graph.