How the Toxoplasma parasite moves cargo inside its cells
Official title: Intracellular Cargo Transport in Toxoplasma Gondii
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11384248 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at how the Toxoplasma parasite moves materials inside its cells to better understand ways to stop or treat infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $446,875 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM138316-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384248 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This is lab-based research using parasite cells and does not enroll patients or require patient volunteers.
✕Less likely to help
People currently living with toxoplasmosis should not expect direct or immediate benefits from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
This is laboratory research using Toxoplasma gondii grown in culture to see how the parasite packages and moves membranes and vesicles inside its cells. Scientists will use genetic tools, live-cell and super-resolution microscopy, and single-molecule biophysics to watch the actin cytoskeleton and an unconventional myosin (MyoF) in action. The team aims to map the steps the parasite uses to form and transport cargo so they can identify critical components of that system. Results could point to parasite-specific weak points that future drugs might target.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal parasite-specific mechanisms that become targets for new antiparasitic drugs to prevent or treat toxoplasmosis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior lab studies in Toxoplasma and related parasites have shown actin and unconventional myosins are important for vesicle transport, but turning these findings into therapies is still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heaslip, Aoife — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Heaslip, Aoife
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.