Mitochondria discovered as a new weapon against dangerous parasites!

Mitochondria discovered as a new weapon against dangerous parasites!

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging have made a significant discovery: mitochondria play an essential defensive role against various pathogens, especially against intracellular parasites such asToxoplasma gondii. These organelles compete with the parasites for vital nutrients, especially folic acid, and thus actively contribute to protecting the cells from infections. Loud cecad.uni-koeln.de During an infection, mitochondria activate a stress response that changes their metabolism and limits the parasite's folic acid uptake. This biochemical change effectively inhibits the growth and reproduction of the parasite.

The researchers found that mice that were unable to activate this stress response showed faster parasite proliferation. These findings open up perspectives for the development of new therapies against folic acid-dependent pathogens such asToxoplasmaand that which causes malariaPlasmodium.

The role of mitochondria in energy production

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of cells because they produce ATP, the cell's energy source, through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). This process takes place on the inner mitochondrial membrane. Proton gradients are created by various protein complexes, and ATP synthase uses this gradient to produce ATP. Loud pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Conditions imposed by aToxoplasma gondii-Infection can significantly modulate the functions of host mitochondria, highlighting the role of these organelles in the immune response and cellular changes.

The change in mitochondrial morphology and the increased production of superoxide during aToxoplasmainfection indicate oxidative stress, which can impair mitochondrial functions. One study showed that 498 genes were differentially expressed just 6 hours after infection, with mitochondrial metabolic pathways particularly affected.

Effects on pathogenic development

The infection withToxoplasma gondiialso alters host cell signaling pathways, including cell cycle dysregulation and inhibition of apoptosis. This manipulation allows the parasite to survive and multiply in an environment favorable to it. According to the results, the parasitophorous vacoule contains significant amounts of mitochondrial proteins derived from the uptake ofToxoplasmadepend on how from Gutefrage.net is highlighted.

In mitochondrial biology, ATP formation is achieved through phosphorylation, with both oxidative and substrate chain phosphorylation involved in energy production. While mitochondrial ATP production occurs predominantly through oxidative phosphorylation, other organelles such as chloroplasts also use similar mechanisms to generate energy, such as photophosphorylation.

Ongoing research will focus on further investigating the underlying mechanisms of these stress responses and the proteins involved. The scientists' goal is to increase mitochondrial activities and thus develop effective strategies to fight infections and improve cell functions. The original publication of this study appeared on August 14, 2025 in the journal “Science”.