APμ1-KO parasites show defects in rhoptry formation.

<p>A-Confocal images showing the localization of ROP2-4 and proROP4 proteins (red) in control (YFP-negative vacuoles) and APμ1-KO parasites (YFP-positive vacuoles) together with the TGN marker SORTLR and the IMC marker GAP45 (both in white). In APμ1-KO parasites, mature rhoptries were found dispersed within the cytosol (upper panel, arrow) or in the vacuolar space (middle panel, arrow), while immature proROP4 proteins were found re-routed towards the vacuolar space and residual body (lower panel, arrow). Bar: 2μm. B- Histogram indicating the percentage of examined vacuoles displaying apically positioned rhoptries in control and APμ1-KO parasites. Mean values of three independent assays are shown ± SEM, ***p<0.001 (Student’s t-test). C- Histogram indicating the percentage of examined vacuoles positive for the immature protein proROP4 staining in control and APμ1-KO parasites. Mean values of three independent assays are shown ± SEM, **p<0.01 (Student’s t-test). D- Histogram depicting the percentage of invaded parasites after 45 min incubation with host cells of mechanically released parasites for control (YFP-negative) and APμ1-KO (YFP-positive) parasites. Mean values of three independent assays are shown ± SEM, ***p<0.001 (Student’s t-test). E- Histogram depicting the percentage of egressed vacuoles after induction with the calcium ionophore A23187 in control (YFP-negative) and APμ1-KO (YFP-positive) parasites. Mean values of three independent assays are shown ± SEM, *p<0.05 (Student’s t-test).