Parasites lacking TgSFA2 or TgSFA3 show a pronounced cell division defect.

<p>IFAs of cells infected with iΔSFA3 (A) or iΔSFA2 (B) mutant parasites cultured for 48 h in presence or absence of ATc prior to fixation. Note that both mutants accumulate multiple nuclei (blue), and fail to form proper buds (IMC1, green) under knock down conditions. Untreated controls divide normally. (C) Transmission electron micrograph of iΔSFA3 parasites grown in presence of ATc for 48 h. This section through a cell shows three nuclei (N; scale bar = 500 nm). (D) Multi-nucleated (≥2) parasites were quantified for iΔSFA2 parasites (48 h ± ATc) using DAPI and IMC1 staining. 30 randomly chosen fields were counted and the percentage of vacuoles containing parasites with multiple nuclei is graphed. Error bars represent standard deviation (<i>n</i> = 3).