Piceatannol Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction in <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>
<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite infecting nucleated cells of warm-blooded vertebrates, causes severe complications in immunocompromised hosts. Current therapies remain limited by suboptimal efficacy and toxicity, necessitating novel anti-toxoplasmic...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1203 |
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| author | Zhenhe Liu Haolong Qiu Yucong Jiang Yuxi Mo Linlin Lu Yan Wang Dandan Hu Xingju Song |
| author_facet | Zhenhe Liu Haolong Qiu Yucong Jiang Yuxi Mo Linlin Lu Yan Wang Dandan Hu Xingju Song |
| author_sort | Zhenhe Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite infecting nucleated cells of warm-blooded vertebrates, causes severe complications in immunocompromised hosts. Current therapies remain limited by suboptimal efficacy and toxicity, necessitating novel anti-toxoplasmic agents. Piceatannol (PIC), a natural stilbenoid, demonstrates multifaceted bioactivity including antimicrobial and anti-parasitic effects, suggesting therapeutic potential against <i>T. gondii</i>. Our previous study revealed PIC’s potent anti-parasitic activity, selectively inhibiting <i>T. gondii</i> proliferation and altering parasite morphology without host cytotoxicity. In this study, mechanistic analyses indicated that PIC disrupts mitochondrial integrity in tachyzoites, reducing mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production while elevating ROS levels. Transcriptomic profiling identified significant suppression of oxidative phosphorylation-related genes, consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings establish PIC as a promising candidate targeting <i>T. gondii</i> through the mechanism of mitochondrial impairment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2efab14a841644dba13b541cc79f7294 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-2efab14a841644dba13b541cc79f72942025-08-20T02:21:04ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-05-01136120310.3390/microorganisms13061203Piceatannol Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction in <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>Zhenhe Liu0Haolong Qiu1Yucong Jiang2Yuxi Mo3Linlin Lu4Yan Wang5Dandan Hu6Xingju Song7Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, ChinaGuangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite infecting nucleated cells of warm-blooded vertebrates, causes severe complications in immunocompromised hosts. Current therapies remain limited by suboptimal efficacy and toxicity, necessitating novel anti-toxoplasmic agents. Piceatannol (PIC), a natural stilbenoid, demonstrates multifaceted bioactivity including antimicrobial and anti-parasitic effects, suggesting therapeutic potential against <i>T. gondii</i>. Our previous study revealed PIC’s potent anti-parasitic activity, selectively inhibiting <i>T. gondii</i> proliferation and altering parasite morphology without host cytotoxicity. In this study, mechanistic analyses indicated that PIC disrupts mitochondrial integrity in tachyzoites, reducing mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production while elevating ROS levels. Transcriptomic profiling identified significant suppression of oxidative phosphorylation-related genes, consistent with mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings establish PIC as a promising candidate targeting <i>T. gondii</i> through the mechanism of mitochondrial impairment.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1203<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>piceatannolmitochondriaautophagyRNA-seq |
| spellingShingle | Zhenhe Liu Haolong Qiu Yucong Jiang Yuxi Mo Linlin Lu Yan Wang Dandan Hu Xingju Song Piceatannol Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction in <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Microorganisms <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> piceatannol mitochondria autophagy RNA-seq |
| title | Piceatannol Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction in <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> |
| title_full | Piceatannol Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction in <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> |
| title_fullStr | Piceatannol Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction in <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Piceatannol Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction in <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> |
| title_short | Piceatannol Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction in <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> |
| title_sort | piceatannol induces mitochondrial dysfunction in i toxoplasma gondii i |
| topic | <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> piceatannol mitochondria autophagy RNA-seq |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1203 |
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