Do microtubules around the Toxoplasma gondii-containing parasitophorous vacuole in skeletal muscle cells form a barrier for the phagolysosomal fusion?

The intracellular fate of Toxoplasma gondii was studied in primary cultures of skeletal muscle cells (SMC). The labelling of secondary lysosomes with BSA-Au particles showed no phagolysosomal fusion with the vacuole containing the parasite. After internalization of the parasites, the parasitophorous vacuole became involved by closely apposed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria; within 18 h of interaction, microtubules were visualized in association with the parasitophorous vacuole, suggesting that they could form a barrier for the phagolysosomal fusion.