Toxoplasma gondii: appearance of specific markers during the development of tissue cysts in vitro.

Cultures were initiated in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells from ME49 strain bradyzoites. Specific antibody staining showed that two populations of parasites exist, one being a predominant population of tachyzoites that were positive for the tachyzoite-specific marker SAG1 and negative for the bradyzoite-specific marker P36. All of these parasites expressed the dense granule molecule GRA5, which in larger clusters was seen faintly in the membrane of the parasitophorous vacuole. No rosette formation or monolayer destruction was observed. Also seen was a sub-population of bradyzoites that were positive for P36 and negative for SAG1. Approximately 90% of these parasites expressed the matrix molecule P29. These parasites were also positive for the dense granule molecule GRA5, which was highly concentrated in the wall of the cyst. These bradyzoite clusters contained fewer parasites and were smaller in diameter than those expressing tachyzoite markers.