Work

Viral load dependent cellular heterogeneity in Trichomonas vaginalis at the single cell level

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: isolates, we reveal that viral distribution is highly heterogeneous and dynamic, with marked variability in infection status and viral load across individual cells. Time-resolved scRNA-seq datasets confirm that this variability is not static but fluctuates across replicates. By integrating bootstrap-based pseudobulk analysis with viral load-stratified trend analysis, we uncover infection-associated transcriptional changes involving stress response, adhesion, and chromatin regulation. Notably, MLF-like and histone genes are selectively upregulated in cells with high viral loads. These findings redefine current models of TVV-host interactions and lay a foundation for future mechanistic studies of virus-mediated pathogenesis in protozoan parasites.

Source: iScience

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.114260