 Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that relies on iron for its survival. The parasite uses a specialized transporter called the vacular iron transporter, VIT, to store excess iron inside a membrane-bound vacuole. Without this transporter, the parasite cannot survive due to the accumulation of harmful oxygen radicals. When the parasite lacks VIT, it shows a slight growth defect in vitro and increased sensitivity to iron. Additionally, when the parasite lacks VIT, it increases its expression of genes related to iron metabolism and catalase activity, a key antioxidant enzyme. Furthermore, the parasite's ability to survive within macrophages and cause disease in mice is impaired when VIT is absent. These results suggest that VIT plays a crucial role in the parasite's ability to survive and cause disease. This article was authored by Dana Agabay, Megan Sloane, Grace Gill, and others.