T. gondii

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T. gondii

·November 16, 2020·3 min read

Parasite Infection Discovery Could Assist Mental Health Treatments

Behavioral changes in those with T.gondii infection could be linked to lower levels of norepinephrine. Norepinephrine also controls inflammation. Both neuroinflammation and norepinephrine are associated with a range of psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and ADHD.

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·July 30, 2020·4 min read

Your Brain Parasite Isn’t Making You Sick, Here’s Why

Microglia keep the Toxoplasma gondii parasite in check in the brain. Microglia release an immune molecule that recruit immune cells from the blood to control the parasite.

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·April 28, 2020·4 min read

Offspring may inherit legacy of their father’s Toxoplasma infection

Mouse study reveals the sperm of males infected with Toxoplasma carries an altered epigenetic signature that impacts the brain of the offspring. While the effects of T. gondii infections in pregnant women are fairly well documented, this is a novel study looking at the impact of male infection and its impact on offspring. The study raises the question as to whether T. gondii infections in men before conception impact the health and development of future generations.

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·April 2, 2020·5 min read

How T. gondii infection causes seizures, and psychiatric illness for some

Study shows how Toxoplasma parasitic infections promote the loss of inhibitory signaling in the brain by altering the behavior of microglia.

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·January 14, 2020·6 min read

T. gondii cat parasite reduces general anxiety in infected mice, not just fear of feline predators

Mice infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite showed no selective reduction in fear of feline predators. Findings reveal chronic T. gondii infection reduces anxiety and risk-aversion while increasing curiosity and exploratory behaviors.

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·June 28, 2019·6 min read

Gene activity database could spare thousands of mice

A new, comprehensive database of gene activity in mice, which incorporates ten disease models, could significantly reduce the need for animal testing.

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·May 16, 2019·5 min read

Is the brain parasite Toxoplasma manipulating your behavior, or is your immune system to blame?

Immune system response to chronic infection may be more directly to blame for health and behavioral changes associated with Toxoplasma gondii infections.

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·December 9, 2017·4 min read

How Toxoplasmosis Exploits Immune Cells to Reach the Brain

Stockholm University researchers have discovered how a common parasite found in cat feces moves through the body and enters the brain. Toxoplasma gondii is able to take control of immune cells and use them to move through the body, eventually reaching the brain.

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·September 13, 2017·6 min read

Link Between Toxoplasma Infection and Common Brain Disease

A new study in Scientific Reports reports T.gonfii infection may alter, or even amplify some neurological disorders including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.