2014/11/06 by Alexandru Parlog, Dirk Schlüter, Ildikò Rita Dunay · 5 citations
Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · Neuroscience · #Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies #Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research #Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments #Biology #Toxoplasma gondii #Neuroscience #Immune system #Population #Immunology #Intracellular parasite #Gene silencing #Antibody #Genetics #Medicine #Gene
paper · doi:10.1111/pim.12157
openalex publication_date 2014/11/06 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The zoonotic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii infects over 30% of the human population. The intracellular parasite can persist lifelong in the CNS within neurons modifying their function and structure, thus leading to specific behavioural changes of the host. In recent years, several in vitro studies and murine models have focused on the elucidation of these modifications. Furthermore, investigations of the human population have correlated Toxoplasma seropositivity with changes in neurological functions; however, the complex underlying mechanisms of the subtle behavioural alteration are still not fully understood. The parasites are able to induce direct modifications in the infected cells, for example by altering dopamine metabolism, by functionally silencing neurons as well as by hindering apoptosis. Moreover, indirect effects of the peripheral immune system and alterations of the immune status of the CNS, observed during chronic infection, might also contribute to changes in neuronal connectivity and synaptic plasticity. In this review, we will provide an overview and highlight recent advances, which describe changes in the neuronal function and morphology upon T. gondii infection.