Toxoplasma gondii-induced neuronal alterations.

Parlog, A; Schlüter, D; Dunay, I R

dc.contributor.author	Parlog, A
dc.contributor.author	Schlüter, D
dc.contributor.author	Dunay, I R
dc.date.accessioned	2015-03-12T15:46:43Z	en
dc.date.available	2015-03-12T15:46:43Z	en
dc.date.issued	2015-03	en
dc.identifier.citation	Toxoplasma gondii-induced neuronal alterations. 2015, 37 (3):159-70 Parasite Immunol.	en
dc.identifier.issn	1365-3024	en
dc.identifier.pmid	25376390	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1111/pim.12157	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10033/346575	en
dc.description.abstract	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.
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.title	Toxoplasma gondii-induced neuronal alterations.	en
dc.type	Article	en
dc.contributor.department	Helmholtz Centre for infection research, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.	en
dc.identifier.journal	Parasite immunology	en
refterms.dateFOA	2016-03-15T00:00:00Z
html.description.abstract	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.