Molecular Mimicry between Toxoplasma gondii B-Cell Epitopes and Neurodevelopmental Proteins: An Immunoinformatic Approach.

ABSTRACT: Epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have shown a strong association between high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and schizophrenia. Schizophrenic patients showed higher levels of anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulins M and G (IgM and IgG) when compared to healthy controls. Previously, in a rat model, we demonstrated that the progeny of mothers immunized with T. gondii lysates before gestation had behavioral and social impairments during adulthood. Therefore, we suggested that T. gondii infection can trigger autoreactivity by molecularly mimicking host brain proteins. Here, we aimed to identify the occurrence of antigenic mimicry between T. gondii epitopes and host brain proteins. Using a bioinformatic approach, we predicted T. gondii RH

SUBMITTER: Meza-Sosa KF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11352964 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature