Toxoplasma Modulates Signature Pathways of Human Epilepsy, Neurodegeneration & Cancer.

ABSTRACT: One third of humans are infected lifelong with the brain-dwelling, protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Approximately fifteen million of these have congenital toxoplasmosis. Although neurobehavioral disease is associated with seropositivity, causality is unproven. To better understand what this parasite does to human brains, we performed a comprehensive systems analysis of the infected brain: We identified susceptibility genes for congenital toxoplasmosis in our cohort of infected humans and found these genes are expressed in human brain. Transcriptomic and quantitative proteomic analyses of infected human, primary, neuronal stem and monocytic cells revealed effects on neurodevelopment and plasticity in neural, immune, and endocrine networks. These findings were supported by identificati

SUBMITTER: Ngo HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5597608 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature