I CAN HAZ TOXOPLASMA

How much of a stretch is it to associate a portion of the popularity of LOLCats to the influence of T. Gondii?

Tobacco Leaves May Hold Key for T. Gondii Immunization

Effect of codon optimization and subcellular targeting on Toxoplasma gondii antigen SAG1 expression in tobacco leaves to use in subcutaneous and oral immunization in mice

Codon optimization and subcellular targeting were studied with the aim to increase the expression levels of the SAG178-322 antigen of Toxoplasma gondii in tobacco leaves. The expression of the tobacco-optimized and native versions of the SAG1 gene was explored by transient expression from the Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary expression vector, which allows targeting the recombinant protein to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the apoplast.

Finally, mice were subcutaneously and orally immunized with leaf extracts-SAG1 and the strategy of prime boost with rSAG1 expressed in Escherichia coli was used to optimize the oral immunization with leaf extracts-SAG1.

Results: Leaves agroinfiltrated with an unmodified SAG1 gene accumulated 5- to 10-fold more than leaves agroinfiltrated with a codon-optimized SAG1 gene. ER localization allowed the accumulation of higher levels of native SAG1.

However, no significant differences were observed between the mRNA accumulations of the different versions of SAG1. Subcutaneous immunization with leaf extracts-SAG1 (SAG1) protected mice against an oral challenge with a non-lethal cyst dose, and this effect could be associated with the secretion of significant levels of IFN-.

The protection was increased when mice were ID boosted with rSAG1 (SAG1+boost). This group elicited a significant Th1 humoral and cellular immune response characterized by high levels of IFN-.

In an oral immunization assay, the SAG1+boost group showed a significantly lower brain cyst burden compared to the rest of the groups.

Conclusion: Transient agroinfiltration was useful for the expression of all of the recombinant proteins tested. Our results support the usefulness of endoplasmic reticulum signal peptides in enhancing the production of recombinant proteins meant for use as vaccines.

The results showed that this plant-produced protein has potential for use as vaccine and provides a potential means for protecting humans and animals against toxoplasmosis.

Author: Melina Laguia-BecherValentina MartinMauricio KraemerMariana CoriglianoMaria YaconoAlejandra GoldmanMarina Clemente
Credits/Source: BMC Biotechnology 2010, 10:52

A vaccine for T. Gondii could be a valuable tool in addressing some of the negative impacts that Toxo can have on humans.  Tobacco leaves as a source for this immunization strategy is highly scalable and is something that we could produce domestically for export.  The reduction of cysts in the brains of the mice directly affects the efficacy of Toxo to modify the behavior of the host animals.
Note:  I would greatly appreciate anyone with sufficient scientific knowledge to parse the article into more clear laymans terms. I'm sure there are fascinating tidbits in this article that I'm completely missing.

A Link Between T. Gondii and Schizophrenia

Johns Hopkins University scientists trying to determine why people develop serious mental illness are focusing on an unlikely factor: a common parasite spread by cats.
The researchers say the microbes, called Toxoplasma gondii, invade the human brain and appear to upset its chemistry — creating, in some people, the psychotic behaviors recognized as schizophrenia...
Evidence that T. gondii infections may be a cause of schizophrenia, while not yet conclusive, is growing, Yolken said. A review of past studies, published last year by Yolken and Torrey, collected a variety of intriguing correlations. For example: People with schizophrenia have a higher prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in their blood. There are unusually low rates of schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis in countries where cats are rare, and unusually high rates in places where eating uncooked meat is customary. And some adults with toxoplasmosis show psychotic symptoms similar to schizophrenia.
Studies have linked a history of toxoplasmosis with increased rates of other mental changes, too, including bipolar disorders and depression. A 2002 study in the Czech Republic noted slowed reflexes in Toxoplasma-positive people and found links between the infection and increased rates of auto accidents.
A University of Maryland study last year found that people with mood disorders who attempt suicide had higher levels of T. gondii antibodies than those who don't try to take their own lives. Still, the links between schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis are not simple. For example, most people infected with T. gondii never become schizophrenic. And not all schizophrenics have been exposed to toxoplasma.

The Republic

While we don't understand schizophrenia fully, it appears there is a relationship between infections of T. Gondii and and certain mental health disorders in humans.  In animal models, infection of a rat by the parasite will modify the behavior of the host in significant ways.  T. Gondii is known to interfere with the normal function of the amygdala in healthy rats.  Their normal aversion to the scent of a cat estrous or urine is inhibited by the parasite in such a way as to make them more prone to being ingested by a cat(a necessary stage in the life cycle of the parasite).  Using this knowledge we can explore mechanisms by which we could reduce the overall amount of cases of schizophrenia via attempts to curb infection of T. Gondii.

A Conversation with Robert Sapolsky

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About This Blog

This blog will be a place to keep up to date with one of the most fascinating parasites known to man...
Toxoplasma Gondii
If you are unfamiliar with this parasite, a good place to start for information is(of course) the wikipedia page on the subject.
There is also a fantastic episode of Radiolab with sums up some of the most startling aspects of T. Gondii which started my inquiry into this subject. (mp3)
I will be posting articles and information from around the web, as well as delivering original content and analysis of issues surrounding this fascinating creature.
I encourage any submissions or contributions to this site that you think would be interesting.