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Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Compendium of Known Effects and Ongoing Research

simplex-virus 1

Differences in cognitive functions between cytomegalovirus-infected and cytomegalovirus-free university students: a case control study

May 3, 2018
Chvatalova, V., Sebankova, B., Hrbackova, H., Turecek, P., Flegr, J
Scientific Reports 2018; 8: Artn 5322 10.1038/S41598-018-23637-3
Click for abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the herpetic virus, which infects 45-100% people worldwide. Many reports suggest that CMV could impair cognitive functions of infected subjects. Here we searched for indices of effects of CMV on infected subjects' intelligence and knowledge. The Intelligence Structure Test I-S-T 2000 R was used to compare IQ of 148 CMV-infected and 135 CMV-free university students. Infected students expressed higher intelligence. Paradoxically, their IQ decreased with decreasing concentration of anti-CMV antibodies, which can be used, statistically, as a proxy of the time passed from the moment of infection in young subjects when the age of subjects is statistically controlled. The paradox of seemingly higher intelligence of CMV infected subjects could be explained by the presence of the subpopulation of about 5-10% CMV-positive individuals in the population of "CMV-negative students". These false negative subjects had probably not only the oldest infections and therefore the lowest concentration of anamnestic antibodies, but also the lowest intelligence among the infected students. Prevalence of CMV infection in all countries is very high, approaching sometimes 90%. Therefore, the total impact of CMV on human intelligence may be large.

Tagged: blood-donors, decreased level, host beahavior, latent toxoplasmosis, novelty seeiking, persistent infection, personality profile, simplex-virus 1, toxoplasma gondii infection, Whitehall II cohort

Cognitive functions

Inflammatory molecular signature associated with infectious agents in psychosis

October 9, 2014 32 Comments
Hayes, L. N., Severance, E. G., Leek, J. T., Gressitt, K. L., Rohleder, C., Coughlin, J. M., Leweke, F. M., Yolken, R. H., Sawa, A.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2014; 40: 963-972
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Schizophrenia (SZ) is a devastating mental condition with onset in young adulthood. The identification of molecular biomarkers that reflect illness pathology is crucial. Recent evidence suggested immune and inflammatory cascades in conjunction with infection may play a role in the pathology. To address this question, we investigated molecular changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from antipsychoticnaive patients with SZ and at risk mental status for psychosis (ARMS), in comparison with healthy controls (HCs). We measured 90 analytes using a broad multiplex platform focusing on immune and inflammatory cascades then selected 35 with our quality reporting criteria for further analysis. We also examined Toxoplasma gondii (TG) and herpes simplex virus 1 antibody levels in CSF. We report that expression of 15 molecules was significantly altered in the patient groups (SZ and ARMS) compared with HCs. The majority of these molecular changes (alpha-2-macroglobulin [alpha 2M], fibrinogen, interleukin-6 receptor [IL-6R], stem cell factor [SCF], transforming growth factor alpha [TGF alpha], tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 [TNFR2], IL-8, monocyte chemotactic protein 2 [MCP-2/CCL8], testosterone [for males], angiotensin converting enzyme [ACE], and epidermal growth factor receptor) were consistent between SZ and ARMS patients, suggesting these may represent trait changes associated with psychotic conditions in general. Interestingly, many of these analytes (alpha 2M, fibrinogen, IL-6R, SCF, TGF alpha, TNFR2, IL-8, MCP-2/CCL8, and testosterone [for males]) were exacerbated in subjects with ARMS compared with subjects with SZ. Although further studies are needed, we optimistically propose that these molecules may be good candidates for predictive markers for psychosis from an early stage. Lastly, reduction of IL-6R, TGF alpha, and ACE was correlated with positivity of TG antibody in the CSF, suggesting possible involvement of TG infection in the pathology.

Tagged: antibodies, at risk mental status, biomarker, cerebrospinal fluid, exposure, immune activation, inflammation, metaanalysis, pathways, prenatal infection, recent-onset schizophrenia, risk factors, Schizophrenia, simplex-virus 1, Toxoplasma gondii

Mental health

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