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Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Compendium of Known Effects and Ongoing Research

trypanothione reductase

Toxoplasma and schizophrenia

October 26, 2009
Yolken, R.H., Dickerson, F.B, Torrey, E.F.
Parasite Immunology 2009; 31: 706-715.
Click for abstract
Research on infectious agents as a possible cause of schizophrenia has become prominent in the past decade. Toxoplasma gondii has emerged as a prime candidate for a variety of reasons; (i) many studies have reported that individuals with schizophrenia, compared to controls, have a higher prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii, (ii) some individuals with adult toxoplasmosis develop psychotic symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia, (iii) epidemiologically, there are many similarities between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia, (iv) antipsychotic drugs known to be effective in schizophrenia also inhibit some parasites, including T. gondii, (v) Toxoplasma has been shown to induce elevated levels of dopamine in experimentally infected animals (elevated dopamine is commonly seen in individuals with schizophrenia) and (vi) studies have shown that individuals with schizophrenia, compared to controls, have had greater exposure to cats in childhood. A number of questions remain concerning a role for Toxoplasma in the aetiology of schizophrenia, including the roles of strain variation, the timing and source of infection, and the role of host genes in determining disease susceptibility. The establishment of a firm association between Toxoplasma and the aetiology of schizophrenia and related disorders would represent a major breakthrough in the understanding of these disorders and would lead to novel methods for their treatment and prevention.

Tagged: affective disorders, behavioral alterations, congenital toxoplasmosis, gondii infection, latent toxoplasmosis, risk factors, Schizophrenia, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, traffic accidents, trypanosoma-brucei, trypanothione reductase, united-states

Mental health

Drugs used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder inhibit the replication of Toxoplasma gondii

October 30, 2003
Jones-Brando, L., Torrey, E.F., Yolken ,R.
Schizophrenia Research 2003; 62: 237-244
Click for abstract
The exact mechanisms of action of some antipsychotics and mood stabilizers have not been elucidated. Response to these medications can vary among individuals. Recent studies indicate that infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii may contribute to the symptoms of schizophrenia in some individuals. We investigated commonly used antipsychotic and mood stabilizing medications for their ability to inhibit the replication of this organism. We employed a system for testing compounds for in vitro activity against T gondii. Human fibroblasts (HFF) were treated with test compounds and then exposed to Toxoplasma that has been genetically modified to express cytoplasmic galactosidase. Inhibition by the drugs was determined by spectrophotometric analysis of colorimetric reactions. We tested 12 neuroleptic compounds and found that of these, the antipsychotic haloperidol and the mood stabilizer valproic acid most effectively inhibit Toxoplasma growth in vitro. Valproic acid inhibited the parasite at a concentration below that found in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood of individuals being treated with this medication and displayed synergistic activity with haloperidol and with trimethoprim, an antibiotic commonly used to treat Toxoplasma infections. Several medications used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have the ability to inhibit the in vitro replication of T gondii. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Tagged: antiparasitic, antipsychotics, bipolar disorder, cells, chlorpromazine, first-episode schizophrenia, herpes-simplex-virus, human-immunodeficiency-virus, in-vitro, infection, lithium-chloride, mood stabilizers, Parasite, phenothiazines, Schizophrenia, trypanothione reductase

Mental health

Topics

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Recent articles

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