Toxoplasma Gondii

Download or read book Toxoplasma Gondii written by Louis M. Weiss and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2013-08-10 with total page 1109 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This 2e of Toxoplasma gondii reflects the significant advances in the field in the last 5 years, including new information on the genomics, epigenomics and proteomics of T. gondii as well as a new understanding of the population biology and genetic diversity of this organism. T. gondii remains the best model system for studying the entire Apicomplexa group of protozoans, which includes Malaria, making this new edition essential for a broad group of researchers and scientists. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a one-celled protozoan parasite known as T. gondii. The infection produces a wide range of clinical syndromes in humans, land and sea mammals, and various bird species. Most humans contract toxoplasmosis by eating contaminated, raw or undercooked meat (particularly pork), vegetables, or milk products; by coming into contact with the T. gondii eggs from cat feces; or by drinking contaminated water. The parasite damages the ocular and central nervous systems, causing behavioral and personality alterations as well as fatal necrotizing encephalitis. It is especially dangerous for the fetus of an infected pregnant woman and for individuals with compromised immune systems, such as HIV-infected patients. - Completely updated, the 2e presents recent advances driven by new information on the genetics and genomics of the pathogen - Provides the latest information concerning the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of toxoplasmosis - Offers a single-source reference for a wide range of scientists and physicians working with this pathogen, including parasitologists, cell and molecular biologists, veterinarians, neuroscientists, physicians, and food scientists

Download or read book The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide written by Yogesh Dwivedi and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2012-06-25 with total page 485 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With recent studies using genetic, epigenetic, and other molecular and neurochemical approaches, a new era has begun in understanding pathophysiology of suicide. Emerging evidence suggests that neurobiological factors are not only critical in providing potential risk factors but also provide a promising approach to develop more effective treatment and prevention strategies. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide discusses the most recent findings in suicide neurobiology. Psychological, psychosocial, and cultural factors are important in determining the risk factors for suicide; however, they offer weak prediction and can be of little clinical use. Interestingly, cognitive characteristics are different among depressed suicidal and depressed nonsuicidal subjects, and could be involved in the development of suicidal behavior. The characterization of the neurobiological basis of suicide is in delineating the risk factors associated with suicide. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide focuses on how and why these neurobiological factors are crucial in the pathogenic mechanisms of suicidal behavior and how these findings can be transformed into potential therapeutic applications.

Download or read book Toxoplasma gondii written by Uwe Gross and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For years, toxoplasmosis has been known as disease mostly affecting newborns. Since immunocompromised patients (AIDS) present a high risk of reactivation of chronic toxoplasmosis this parasitic disease has gained increasing interest. Besides presenting clinical and therapeutical concepts, this volume provides current knowledge about genetics and immunology of T. gondii and the interaction with its 'host'. Since in vivo and in vitro models of toxoplasmosis exist, and genetic manipulation has become possible, this protozoan parasite has recently been accepted as a model for understanding the pathogenesis and persistance of other intracellular parasites. The articles of the book compromise both reviewing current concepts and reporting on yet unpublished results of leading scientists in this field.

Download or read book Toxoplasmosis of Animals and Humans written by J. P. Dubey and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2016-04-19 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Found worldwide from Alaska to Australasia, Toxoplasma gondii knows no geographic boundaries. The protozoan is the source of one of the most common parasitic infections in humans, livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, and has gained notoriety with its inclusion on the list of potential bioterrorism microbes. In the two decades since the publi

Download or read book Parasites, Pussycats and Psychosis written by E. Fuller Torrey and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-11-29 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book analyzes the evidence linking Toxoplasma gondii to the increasing incidence of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the United States. Initially establishing that infectious agents are regularly transmitted from animals to humans, lead to human disease, and that infectious agents can cause psychosis, it then examines the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii in detail. Infecting 40 million Americans, Toxoplasma gondii is known to cause congenital infections, eye disease, and encephalitis for individuals who are immunosuppressed. It has also been shown to change the behavior of nonhuman mammals, as well as to alter some personality traits in humans. After discussing the clinical evidence linking Toxoplasma gondii to human psychosis, the book elucidates the epidemiological evidence further supporting this linkage; including the proportional increase in incidence of human psychosis as cats transitioned to domestication over 800 years. Finally, the book assesses the magnitude of the problem and suggests solutions. Parasites, Pussycats and Psychosis: The Unknown Dangers of Human Toxoplasmosis provides a comprehensive review of the evidence linking human psychosis in the United States to infections of Toxoplasma gondii. It will be of interest to infectious disease specialists, general practitioners, scientists, historians, and cat-lovers.

Download or read book Human Emerging and Re-emerging Infections written by Sunit Kumar Singh and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2015-11-09 with total page 2365 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Emerging and re-emerging pathogens pose several challenges to diagnosis, treatment, and public health surveillance, primarily because pathogen identification is a difficult and time-consuming process due to the “novel” nature of the agent. Proper identification requires a wide array of techniques, but the significance of these diagnostics is anticipated to increase with advances in newer molecular and nanobiotechnological interventions and health information technology. Human Emerging and Re-emerging Infections covers the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostics, clinical features, and public health risks posed by new viral and microbial infections. The book includes detailed coverage on the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis, development of various diagnostic tools, diagnostic assays and their limitations, key research priorities, and new technologies in infection diagnostics. Volume 1 addresses viral and parasitic infections, while volume 2 delves into bacterial and mycotic infections. Human Emerging and Re-emerging Infections is an invaluable resource for researchers in parasitologists, microbiology, Immunology, neurology and virology, as well as clinicians and students interested in understanding the current knowledge and future directions of infectious diseases.

Download or read book Toxoplasma Gondii Host Interactions: A Story of Immune Attack and Parasite Counterattack written by Jeroen P. J. Saeij and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2020-08-10 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including an estimated ~30% of humans. It can cause severe disease in immune-suppressed individuals and in fetuses as well as blinding chorioretinitis in adults and children. Toxoplasma-innate immune system interactions determine early parasite control and activation of the adaptive immune system by the host and are therefore critical in determining host survival during the acute phase of infection. However, induction of an exaggerated inflammatory response can also lead to pathology. Only the chronic tissue cyst form of Toxoplasma is orally infectious. It is therefore critical for the parasite’s survival during the chronic phase to escape immune responses at this stage as well. Toxoplasma exists as genetically divergent strains mostly depending on geography, with the most strain diversity being found in South America. The key to Toxoplasma’s successful co-option of the host are proteins secreted from its rhoptry and dense granule secretory organelles. Rhoptry proteins (ROPs) are secreted into the host cell cytoplasm upon invasion while dense granule proteins (GRAs) are secreted once the parasite establishes itself in its parasitophorous vacuole (PV). GRAs can localize to the PV, the PV membrane, or are secreted beyond the PVM into the host cytoplasm. Many ROPs and GRAs are involved in modulating host cell signaling pathways and evasion of host immune responses and play important roles in Toxoplasma virulence. Polymorphisms in Toxoplasma’s ROPs and GRAs, likely determine how well these effectors bind to the divergent substrates in different host species, which can explain Toxoplasma strain differences in virulence in a particular host species. By studying Toxoplasma we have not only started to unravel how the parasite modulates immune responses to enhance its survival, replication, and transmission but we have also learned a lot about the immune system. Many unique mechanisms of immunity have indeed been defined using Toxoplasma and this parasite has aided our understanding of tissue-specific immune responses in the brain and intestine. This Research Topic will give a comprehensive overview of Toxoplasma-host immune response interactions. Most Toxoplasma virulence determinants to date have been established in murine systems and it is unclear how the parasite interacts with other intermediate hosts and humans. In addition, the interactions of Toxoplasma with some of the most relevant cell types during infection, including dendritic cells, neurons, intestinal epithelial cells or vascular endothelial cells, remain poorly understood.