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Insights into the molecular basis of host behaviour manipulation by Toxoplasma gondii infection

Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi, Dominique Soldati-Favre
Emerging Topics in Life Sciences Dec 22, 2017, 1 (6) 563-572; DOI: 10.1042/ETLS20170108
Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
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  • For correspondence: pierre-mehdi.hammoudi@unige.ch
Dominique Soldati-Favre
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, CMU, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, 1206 Geneva, Switzerland
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Abstract

Typically illustrating the ‘manipulation hypothesis’, Toxoplasma gondii is widely known to trigger sustainable behavioural changes during chronic infection of intermediate hosts to enhance transmission to its feline definitive hosts, ensuring survival and dissemination. During the chronic stage of infection in rodents, a variety of neurological dysfunctions have been unravelled and correlated with the loss of cat fear, among other phenotypic impacts. However, the underlying neurological alteration(s) driving these behavioural modifications is only partially understood, which makes it difficult to draw more than a correlation between T. gondii infection and changes in brain homeostasis. Moreover, it is barely known which among the brain regions governing fear and stress responses are preferentially affected during T. gondii infection. Studies aiming at an in-depth dissection of underlying molecular mechanisms occurring at the host and parasite levels will be discussed in this review. Addressing this reminiscent topic in the light of recent technical progress and new discoveries regarding fear response, olfaction and neuromodulator mechanisms could contribute to a better understanding of this complex host–parasite interaction.

  • behaviour manipulation
  • brain
  • fear
  • Toxoplasma gondii
  • Abbreviations

    BBB,
    blood–brain barrier;
    BLA,
    basolateral complex of the amygdala;
    CCR7,
    C-C chemokine receptor 7;
    CNS,
    central nervous system;
    DCs,
    dendritic cells;
    ENS,
    enteric nervous system;
    GBA,
    gut–brain axis;
    GBPs,
    guanylate-binding proteins;
    PAG,
    periaqueductal gray;
    VNO,
    vomeronasal organ;
    PVM,
    parasitophorous vacuole membrane;
    VSN,
    vomeronasal sensory neurone
    • Received October 13, 2017.
    • Revision received November 22, 2017.
    • Accepted November 27, 2017.
    • © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society and the Royal Society of Biology
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    Insights into the molecular basis of host behaviour manipulation by Toxoplasma gondii infection
    Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi, Dominique Soldati-Favre
    Emerging Topics in Life Sciences Dec 2017, 1 (6) 563-572; DOI: 10.1042/ETLS20170108
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    Insights into the molecular basis of host behaviour manipulation by Toxoplasma gondii infection
    Pierre-Mehdi Hammoudi, Dominique Soldati-Favre
    Emerging Topics in Life Sciences Dec 2017, 1 (6) 563-572; DOI: 10.1042/ETLS20170108

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    • Article
      • Abstract
      • Introduction
      • Infection routes, inflammatory response and clearance
      • Parasite-induced behaviour in infected hosts
      • Impacts of Toxoplasma strains on the host during infection
      • Molecular determinants defining Toxoplasma-induced host manipulation
      • Are parasite effector molecules directly responsible for altering behaviour?
      • Concluding remarks: Toxoplasma is not the unique manipulator among Apicomplexa
      • Perspectives
      • Funding
      • Competing Interests
      • Acknowledgements
      • References
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    Keywords

    behaviour manipulation
    brain
    fear
    Toxoplasma gondii

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