Toxoplasma's Control of the Brain

In this article, the pathways that the parasite, toxoplasma, takes to control its host were examined. Toxoplasma also know as the "cat parasite" has been observed to effect the host's risk-taking ability and other behaviors. The parasite has been living among humans for ages and about 30 to 50 percent of the world's population is infected. The initial infection of the parasite causes mild-flu like symptoms and then the parasites retreat into a long, dormant phase. Although toxoplasmosis in the brains' of humans with immune deficiency and fetuses can be fatal. Research was also conducted to show that even in their dormant phase, they still exhibit some control over the host. When rats are affected with toxoplasmas. they become unafraid of cats and even develop a level of attractiveness to their scent. Researchers infected human dendritic cells with toxoplasma and examined their affects. The toxoplasma caused an up secretion in GABA which in turn inhibits the sensations of fear and anxiety.
The implications of this research are immense. If researchers could find a way to use parasites to inhibit or facilitate signal molecules it could potentially cure many diseases like Alzheimer and etc. The develop of new innovating ways to inhibit/facilitate molecules and drug delivery can lead to many medical breakthrough.

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