title: The known and missing links between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite, has a striking predilection for infecting the Central Nervous System and has been linked to an increased incidence of a number of psychiatric diseases. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that T. gondii infection can affect the structure, bioenergetics and function of brain cells, and alters several host cell processes, including dopaminergic, tryptophan-kynurenine, GABAergic, AKT1, Jak/STAT, and vasopressinergic pathways. These mechanisms underlying the neuropathology of latent toxoplasmosis seem to operate also in schizophrenia, supporting the link between the two disorders. Better understanding of the intricate parasite-neuroglial communications holds the key to unlocking the mystery of T. gondii-mediated schizophrenia and offers substantial prospects for the development of disease-modifying therapies.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK. hany.elsheikha@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Hany M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Elsheikha
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Qatar Foundation - Education City, P.O. Box: 24144, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Büsselberg
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730046, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xing-Quan
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism
keywords: Host-pathogen interaction; Mental illness; Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Toxoplasma gondii