Toxoplasma gondii tagged posts

Findings, based on an analysis of 575 study participants, support the hypothesis that infections may negatively affect brain health. A new study from a team led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that signs of common infections in a sample of middle-aged and older adults were associated with poorer performance on a test of global cognitive function.

The results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that infections in mid- and late-life can worsen cognitive performance and may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

For their analysis, the researchers examined antibody levels to five common pathogens in 575 adults, ages 41 to 97...

This image shows an ordered string or ribbon of Toxoplasma parasites with their nuclei shown in blue and the parasite rhoptries that secrete the effectors shown in green. Credit: Barbara Fox and colleagues

Scientists identified the specific proteins secreted by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii that cause the immune system in mice to attack established ovarian tumors. A promising strategy in the fight against cancer is to use the body’s own immune system to remove tumor cells, but due to a phenomenon called immune tolerance, the immune system has a difficult time identifying which cells to attack. In the new study, scientists built upon previous discoveries that a safe, non-reproducing vaccine strain of T...