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Swapna LS, Stevens GC, Sardinha-Silva A, Hu LZ, Brand V, Fusca DD, Wan C, Xiong X, Boyle JP, Grigg ME, Emili A, Parkinson J. ToxoNet: A high confidence map of protein-protein interactions in Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1012208. [PMID: 38900844 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The apicomplexan intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a major food borne pathogen that is highly prevalent in the global population. The majority of the T. gondii proteome remains uncharacterized and the organization of proteins into complexes is unclear. To overcome this knowledge gap, we used a biochemical fractionation strategy to predict interactions by correlation profiling. To overcome the deficit of high-quality training data in non-model organisms, we complemented a supervised machine learning strategy, with an unsupervised approach, based on similarity network fusion. The resulting combined high confidence network, ToxoNet, comprises 2,063 interactions connecting 652 proteins. Clustering identifies 93 protein complexes. We identified clusters enriched in mitochondrial machinery that include previously uncharacterized proteins that likely represent novel adaptations to oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, complexes enriched in proteins localized to secretory organelles and the inner membrane complex, predict additional novel components representing novel targets for detailed functional characterization. We present ToxoNet as a publicly available resource with the expectation that it will help drive future hypotheses within the research community.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grant C Stevens
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aline Sardinha-Silva
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lucas Zhongming Hu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Verena Brand
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel D Fusca
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cuihong Wan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xuejian Xiong
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jon P Boyle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael E Grigg
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Andrew Emili
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John Parkinson
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Calero-Bernal R, Gennari SM, Cano S, Salas-Fajardo MY, Ríos A, Álvarez-García G, Ortega-Mora LM. Anti- Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in European Residents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies Published between 2000 and 2020. Pathogens 2023; 12:1430. [PMID: 38133313 PMCID: PMC10745778 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis has a major impact on animal and public health. Information regarding the seroprevalence of human Toxoplasma gondii infections from a European perspective has not yet been compiled to date. Thus, the present review summarized available resident data from the period 2000-2020. The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was 32.1%, with great variability between countries (n = 30). The subgroup analysis identified different pooled prevalence data depending on the geographic area (p < 0.0001), target population (p = 0.0147), and serological diagnosis assays used (p = 0.0059). A high heterogeneity (I2 = 100%, p < 0.001; Q = 3.5e+05, d.f. = 135, p < 0.001) and degree of publication bias (Egger's test = 6.14, p < 0.001) were observed among the 134 studies considered. The occurrence of anti-T. gondii IgM, which was reported in 64.7% of studies, reached a pooled seroprevalence of 0.6%. In addition, among the eight main risk factors identified, "contact with soil", "consumption of undercooked beef", and "intake of unwashed vegetables" were the most significantly associated with infections. The fact that one-third of the European population has been exposed to T. gondii justifies extra efforts to harmonize surveillance systems and develop additional risk-factor analyses based on detailed source attribution assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Calero-Bernal
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Solange María Gennari
- PhD Program in One Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Santo Amaro, São Paulo 04829-300, SP, Brazil;
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
| | - Santiago Cano
- Computing Services, Research Support Center, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Martha Ynés Salas-Fajardo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Arantxa Ríos
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Gema Álvarez-García
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.Y.S.-F.); (A.R.); (G.Á.-G.); (L.M.O.-M.)
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m6A RNA methylation facilitates pre-mRNA 3'-end formation and is essential for viability of Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009335. [PMID: 34324585 PMCID: PMC8354455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can cause serious opportunistic disease in the immunocompromised or through congenital infection. To progress through its life cycle, Toxoplasma relies on multiple layers of gene regulation that includes an array of transcription and epigenetic factors. Over the last decade, the modification of mRNA has emerged as another important layer of gene regulation called epitranscriptomics. Here, we report that epitranscriptomics machinery exists in Toxoplasma, namely the methylation of adenosines (m6A) in mRNA transcripts. We identified novel components of the m6A methyltransferase complex and determined the distribution of m6A marks within the parasite transcriptome. m6A mapping revealed the modification to be preferentially located near the 3’-boundary of mRNAs. Knockdown of the m6A writer components METTL3 and WTAP resulted in diminished m6A marks and a complete arrest of parasite replication. Furthermore, we examined the two proteins in Toxoplasma that possess YTH domains, which bind m6A marks, and showed them to be integral members of the cleavage and polyadenylation machinery that catalyzes the 3’-end processing of pre-mRNAs. Loss of METTL3, WTAP, or YTH1 led to a defect in transcript 3’-end formation. Together, these findings establish that the m6A epitranscriptome is essential for parasite viability by contributing to the processing of mRNA 3’-ends. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite of medical importance that causes disease upon immuno-suppression. Uncovering essential pathways that the parasite uses for its basic biological processes may reveal opportunities for new anti-parasitic drug therapies. Here, we describe the machinery that Toxoplasma uses to modify specific adenosine residues within its messenger RNAs (mRNA) by N6-adenosine methylation (m6A). We discovered that m6A mRNA methylation is prevalent in multiple stages of the parasite life cycle and is required for parasite replication. We also establish that m6A plays a major role in the proper maturation of mRNA. Two proteins that bind m6A modifications on mRNA associate with factors responsible for the cleavage and final processing steps of mRNA maturation. Since all of the machinery is conserved from plants to Toxoplasma and other related parasites, we propose that this system operates similarly in these organisms.
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Sýkorová K, Flegr J. Faster life history strategy manifests itself by lower age at menarche, higher sexual desire, and earlier reproduction in people with worse health. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11254. [PMID: 34045560 PMCID: PMC8159921 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90579-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Factors which indicate lower life expectancy also induce switching to a faster life strategy, that is, a higher investment in current reproduction at the expense of future reproduction and body maintenance. We tested a hypothesis according to which impairment of individual health serves as a signal for switching to a faster life strategy using online-gathered data from 32,911 subjects. Worse health was associated with lower age at menarche and earlier initiation of sexual life in women and higher sexual desire and earlier reproduction in both sexes. Individuals with worse health also exhibited lower sexual activity, lower number of sexual partners, and lower total number of children. These results suggest that impaired health shifts individuals towards a faster life strategy but also has a negative (physiological) effect on behaviours related to sexual life. Signs of a faster life strategy were also found in Rh-negative men in good health, indicating that even just genetic predisposition to worse health could serve as a signal for switching to a faster life strategy. We suggest that improved public health in developed countries and the resulting shift to a slower life strategy could be the ultimate cause of the phenomenon of demographic transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Sýkorová
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jaroslav Flegr
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Applied Neurosciences and Brain Imagination, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, Klecany, Czech Republic
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Hlaváčová J, Flegr J, Řežábek K, Calda P, Kaňková Š. Association between latent toxoplasmosis and fertility parameters of men. Andrology 2021; 9:854-862. [PMID: 33420759 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND About a third of people in the world are infected with Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite has been found in the reproductive organs and semen of males of many animal species as well as humans. The effects of toxoplasmosis on sperm count, motility and morphology were confirmed in rats. A higher prevalence of toxoplasmosis has been observed in infertile men. On the other hand, no significant effect of infection on semen parameters in men was found in one already published study. OBJECTIVES To compare the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in men with and without semen pathology and to examine in detail the possible impact of infection on semen volume, sperm count, motility and morphology. MATERIALS AND METHODS The pre-registered cross-sectional study included 669 men who visited the Centre for Assisted Reproduction in Prague from June 2016 until June 2018. RESULTS The incidence of fertility problems was significantly higher in the 163 Toxoplasma-infected men (48.47%) than in the 506 Toxoplasma-free men (42.29%), τ = 0.049, P = 0.029. After correction for multiple tests, we found significantly lower sperm concentration, concentration of progressively motile sperm, and concentration of non-progressively motile sperm in Toxoplasma-positive men than in Toxoplasma-negative men using partial Kendall correlation with age controlled. In addition, toxoplasmosis correlated with sperm quality in smokers but not in non-smokers. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Our results suggest that latent toxoplasmosis affects certain semen parameters (sperm count and motility), but does not seem to affect sperm morphology and semen volume. Impairment of semen parameters may be either a side effect of the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in male reproductive organs or a product of manipulation activity of the parasite aimed to increase the efficiency of the sexual route of its transmission. Tobacco smoking also appears to exacerbate the negative impact of toxoplasmosis on semen parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Hlaváčová
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Flegr
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Řežábek
- Centre for Assisted Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Calda
- Fetal Medicine Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Kaňková
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Flegr J, Toman J, Hůla M, Kaňková Š. The role of balancing selection in maintaining human RhD blood group polymorphism: A preregistered cross-sectional study. J Evol Biol 2020; 34:426-438. [PMID: 33244840 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Maintenance of genetic polymorphism remains one of the big questions of evolutionary biology, which for a long time tended to be explained by balancing selection. This explanation was later criticized, but now is again accepted as an important mechanism in evolution. Human blood group systems seem affected by balancing selection especially strongly. In this preregistered study, we focused on stable coexistence of RhD-positive and RhD-negative subjects in a population. This is an evolutionary conundrum, because carriers of the less frequent negative allele suffer from lower fecundity due to haemolytic disease of the newborn affecting RhD-positive infants born to RhD-negative women. One explanation of persisting stability of RhD polymorphism points to heterozygote advantage. Over the past decade, numerous studies demonstrated that RhD-positive subjects score better than RhD-negative homozygotes in psychomotor tests and physical health-related variables. Still, evidence of better health and performance of heterozygotes is scarce and merely indirect. We compared the physical and mental health of 2,539 subjects whose RhD genotype was estimated based on their and their parents' RhD phenotype. We confirmed that RhD-negative homozygotes fare worse in terms of physical and mental health than subjects with RhD-positive phenotype and that RhD-positive heterozygotes enjoy better health than both homozygotes. For the first time, we demonstrated that RhD-positive homozygotes might suffer from worse health than RhD-negative homozygotes. Our results strongly support the hypothesis that RhD polymorphism is maintained by heterozygote advantage and that balancing selection may have played an important role in human evolution in this context and in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Flegr
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Toman
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Hůla
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Kaňková
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Applied Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany, Czech Republic
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Jankowiak Ł, Rozsa L, Tryjanowski P, Møller AP. A negative covariation between toxoplasmosis and CoVID-19 with alternative interpretations. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12512. [PMID: 32719490 PMCID: PMC7385593 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69351-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses may exert severely negative effects on the mortality and morbidity of birds and mammals including humans and domestic animals. Most recently CoVID-19 has killed about half million people (27th of June, 2020). Susceptibility to this disease appears to differ markedly across different societies but the factors underlying this variability are not known. Given that prevalence of toxoplasmosis in human societies may serve as a proxy for hygiene, and it also exerts both direct and immune-mediated antiviral effects, we hypothesize a negative covariation between toxoplasmosis and measures of the CoVID-19 pandemic across countries. We obtained aged-adjusted toxoplasmosis prevalence of pregnant women from the literature. Since the differences in the CoVID-19 morbidity and mortality may depend on the different timing of the epidemics in each country, we applied the date of first documented CoVID-19 in each country as a proxy of susceptibility, with a statistical control for population size effects. Using these two indices, we show a highly significant negative co-variation between the two pandemics across 86 countries. Then, considering that the wealth of nations often co-varies with the prevalence of diseases, we introduced GDP per capita into our model. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis co-varies negatively, while the date of first CoVID-19 co-varies positively with GDP per capita across countries. Further, to control for the strong spatial autocorrelation among countries, we carried out a Spatial Structure Analyses of the relationships between the date of first CoVID-19, prevalence of toxoplasmosis, and GDP per capita. Results of this analysis did not confirm a direct causal relationship between toxoplasmosis and susceptibility to the CoVID-19 pandemics. As far as an analysis of observational data let us to suggest, it appears that the interaction between CoVID-19 and toxoplasmosis is mediated by GDP per capita and spatial effects. This prompts the question whether the formerly known covariations of CoVID-19 and BCG vaccination or air pollution might have also emerged as spurious indirect effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Jankowiak
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-415, Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Lajos Rozsa
- GINOP Evolutionary Systems Research Group, Institute of Evolution, Centre for Ecological Research, Klebelsberg 3, Budapest, 8237, Hungary
| | - Piotr Tryjanowski
- Institute of Zoology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, Poznan, 60-625, Poland
| | - Anders Pape Møller
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405, Orsay Cedex, France
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Chronic toxoplasmosis and sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea: Is there a link? PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235463. [PMID: 32609758 PMCID: PMC7329112 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sleepiness is the main clinical expression of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome resulting from upper airway collapse. Recent studies have discussed the fact that the presence of T. gondii cysts in the brain and the resulting biochemical and immunological mechanisms could be linked to neurobehavioral disorders. The aim of the present study was to explore the potential impact of chronic toxoplasmosis on sleepiness and on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity in OSA obese patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A case control study on obese patients screened for OSA was performed. According to the sleep disorder and matched based on gender, age and body mass index (BMI), two groups of obese patients were selected from our sample collection database. All patients were tested for toxoplasmosis serological status measuring anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM levels. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the impact of chronic toxoplasmosis on sleepiness and OSA severity. RESULTS 107 obese patients suffering from OSA were included in the study (median age: 53.3 years Interquartile range (IQR): [41.9-59.9]; median BMI: 39.4 kg/m2 IQR: [35.5-44.1], apnea-hypopnea index = 27.5 events/h [10.7-49.9]). Chronic toxoplasmosis was present in 63.4% and 70.7% of patients with or without sleepiness (p = 0.48), respectively and was not associated either to sleepiness (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: [0.52; 2.33], p = 0.64) or OSA severity (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: [0.51; 5.98] p = 0.37). CONCLUSION Although chronic Toxoplasma infection in immunocompetent humans has been associated to several behavioral disorders or pathologies in recent literature, we demonstrate here that chronic toxoplasmosis is not associated to sleepiness and to sleep apnea syndrome severity in obese patients suspected of sleep apnea syndrome.
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Burgdorf KS, Trabjerg BB, Pedersen MG, Nissen J, Banasik K, Pedersen OB, Sørensen E, Nielsen KR, Larsen MH, Erikstrup C, Bruun-Rasmussen P, Westergaard D, Thørner LW, Hjalgrim H, Paarup HM, Brunak S, Pedersen CB, Torrey EF, Werge T, Mortensen PB, Yolken RH, Ullum H. Large-scale study of Toxoplasma and Cytomegalovirus shows an association between infection and serious psychiatric disorders. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 79:152-158. [PMID: 30685531 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common infectious pathogens have been associated with psychiatric disorders, self-violence and risk-taking behavior. METHODS This case-control study reviews register data on 81,912 individuals from the Danish Blood Donor Study to identify individuals who have a psychiatric diagnosis (N = 2591), have attempted or committed suicide (N = 655), or have had traffic accidents (N = 2724). For all cases, controls were frequency matched by age and sex, resulting in 11,546 participants. Plasma samples were analyzed for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus (CMV). RESULTS T. gondii was detected in 25·9% of the population and was associated with schizophrenia (odds ratio [OR], 1·47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1·03-2·09). Accounting for temporality, with pathogen exposure preceding outcome, the association was even stronger (IRR, 2·78; 95% CI, 1·27-6·09). A very weak association between traffic accident and toxoplasmosis (OR, 1·11; 95% CI, 1·00-1·23, p = 0.054) was found. CMV was detected in 60·8% of the studied population and was associated with any psychiatric disorder (OR, 1·17; 95% CI, 1·06-1·29), but also with a smaller group of neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders (OR, 1·27; 95% CI, 1·12-1·44), and with attempting or committing suicide (OR, 1·31; 95% CI, 1·10-1·56). Accounting for temporality, any psychiatric disorder (IRR, 1·37; 95% CI, 1·08-1·74) and mood disorders (IRR, 1·43; 95% CI, 1·01-2·04) were associated with exposure to CMV. No association between traffic accident and CMV (OR, 1·06; 95% CI, 0·97-1·17) was found. CONCLUSIONS This large-scale serological study is the first study to examine temporality of pathogen exposure and to provide evidence of a causal relationship between T. gondii and schizophrenia, and between CMV and any psychiatric disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Betina B Trabjerg
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark
| | - Marianne Giørtz Pedersen
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Janna Nissen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karina Banasik
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Erik Sørensen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kaspar René Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Margit Hørup Larsen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Erikstrup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Bruun-Rasmussen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Westergaard
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lise Wegner Thørner
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Hjalgrim
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark,; Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Søren Brunak
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carsten B Pedersen
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Werge
- The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Institute of Biological Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Sct. Hans, Copenhagen University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Preben Bo Mortensen
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Robert H Yolken
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, USA
| | - Henrik Ullum
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Mareze M, Benitez ADN, Brandão APD, Pinto-Ferreira F, Miura AC, Martins FDC, Caldart ET, Biondo AW, Freire RL, Mitsuka-Breganó R, Navarro IT. Socioeconomic vulnerability associated to Toxoplasma gondii exposure in southern Brazil. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212375. [PMID: 30763391 PMCID: PMC6375698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Human toxoplasmosis, a protozoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, has been described as a worldwide foodborne disease with important public health impact. Despite infection has reportedly varied due to differences in alimentary, cultural and hygienic habits and geographic region, social vulnerability influence on toxoplasmosis distribution remains to be fully established. Accordingly, the present study has aimed to assess T. gondii seroprevalence and factors associated to social vulnerability for infection in households of Ivaiporã, southern Brazil, with 33.6% population making half minimum wage or less, ranked 1,055th in population (31,816 habitants), 1,406th in per capita income (U$ 211.80 per month) and 1,021st in HDI (0.764) out of 5,570 Brazilian cities. Serum samples and epidemiological questionnaires were obtained from citizen volunteers with official City Secretary of Health assistance in 2015 and 2016. In overall, serosurvey has revealed 526/715 (73.57%) positive samples for anti-T. gondii antibodies by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test. Logistic regression has shown a significant increase associated to adults (p = 0.021) and elderly (p = 0.014) people, illiterates (p = 0.025), unemployment (p <0.001) and lack of household water tank (p = 0.039). On the other hand, sex (male or female), living area (urban or rural), yard hygiene, meat ingestion, sand or land contact, owning pets (dog, cat or both) were not significant variables of positivity for anti-T. gondii antibodies in the surveyed population. Although no significant spatial cluster was found, high intensity areas of seropositive individuals were located in the Kernel map where the suburban neighborhoods are located. In conclusion, socioeconomic vulnerability determinants may be associated to Toxoplasma gondii exposure. The increased risk due to illiteracy, adult or elderly age, unemployment and lack of household water tank were confirmed by multivariate analysis and the influence of low family income for seropositivity by the spatial analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelle Mareze
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fernanda Pinto-Ferreira
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Miura
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Felippe Danyel Cardoso Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Eloiza Teles Caldart
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná Brazil
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana United States of America
| | - Roberta Lemos Freire
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Regina Mitsuka-Breganó
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Italmar Teodorico Navarro
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Zoonoses and Public Health, Londrina State University, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Gohardehi S, Sharif M, Sarvi S, Moosazadeh M, Alizadeh-Navaei R, Hosseini SA, Amouei A, Pagheh A, Sadeghi M, Daryani A. The potential risk of toxoplasmosis for traffic accidents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Exp Parasitol 2018; 191:19-24. [PMID: 29906469 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a prevalent infectious disease. Although most people infected by Toxoplasma gondii are asymptomatic, evidence has suggested that this disease might affect some aspects of a host's behavior and associate with schizophrenia, suicide attempt, changes in various aspects of personality, and poor neurocognitive performance. These associations may play roles in increasing the risk of a number of incidents, such as traffic accidents, among infected people. In this regard, this study aimed to provide summary estimates for the available data on the potential risk of toxoplasmosis for traffic accidents. To this end, using a number of search terms, i.e. toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, traffic accident, road accident, car accident, crash, and prevalence, literature searches (up to October 1, 2017) were carried out via 6 databases. The meta-analysis was conducted using the StatsDirect statistical software and a P-value less than 0.05 was regarded as significant in all statistical analyses. Out of 1841 identified studies, 9 studies were finally considered eligible for carrying out this systematic review. Reviewing results of these studies indicated that 5 out of 9 studies reported a significant relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and traffic accidents. Additionally, data related to gender showed significant differences between infected and control men and women. Considering age, reviewing the results of these studies revealed a significant difference between the infected people and the Toxoplasma-negative subjects under 45 years of age. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups aged 45 or older. Given these results, it can be concluded that Toxoplasma gondii significantly increases the risk of having traffic accidents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaban Gohardehi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center (TRC), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sharif
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Sari, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center (TRC), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahmood Moosazadeh
- Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Reza Alizadeh-Navaei
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Seyed Abdollah Hosseini
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center (TRC), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Sari, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Amouei
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center (TRC), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Sari, Iran
| | - Abdolsattar Pagheh
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center (TRC), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Sari, Iran
| | - Mitra Sadeghi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center (TRC), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center (TRC), Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Sari, Iran.
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Flegr J. Heterozygote Advantage Probably Maintains Rhesus Factor Blood Group Polymorphism: Ecological Regression Study. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147955. [PMID: 26811928 PMCID: PMC4728066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhesus factor polymorphism has been an evolutionary enigma since its discovery in 1939. Carriers of the rarer allele should be eliminated by selection against Rhesus positive children born to Rhesus negative mothers. Here I used an ecologic regression study to test the hypothesis that Rhesus factor polymorphism is stabilized by heterozygote advantage. The study was performed in 65 countries for which the frequencies of RhD phenotypes and specific disease burden data were available. I performed multiple multivariate covariance analysis with five potential confounding variables: GDP, latitude (distance from the equator), humidity, medical care expenditure per capita and frequencies of smokers. The results showed that the burden associated with many diseases correlated with the frequencies of particular Rhesus genotypes in a country and that the direction of the relation was nearly always the opposite for the frequency of Rhesus negative homozygotes and that of Rhesus positive heterozygotes. On the population level, a Rhesus-negativity-associated burden could be compensated for by the heterozygote advantage, but for Rhesus negative subjects this burden represents a serious problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Flegr
- Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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13
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Celik T, Gokcen C, Aytas O, Ozcelik A, Celik M, Coban N. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in stutterers is higher than in the control group. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2015; 62. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2015.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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