Vector-borne diseases and Toxoplasma gondii (video + article)

Vector-borne

• disease transmitted to humans/animal via biological vectors

  • living organisms that carry/transmit infectious pathogens 

  • Mosquitos, ticks, fleas, lice

  • Malaria, lyme disease, west nile, yellow fever, s. Louis encephalitis 

• Pathogen resides in vector to complete its lifecycle

  • Ex. plasmodium (Malaria)

  • Protozoan  = single celled eukaryotes

Arboviral

• Viruses transmitted by arthropods 

  • Invertebrate animals 

  • Act as vectors of disease 

Vectors

• Can also be mechanical vectors = non-living

  • Surfaces (doorknobs, etc) 

Toxoplasma gondii

• Toxoplasmosis 

• Protozoan pathogen

• Can natural cross the BBB - invade WBC

• Intracellular nerve cells affected

  • hard to eradicate 

• Broad spectrum of hosts 

• Passes from cats → mice → cats → humans 

Healthy ppl and toxoplasma gondii

• Not affected but still carriers (like TB)

• Not affected but still carriers (like TB)

Immunocompromised pp and toxoplasma gondii

• Can be fatal

• AIDS, chemotherapy/cancer pt

• Pregnant women 

  • Birth defects/stillbirth 

Effects of toxoplasma gondii

• Dopamine association = changes in brain functions 

  • Changes in thought process (thrill seeking)

  • Slow down thought rxn process

    • Ppl involved in traffic accidents 3x more likely to have toxoplasma 

• Connection with other mental disorders 

Life cycle of toxoplasma gondii

• Passess from cats → mice → cats → humans (formation of oocytes) 

• Sexual life cycle = cats

• Humans = cat litter, water, sandboxes, undercooked meats 

Article - therapeutics and toxoplasmid

• Genetically engineered toxoplasmid to deliver therapeutics

  • b/c can cross BBB + intracellular 

• Want to use for Methyl CPG binding protein

  • Gene replacement therapy

Methyl CPG binding Protein 2

• Methyl on DNA for gene expression

• Methyl C2P mutated in Rett disease

  • Cannot bind to DNA - brain disease

Toxoplasmid + methyl CPG binding protein 2 

• Gene replacement therapy

  • Engineered T.gondii to deicer MeC2P protein gene

    • Like vaccines

  • Cross BBB = fuse to another protein (GRA16)

    • Carries to nucleus = makes good protein