National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suarez" Researchers Detail New Studies and Findings in the Area of Proteins (Molecular Mimicry between Toxoplasma gondii B-Cell Epitopes and Neurodevelopmental Proteins: An...).

Researchers from the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Mexico City have conducted a study on the association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and schizophrenia. The study found that schizophrenic patients had higher levels of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies compared to healthy controls. The researchers also used a bioinformatic approach to identify antigenic mimicry between T. gondii epitopes and human brain proteins involved in development and differentiation. The findings suggest the relevance of pregestational clinical surveillance and screening for potential pathogenic antibodies, as well as the potential for designing vaccines to prevent behavioral and cognitive impairments associated with T. gondii exposure. [Extracted from the article]