{"id":{"repo_id":"unr","oai_identifier":"oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/525"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/unr/oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/525","repository":{"repo_id":"unr","name":"University of Nevada - Reno","base_url":"https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Mechanisms underlying Toxoplasma gondii-mediated behavioral changes of its host","abstract":"Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can infiltrate different hosts and alter behavior. It can create an attraction to cat urine in rats or influence a culture. Different mechanisms have been proposed in the pursuit of understanding the control T. gondii has on its host, including the modulation of dopamine or circulating testosterone levels, or the formation of cysts in specific areas of the brain. Based on a thorough literature research and the correlation between parasite infection and schizophrenic symptoms, dopamine modulation is hypothesized to be the central area for the parasite's control within this thesis. Dopamine is able to induce critical behavioral changes associated with parasite infection, and dopamine stabilizing drugs convert the host to normal behavior. Moreover, T. gondii's codes for genes that creates enzymes and pathways for dopamine production. Other hypotheses were found to lack support: cyst formation was inconsistent and the hormone testosterone lacked the ability to change crucial behaviors associated with infection. Thus, the dopamine pathway plays a key role in T.gondii-mediated behavioral manipulation of the host.","abstract_html":"Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can infiltrate different hosts and alter behavior. It can create an attraction to cat urine in rats or influence a culture. Different mechanisms have been proposed in the pursuit of understanding the control T. gondii has on its host, including the modulation of dopamine or circulating testosterone levels, or the formation of cysts in specific areas of the brain. Based on a thorough literature research and the correlation between parasite infection and schizophrenic symptoms, dopamine modulation is hypothesized to be the central area for the parasite's control within this thesis. Dopamine is able to induce critical behavioral changes associated with parasite infection, and dopamine stabilizing drugs convert the host to normal behavior. Moreover, T. gondii's codes for genes that creates enzymes and pathways for dopamine production. Other hypotheses were found to lack support: cyst formation was inconsistent and the hormone testosterone lacked the ability to change crucial behaviors associated with infection. Thus, the dopamine pathway plays a key role in T.gondii-mediated behavioral manipulation of the host.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["New, Christina"],"institution":"University of Nevada, Reno","degree_name":"Biology","degree_level":"Honors Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["van der Linden, Alexander M."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012","date_published":"2012","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:45:45Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en_US","English"],"rights":["In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/11714/525","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["van der Linden, Alexander M."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["New, Christina"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2017-01-24T23:09:07Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-01-24T23:09:07Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2012"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Honors Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Nevada, Reno"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_US"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/11714/525"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The University of Nevada, Reno Libraries will promptly respond to removal requests related to content that violates intellectual property laws, data protections, or has been uploaded without creator consent. Takedown notices should be directed to our ScholarWolf team (scholarwolf@library.unr.edu) with information about the object, including its full URL and the nature of your complaint."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can infiltrate different hosts and alter behavior. It can create an attraction to cat urine in rats or influence a culture. Different mechanisms have been proposed in the pursuit of understanding the control T. gondii has on its host, including the modulation of dopamine or circulating testosterone levels, or the formation of cysts in specific areas of the brain. Based on a thorough literature research and the correlation between parasite infection and schizophrenic symptoms, dopamine modulation is hypothesized to be the central area for the parasite's control within this thesis. Dopamine is able to induce critical behavioral changes associated with parasite infection, and dopamine stabilizing drugs convert the host to normal behavior. Moreover, T. gondii's codes for genes that creates enzymes and pathways for dopamine production. Other hypotheses were found to lack support: cyst formation was inconsistent and the hormone testosterone lacked the ability to change crucial behaviors associated with infection. Thus, the dopamine pathway plays a key role in T.gondii-mediated behavioral manipulation of the host."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["PDF"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Mechanisms underlying Toxoplasma gondii-mediated behavioral changes of its host"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["van der Linden, Alexander M."],"dc:creator":["New, Christina"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2017-01-24T23:09:07Z"],"dc:date.available":["2017-01-24T23:09:07Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2012"],"dc:description":["The University of Nevada, Reno Libraries will promptly respond to removal requests related to content that violates intellectual property laws, data protections, or has been uploaded without creator consent. Takedown notices should be directed to our ScholarWolf team (scholarwolf@library.unr.edu) with information about the object, including its full URL and the nature of your complaint."],"dc:description.abstract":["Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can infiltrate different hosts and alter behavior. It can create an attraction to cat urine in rats or influence a culture. Different mechanisms have been proposed in the pursuit of understanding the control T. gondii has on its host, including the modulation of dopamine or circulating testosterone levels, or the formation of cysts in specific areas of the brain. Based on a thorough literature research and the correlation between parasite infection and schizophrenic symptoms, dopamine modulation is hypothesized to be the central area for the parasite's control within this thesis. Dopamine is able to induce critical behavioral changes associated with parasite infection, and dopamine stabilizing drugs convert the host to normal behavior. Moreover, T. gondii's codes for genes that creates enzymes and pathways for dopamine production. Other hypotheses were found to lack support: cyst formation was inconsistent and the hormone testosterone lacked the ability to change crucial behaviors associated with infection. Thus, the dopamine pathway plays a key role in T.gondii-mediated behavioral manipulation of the host."],"dc:format":["PDF"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/11714/525"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:language.iso":["en_US"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)"],"dc:title":["Mechanisms underlying Toxoplasma gondii-mediated behavioral changes of its host"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_level":["Honors Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Biology"],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Nevada, Reno"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:45:45Z"}