Epigenetic modulation of odor response

Toxoplasma gondii infection reduces predator aversion in rats through epigenetic modulation in the host medial amygdala

Abstract excerpt: “These results demonstrate an epigenetic proximate mechanism underlying the extended phenotype in the Rattus novergicus – Toxoplasma gondii association.”

Reported as:

Parasites Practicing Mind Control

Excerpt: “It looks like it will be a general strategy used by pathogens,” said Dr. Kim.

I’ve requested a copy of the journal article to see if the “general strategy” incorporates DNA methylation, alternative splicings of pre-mRNA, and nutrient-dependent amino acid substitutions that differentiate cell types in the amygdala and also differentiate morphological and behavioral phenotypes in species from microbes to man via conserved molecular mechanisms.

Excerpt 2): “Manipulating the behavior of a host is a fairly common strategy among parasites, but it’s hard to fathom how they manage it.”

The link from the epigenetic landscape to the physical landscape of DNA in the organized genomes of insects and mammals may be difficult to understand, but it is not hard to fathom. Epigenetic effects on hormones lead to affects on behavior as detailed in my 2012 review:

Human pheromones and food odors: epigenetic influences on the socioaffective nature of evolved behaviors

Conclusion: “Socioaffective neuroscience and psychology may progress more quickly by keeping these apparent facts in mind: Olfaction and odor receptors provide a clear evolutionary trail that can be followed from unicellular organisms to insects to humans (Keller et al., 2007; Kohl, 2007; Villarreal, 2009; Vosshall, Wong, & Axel, 2000).”

See also my blog post from December 2011:

Show me the science!

About James V. Kohl 1308 Articles
James Vaughn Kohl was the first to accurately conceptualize human pheromones, and began presenting his findings to the scientific community in 1992. He continues to present to, and publish for, diverse scientific and lay audiences, while constantly monitoring the scientific presses for new information that is relevant to the development of his initial and ongoing conceptualization of human pheromones. Recently, Kohl integrated scientific evidence that pinpoints the evolved neurophysiological mechanism that links olfactory/pheromonal input to genes in hormone-secreting cells of tissue in a specific area of the brain that is primarily involved in the sensory integration of olfactory and visual input, and in the development of human sexual preferences. His award-winning 2007 article/book chapter on multisensory integration: The Mind’s Eyes: Human pheromones, neuroscience, and male sexual preferences followed an award winning 2001 publication: Human pheromones: integrating neuroendocrinology and ethology, which was coauthored by disinguished researchers from Vienna. Rarely do researchers win awards in multiple disciplines, but Kohl’s 2001 award was for neuroscience, and his 2007 “Reiss Theory” award was for social science. Kohl has worked as a medical laboratory scientist since 1974, and he has devoted more than twenty-five years to researching the relationship between the sense of smell and the development of human sexual preferences. Unlike many researchers who work with non-human subjects, medical laboratory scientists use the latest technology from many scientific disciplines to perform a variety of specialized diagnostic medical testing on people. James V. Kohl is certified with: * American Society for Clinical Pathology * American Medical Technologists James V. Kohl is a member of: * Society for Neuroscience * Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology * Association for Chemoreception Sciences * Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality * International Society for Human Ethology * American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science * Mensa, the international high IQ society