Study of the potential epigenetic changes to the AVP gene by Toxoplasma gondii infection via artificial hypermethylation

• Main Author: Janani Ramadoss
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/53816
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite with a two stage life cycle is known to infect rats. The parasite in its cyst form is found in greater numbers in the amygdala region of infected rats. Parasitic infection modifies the rats’ innate fear of cats into an attraction instead. The MeA is the target region of this study as it is involved in fear response. It is hypothesised that infection changes the epigenetic status of AVP gene in the MeA, specifically causing a hypomethylation. AVP is involved in positive social behaviour and we propose it as a primary candidate target of the infection. An increase in AVP is thought to be associated with a change in functional neuronal pathway of cat odour processing, making it similar to female rat odour processing (attraction). To determine expression levels and promoter status of AVP in the MeA, RNA (converted to cDNA) and gDNA samples were studied from the MeA region of saline control, saline infected, methionine control and methionine infected rat samples. Multiple AVP promoter sites and AVP primers were tested. Results were analysed via 2 way ANOVA. No significant difference between the samples and treatment were seen (p>0.05).