There's an interesting press release out from MIT, describing some new discoveries about the widespread parasite Toxoplasma gondii. There's a good chance you've got Toxoplasma living inside you right now, especially if you own pets. Typically it forms cysts in your muscles or brain, and if your immune system is in good shape, your body can fight the parasite to a draw. It won't spread much, but you can't get rid of it, either. Meanwhile, it could be changing your personality, but what's a little mind control among friends?
Anyway, the new research is focused on figuring out how one strain of Toxoplasma causes inflammation in hosts -- which can lead to encephalitis and brain damage and all sorts of unpleasantness. They've tracked down the protein which produces the inflammation reaction, but it's still not clear why the parasite produces it. Is there some advantage to causing encephalitis? Or does the protein have another function? Stay tuned . . .
(Thanks to PhysOrg for spotting the story.)