When it comes to parasites, the first thing people feel is that they are very disgusted. But Toxoplasma gondii, which is present in cat feces, could help treat Alzheimer's disease and other serious neurological disorders, according to a new study.
The study, which was jointly conducted by Tel Aviv University and the University of Glasgow, aims to see if the parasite, which is believed to be dormant in one-third of the world's population, can act as a drug messenger to deliver therapeutic proteins to brain cells affected by the disease. Scientists plan to engineer them so that they self-destruct after delivering drugs to cells damaged by diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
In the experiment, scientists tested whether the parasite could produce proteins and then "spit them" into target cells, and it did. The study, published in the journal Nature Microbiology, could lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of neurological disorders. Because scientists believe that the parasite can cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the right place within neurons to provide targeted treatments, which is currently difficult for humans to do.
Neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc., are all related to protein dysfunction, and scientists have been working hard to treat this problem at the source. But scientists believe their research is far from a reality. Further experimentation will continue, which is to allow the parasite to self-destruct after achieving its goal.
Professor Lilac Xena from the School of Infection and Immunology at the University of Glasgow said: "This is a cutting-edge project and our team is breaking the mold and trying to solve the long-standing medical challenge of finding a successful treatment for cognitive disorders in the brain. But given the dangers of toxoplasmosis infection, we also face significant challenges. ”
So, do you think this research will eventually become a reality? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss!