08/19/2024
Unlikely Hero: Cat P**p Parasite Delivers Brain Therapy
A brain-infecting parasite found in cat p**p promises to deliver therapy to the brains of humans.
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A parasite commonly found in cat f***s might become an unlikely ally in treating neurological disorders. Researchers have successfully engineered **Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)** to deliver therapeutic proteins directly to neurons in the brain. This could permit treatments for conditions like **Rett syndrome**, a rare genetic neurological disorder that primarily affects females and leads to severe impairments in language, coordination, and movement.
The study, published in **Nature Microbiology**, exploits T. gondii’s unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and remain in a host’s brain indefinitely. By genetically modifying the parasite, scientists at **Tel Aviv University** and the **University of Glasgow** created a vehicle capable of carrying specific proteins to targeted areas of the brain.
T. gondii, which infects about one-third of the world’s population, typically causes no serious symptoms in healthy individuals. Its relative harmlessness and robust survival mechanisms make it a prime candidate for drug delivery. In mice, the modified parasite successfully delivered proteins into cell nuclei, including **MeCP2**, a protein linked to Rett syndrome.
Dr. Jasmin Dao, a pediatric neurologist not involved in the study, explained the significance: “Using T. gondii to inject therapeutic proteins into brain cells presents a novel potential approach to treating neurologic disorder conditions caused by specific protein deficiencies.”
However, this approach is not without risks. Dr. Santosh Kesari, a neurologist, cautioned: “One concern is the parasite going awry and causing side effects in humans from inflammation, infection including encephalitis. The scientists will have to engineer the parasite with many safety features to get rid of it whenever needed.”
Nonetheless, by repurposing a common parasite into a precision delivery system, researchers may have found a key to unlocking more effective therapies for a range of brain-related conditions.
Reference: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01750-6
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Toxoplasma gondii secretion systems can be engineered to deliver multiple large therapeutic proteins to neurons in vitro and in vivo.
