In a new study, a team of world-class researchers hijacked the system. Toxoplasma The researchers genetically engineered the ribosomal proteins to secrete proteins into the host cell. Toxoplasma The parasite fuses one of its secreted proteins with a protein called MECP2, which controls gene activity in the brain, creating a hybrid protein that, in effect, hitches a ride on MECP2 to neurons. The researchers found that the parasite secreted the MECP2 protein hybrid not only into neurons cultured in petri dishes, but also into the brains of infected mice.
A genetic defect in MECP2 causes a rare brain development disorder called Rett syndrome. Gene therapy trials using a virus to deliver the MECP2 protein to treat Rett syndrome are underway. Toxoplasma Delivering a version of the MECP2 protein to brain cells may offer new options for treating this currently untreatable disease, as well as other neurological disorders that arise from abnormal proteins, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The long road ahead
The journey from bench to bedside is long and full of obstacles, so don’t expect something artificially engineered. Toxoplasma I’m going to the clinic soon.
Apparent complexity in use Toxoplasma The main problem with it not being recommended for medical use is that it can cause serious, lifelong infections that are currently incurable. Toxoplasma It can cause damage to vital organ systems, including the brain, eyes, and heart.
However, currently, up to one-third of people worldwide Toxoplasma The infection seems to be silently brewing in their brains, and recent studies have shown a correlation between infection and an increased risk of schizophrenia, rage disorder, and reckless behavior, suggesting that this silent infection may be precipitating serious neurological problems in some people.
Widespread prevalence of Toxoplasma Infection is another possible complication, making many people unable to treat it. Billions of people who already carry the parasite have developed immunity to future infections, making them unable to treat it. Toxoplasma Once injected, it is rapidly destroyed by the immune system.
In some cases, Toxoplasma The benefits of using it as a drug delivery system may outweigh the risks: by modifying a benign form of the parasite, it could potentially produce proteins patients need without harming the organ that defines our identity: the brain.
