A new study has revealed a groundbreaking therapeutic benefit that a common parasite found in cat waste may offer. Researchers, led by the University of Glasgow, explained that this parasite could become a game-changer in treating neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The innovative approach involves a modified strain of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, offering a new method for delivering therapeutic proteins directly to the brain, particularly as targeting therapies across the blood-brain barrier and to specific neurons has long been a challenge in neurological healthcare.
The Toxoplasma gondii parasite, often associated with cat feces, has shown an impressive ability to cross this barrier, as it naturally moves from the gastrointestinal tract to the brain, releasing proteins within neurons. The researchers successfully harnessed this characteristic by engineering a strain of Toxoplasma gondii for the delivery of therapeutic proteins. The team focused on delivering the MeCP2 protein, known for its therapeutic potential for Rett syndrome (a severe neurological disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene). The genetically modified parasites were able to produce and deliver the MeCP2 protein to the correct cellular site in both donated brain tissues and mouse models.
While this approach is revolutionary, it is still several years away from practical application. (The study was published in the journal Nature Microbiology)
