Cat Poop Parasite Could Hold Key To Alzheimer's Cure
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31 July 2024
A parasite in cat litter may offer future treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
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Scientists used engineered Toxoplasma gondii to deliver therapeutic proteins to the brain in mice
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The parasite crosses the blood-brain barrier, addressing a key challenge in neurological treatments
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Toxoplasma gondii, found in a third of the population, secretes proteins into brain neurons
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This parasite can cross the placenta, posing a risk to pregnant women handling litter trays
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Neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are linked to protein dysfunction in neurons
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Researchers aim to use engineered parasites for targeted protein delivery to disease-affected brain cells
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The study focused on delivering the MeCP2 protein, promising for Rett syndrome treatment
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Parasites successfully produced and delivered the protein in brain organoids and mice models
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Future experiments will engineer parasites to self-destruct post-delivery to prevent further cell damage
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