Cat poo parasites could cure deadly disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s

A groundbreaking study reveals that a common parasite found in cat litter could become a game-changer in the treatment of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

This innovative approach, involving an engineered strain of Toxoplasma gondii , promises a novel method for delivering therapeutic proteins directly to the brain.

Though still in the early stages, the research offers a hopeful glimpse into overcoming one of the most challenging barriers in neurological medicine.

Engineering the parasite for targeted therapy

The challenge of delivering targeted treatments across the blood-brain barrier and into specific neurons has long plagued neurological healthcare. Toxoplasma gondii , a parasite often associated with cat feces, has demonstrated a remarkable ability to cross this barrier. This parasite naturally moves from the digestive system to the brain, where it secretes proteins into neurons.

International researchers led by the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with Tel Aviv University, have harnessed this trait by engineering a strain of Toxoplasma gondii to deliver therapeutic proteins. This new technique addresses the longstanding difficulty of targeting disease-affected brain cells, which is crucial for treating disorders like Alzheimer’s , Parkinson’s, and Rett Syndrome.

The team focused on delivering the MeCP2 protein, known for its potential as a therapeutic target for Rett Syndrome—a severe neurological disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. The engineered parasites successfully produced and delivered the MeCP2 protein to the correct cellular location in both brain organoids and mouse models.

The parasite successfully produced the protein, and then delivered the protein to the target cell location in brain organoids and in mice models, noted the study team. This marks a significant milestone in demonstrating the potential of parasites as delivery vehicles for neurological treatments .

Next steps and future prospects

While this approach is revolutionary, it remains several years from practical application. The researchers plan to conduct further experiments to ensure the parasites are engineered to die after delivering their payload, minimizing any potential harm. This step is crucial in avoiding additional cell damage and ensuring the safety of the treatment.

The study presents a pioneering concept in medical science, suggesting that organisms evolved to manipulate the brain could be repurposed for therapeutic use.

In the press release, Professor Oded Rechavi from Tel Aviv University commented on the innovative nature of the research, saying, “Evolution already ‘invented’ organisms that can manipulate our brains, I think that instead of re-inventing the wheel, we could learn from them and use their abilities.”

Professor Lilach Sheiner, one of the leading authors of the study from the University of Glasgow’s School of Infection and Immunity, emphasized the forward-thinking nature of the project, “This is a blue-sky project where our collaborative team was thinking out of the box to try to tackle the long-standing medical challenge of finding a way to successfully deliver treatment to the brain for cognitive disorders.”

“The concept is not without challenges, considering the dangers involved with Toxoplasma infection. For our work to become a treatment reality it will require many more years of careful research and development to enhance efficiency and improve safety,”  Sheiner added in the press release.

The study, titled Engineering a Brain Parasite for Intracellular Delivery of Proteins to the Central Nervous System, has been published in Nature Microbiology .