Parasites May Do a Good Job Of Getting Drugs Into The Brain

A piece of recent news by Tina Hesman Saey in Science News has reported, “A mind-bending parasite may one day deliver drugs to the brain”

The concept of using parasites to deliver drugs to the brain is a fascinating and emerging area of research that holds the potential to revolutionize medical treatments for neurological diseases. Traditionally, delivering drugs to the brain has been a significant challenge due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a selective and protective barrier that prevents many substances from entering the brain from the bloodstream. Researchers are now exploring innovative methods to bypass or exploit this barrier, and one such method involves the use of parasites. Parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii or certain protozoa, have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to cross the BBB and establish infection in the central nervous system. Scientists are investigating how these natural mechanisms can be harnessed and repurposed for therapeutic drug delivery. This innovative approach could lead to targeted and effective treatments for a range of neurological conditions, overcoming one of the most formidable obstacles in the field of medicine. The article may be accessed with the title “Getting drugs into the brain is hard. Maybe a parasite can do the job”.