Bacterial Protein Shows Promise in Treating Intestinal Parasites
Bacteria has always been touted the bad guy. They cause all kinds of harmful diseases that make people sick. For immuno-compromised persons, harmful bacteria can potentially kill them. But there are also good bacteria, and this study done by researchers at the University of California, San Diego and Yale University have found one kind of good bacterium that may help in the treatment of intestinal parasites such as hookworm. This bacterium is called Bacillus thuringiensis and when illustrated under a binocular compound microscope, produces a protein that was found to kill hookworm in animals tested in the laboratory. Bacillus thuringiensis is usually found in formulas that farmers spray on crops to prevent insect infections.
Many developing countries experience outbreaks of intestinal parasites like hookworm and can be very difficult to treat because of the lack of resources. The findings from this research can greatly help in the further advancement of trying to look for the most effective treatments for intestinal parasites that are so common in developing countries. As the commonly inflicted population are children, intestinal parasitism may lead to complications like malnutrition, stunted growth and blood dyscrasias.
As shown by the UCSD-Yale researchers using high-tech equipment like the binocular compound microscope and digital photography, the protein produced by the Bacillus thuringiensis, called Cry5B was initially given to treat laboratory hamsters. They found that the parasite was eradicated, and even cured the hamster’s anemia and allowed it to gain some weight. Cry5B effectively managed to eliminate the hookworm in every stage – during its larval stages, adult stages. In female hookworms, they also hindered the eggs from being excreted into the intestines. The laboratory animals were observed not to manifest any kind of side-effects from the experiment. The researchers then experimented with other nematode infections, with almost the same satisfying results.
Roundworm, C. elegans and other nematodal infections were found to be vulnerable as well to the Cry5B protein, which initially is an insecticide. Specifically, the researchers describe that the protein works as a toxin by burning tiny holes into the membranes of the nematodes’ and insects’ cells. The Cry5B protein is considered safe for humans and other vertebrates because it doesn’t bind to mammalian cells. Therefore, it cannot be harmful.
This discovery is potentially a way of solving the global problem of intestinal parasitism. The protein Cry5B is safe for use in humans and is available in large quantities for a relatively low cost. These can be produced in the form of crystal proteins, so-called because of its crystal formation when viewed under the magnification of a binocular compound microscope. The researchers of the study believes with the combination of mebendazole, the drug that is usually used in the treatment of hookworm and crystal proteins, the results will surpass the expectations.
Experiments like these pave the way for the improvement of existing treatments for intestinal parasitism, which is beginning to be of concern for developing countries. Scientists should develop a safe, effective, and low-cost form of Cry5B to be distributed to the problem countries. In time, the growing problem and occurrence of intestinal parasitism will statistically decrease. Read more on this subject
