Dublin's scientists keep their ears to the ground
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland have discovered that eggs from a parasitic worm may hold the key to treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as lung diseases and psoriasis.
Scientists at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Ireland have discovered that eggs from a parasitic worm may hold the key to treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as lung diseases and psoriasis.
The worm in question, schistosoma mansoni, is said to infect over 250 million people in tropical countries, but has now been found to release a molecule with strong anti-inflammatory qualities.
'This study is particularly exciting as it harnesses the worm's method of modifying immunity in the human body in order to stimulate protection from undesirable inflammation,' said Padraic Fallon of TCD's School of Biochemistry and Immunology. 'In effect, I see the worm as a "drug cabinet" of the future, and our strategy is to develop new drugs for human diseases by exploiting mechanisms and molecules that worms have developed over millions of years of co-evolution with man.'
However, intentionally infecting humans presents a huge risk in terms of side-effects, and can lead to death. The team are therefore working on identifying which part of the worm can be used safely in humans.
The results of the study, which was funded by the UK biomedical research charity, the Wellcome Trust, are published in the latest edition of The Journal of Experimental Medicine.