Parasites Use a Trojan Horse to Infiltrate Host Cells with Harmful DNA

Parasites have a few different ways to get around a body's immune system. But did you know that they use a Trojan horse tactic? Scientists have discovered that parasites can secrete tiny sealed packages of genetic material into the cells of their victims in order to suppress the immune response to infection.

The researchers first spotted these tiny packages, called vesicles, while studying a parasite found in mice. The vesicles can mimic those that are produced naturally in most organisms to carry out everyday functions such as transporting nutrients and chemical messages to and from cells. Instead, though, the parasite uses the vesicles to hide its material inside a friendly exterior.

What's interesting is that the parasite in mice could interact with the mouse's own genes by using the vesicles. More specifically, the parasite could manipulate the cell's machinery to suppress products linked to immunity.

"We can see for the first time that parasites can use packages to sneak their material into the cells of other organisms," said Amy Buck, one of the researchers, in a news release. "We now can develop ways to target this with implications for the billions of people and animals at risk of infectious diseases and allergy."

The findings could pave the way for future treatments when it comes to combating diseases caused by parasitic worms. Not only that, but the study could help scientists treat allergies, such as hayfever, because the immune mechanism that parasites block is also linked to allergic reactions.

Currently, the researchers hope to conduct further studies to explore whether other parasites and viruses use the same strategy. This could allow them to better understand how to combat these viruses and see whether there is a particular method to target all of them.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.

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