Trojan Horse Method: A Clever Way to Combat Malaria Parasites, Study Reveals - Video

In a recent research published in EMBO Molecular Medicine scientists have created a Trojan horse method that deceives malaria parasites into consuming a lethal dose of medication by capitalizing on their dependence on cholesterol for survival. By attaching cholesterol to the drugs, scientists can "sneak" the drugs into the parasites, where they then deliver their deadly impact.

Over a quarter of Australians aged 50 and older use cholesterol-lowering medications to prevent heart disease and strokes, but cholesterol is also essential for our survival. Scientists from The Australian National University (ANU) suggest that cholesterol's role as a fundamental component of life could be the key to treating deadly parasitic diseases, such as malaria.

The new Trojan horse technique has the potential to provide more effective and long-lasting treatments for malaria. Additionally, the scientists note that these findings could impact the agricultural sector, as parasites that infect and kill livestock can cause significant financial losses for farmers, amounting to billions of dollars.

Lead researcher Professor Alex Maier from ANU stated that the Trojan horse method of delivering drugs into parasites is 3 to 25 times more effective at eradicating them than drugs that are not attached to cholesterol.

The ANU scientists suggest that this new drug delivery system, which involves attaching drugs to cholesterol, could also be effective for treating other diseases such as giardia, an intestinal infection that causes diarrhoea. Additionally, it may be useful in treating leishmaniasis, a disease affecting the skin, mouth, nose, and throat that disproportionately impacts some of the world's poorest populations and can be fatal if left untreated.

Reference : Fraser M, Curtis B, Phillips P, Yates PA, Lam KS, Netzel O, van Dooren GG, Ingmundson A, Matuschewski K, McLeod MD, Maier AG. Harnessing cholesterol uptake of malaria parasites for therapeutic applications. EMBO Mol Med. 2024 Jul;16(7):1515-1532. doi: 10.1038/s44321-024-00087-1. Epub 2024 Jun 11. PMID: 38862600; PMCID: PMC11251039.