Latest research from UCSD on new, powerful cure against intestinal parasitic roundworms (soil transmitted helminths) like hookworms, whipworms, and Ascaris. These parasites infect 2 billion of the poorest peoples and are a leading source of disease burden in school-aged children. The world has virtually ignored the issues of less than adequate drugs and emerging parasite resistance. Here we turn to an organic solution, natural soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein (Cry5B). This bacterium evolved to kill roundworms and is the same bacterium used by organic farmers. We find that Cry5B is superior to current anthlemintics, like nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists (levamisole, pyrantel, tribendimidine) and benzimidazoles (like albendazole, mebendazole) in a small mammal model. This finding is new hope in our battle against these dangerous parasites.
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