NIAB Scientists Use CRISPR to Identify Key Protein Target Against Zoonotic Infection ‘Toxoplasmosis’



In a groundbreaking development, scientists at the National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB) have utilized CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology to pinpoint a crucial protein that could pave the way for new therapeutic interventions against Toxoplasmosis, a globally prevalent zoonotic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.


 

Toxoplasmosis affects more than a third of the global population and poses severe health risks to immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and livestock. It can lead to complications such as encephalitis, miscarriage, and developmental defects. While the disease is often asymptomatic in healthy individuals, its zoonotic potential—transmitting from animals to humans—makes it a critical concern in both public health and veterinary domains.

NIAB’s team employed CRISPR gene-editing to systematically disrupt genes within T. gondii, ultimately identifying a novel protein essential for parasite survival and host invasion. Disruption of this gene significantly impaired the parasite’s ability to replicate and infect host cells, marking it as a promising therapeutic target.

This research not only enhances our understanding of T. gondii’s molecular biology but also demonstrates the power of CRISPR as a precision tool to explore parasite-host interactions. By targeting this protein, researchers anticipate the development of next-generation antiparasitic treatments that are more effective and specific than current options, which often have limited efficacy and undesirable side effects.

Additionally, this work reinforces the role of advanced genetic tools in combating neglected tropical diseases and zoonotic infections that impact both human and animal health. It underscores the need for integrated One Health approaches that bridge agriculture, veterinary science, and medicine.

The study reflects NIAB’s ongoing commitment to innovative biotechnology and its applications in safeguarding global health. Further studies are now underway to validate the protein’s function in vivo and explore its potential in vaccine development or drug targeting platforms

#CRISPR #GeneticEngineering #Toxoplasmosis #NIAB #ZoonoticDiseases #OneHealth #Biotechnology #ParasiteResearch #ToxoplasmaGondii #InfectiousDiseases #VaccineResearch #GeneEditing #AgriBiotech #GlobalHealth #AnimalHealth #CRISPRCas9 #Parasitology #MedicalResearch #PrecisionMedicine

International Young Scientist Awards
Website link: youngscientistawards.com NominationLink:https://youngscientistawards.com/awardnomination/ecategory=Awards&rcategoryrdee Contact Us: support@youngscientistawards.com
___________________________________


Social Media:

Twitter : https://twitter.com/youngsc06963908
Linkedin- : https://www.linkedin.com/in/shravya-r...
Pinterest : https://in.pinterest.com/youngscienti...
Blog : https://youngscientistaward.blogspot....
Tumblr : https://www.tumblr.com/blog/shravya9

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Does AI pose a threat to sustainable development?

Image
  The 2025 World Economic Forum, being held in Davos from Monday to Friday under the theme " Collaboration for the Intelligent Age ", is expected to foster a spirit of cooperation and optimism in the digital age in a more sustainable way, despite the different positions of the participants and global uncertainties. Three experts share their views on the issue with China Daily. Projected estimates indicate that advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems will necessitate over $1 trillion in investments for cloud and enterprise data center infrastructure within the next five years. The AI infrastructure includes servers equipped with graphics processing units (GPUs) or custom accelerators, dedicated networks, storage solutions and specialized facilities, which are all factors that demand significant capital investment. Therefore, evaluating the scale, potential returns and environmental impact of AI's rapid development and application is essential. The rise of AI will si...
Read more

'Our model of cosmology might be broken': New study reveals the universe is expanding too fast for physics to explain

Image
 A recent study has revealed a puzzling discrepancy in our understanding of the universe’s expansion rate, suggesting that our current cosmological models may need a significant overhaul. The crux of the issue lies in the Hubble constant (H₀), a measure of the universe's expansion rate, which appears to differ depending on how it is calculated. For decades, scientists have relied on two primary methods to determine H₀. The first involves observing the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the faint afterglow of the Big Bang, and extrapolating the universe's expansion rate using early-universe physics. The second method uses the local universe, measuring distances to nearby galaxies via "standard candles" like Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae. However, these two methods yield conflicting results. The CMB method, based on data from missions like Planck, estimates H₀ to be around 67.4 kilometers per second per megaparsec (km/s/Mpc) . In contrast, local measurements...
Read more

Newly discovered asteroid with 100x Hiroshima bomb power may hit Earth in 2032—what are the odds of its impact?

Image
  In December 2024 , astronomers discovered an asteroid named 2024 YR4, estimated to be approximately 60 meters (196 feet) in diameter. Current assessments indicate that this asteroid has a 1 in 43 chance (approximately 2.3%) of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. If 2024 YR4 were to collide with Earth, the energy released would be substantial, potentially equivalent to 100 times the energy of the Hiroshima atomic bomb . Such an impact could devastate a metropolitan area, causing significant destruction and loss of life. Newly discovered asteroid with 100x Hiroshima bomb power may hit Earth in 2032—what are the odds of its impact? related Description 350 words In December 2024, astronomers discovered an asteroid named 2024 YR4, estimated to be approximately 60 meters (196 feet) in diameter. Current assessments indicate that this asteroid has a 1 in 43 chance (approximately 2.3%) of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. If 2024 YR4 were to collide with Earth, the energy released ...
Read more