Researchers have engineered the brain-invading parasite Toxoplasma gondii to deliver therapeutic proteins into neurons, offering a potential new treatment for neurological disorders like Rett syndrome, though significant challenges remain before it can be safely used in humans.

A new study published in Nature Microbiology has pioneered the use of a single-celled parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, to inject therapeutic proteins into brain cells. The brain is very picky about what it lets in, including many drugs, which limits treatment options for neurological conditions.

As a professor of microbiology, I’ve dedicated my career to finding ways to kill dangerous parasites such as Toxoplasma. I’m fascinated by the prospect that we may be able to use their weaponry to instead treat other maladies.