A cyst in a human brain populated by asexually produced clones, from the parasite Toxoplasmosis gondii. When these finger-like cells enter the bloodstream they can be killed using a novel technique.

Credit: DJP Feruson/University of Oxford

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When a parasite enters the body, it infects a cell and begins to reproduce. It then ruptures the host cell, releasing organisms into the bloodstream. The parasite Toxoplasmosis gondii remains in the bloodsteam for a couple of hours before infecting a new cell, according to Cortie.

It is while the parasite is in the blood stream that the researchers think they could target it for the medical proceedure.

Parasites in the blood

One of the reasons that Toxoplasmosis gondii was chosen for this study is that relative to other parasites this stage is long, Cortie said.

This technology is likely to prove challenging in the treatment of parasites that do not spend as long in the blood.

The malaria parasite, for example, is only present in the bloodstream for a few minutes, significantly limiting the time available to target the organism, Corite said.

Targeting malaria and bacteria possible too

But the researchers are hopeful. "If we can kill [the parasite that causes] toxoplasmosis, we can probably also take out malaria and all other kinds of infectious parasites," including drug-resistant bacteria, Cortie said.

The majority of research on gold nanoparticles to date has focussed on killing cancer cells. "Most people in the field are going after cancer" Cortie said.

"This work by Professor Cortie is a great example of how fundamental understanding of matters at the nanoscale can be translated into novel and exciting medical applications" said Benjamin Thierry from the University of South Australia, who also works with nanoparticles but did not contribute to Cortie's study.

"Although many challenges remain to be addressed, there is little doubt that the next years will witness a dramatic explosion in the number of such nanotechnology-enabled medical products."

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