Parasite helps scientists develop wound treatment for diabetics

A CANCER-causing worm that infests people’s livers has been used by scientists to develop a ”supercharged” treatment for chronic wounds.

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A CANCER-causing worm that infests people’s livers has been used by Cairns scientists to develop a “supercharged” treatment for chronic wounds.

The Thai liver fluke, opisthorchis viverrini, has been found to produce a peptide molecule – called granulin – that enhances a person’s natural healing ability.

Chronic or non-healing wounds, which are a major issue for those suffering diabetes, can lead to amputation.

The remarkable healing properties of the liver fluke were discovered by JCU researchers at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine last year, after they sought to find a potential vaccine against the parasitic worm.

The parasite, which is contracted by humans after they consume raw fish, infects millions of people in Asia and kills 26,000 people each year due to a parasite-induced bile duct cancer it causes.

The researchers tried producing large quantities of granulin from liver flukes for clinical trials, but found this process too challenging.

They built their own version of the molecule, a synthetic peptide, which was found to be far more effective.

James Cook University parasitologist Dr Michael Smout said the patent application for the synthetic molecule, called P4A, was published in March.

“Our next phase is to secure funding partners to help us progress from lab-based success to clinical trials and ultimately give hope to patients,” he said.

Originally published as Parasite helps scientists develop wound treatment for diabetics