Parasitic worms—creepy, crawly organisms that survive off nutrients from their hosts—might sound like the stuff of nightmares. But for Assistant Professor Lucienne Tritten at 51łÔąĎÍř, these organisms represent an urgent challenge and an opportunity to push the boundaries of modern science. With funding from D2R Initiative’s Foundational Projects program, Prof. Tritten is developing an innovative approach to combating parasitic infections using the gut bacteria we already have inside us.
Her project, titled "Using Native Gut Bacteria to Release RNA Therapeutics Against Intestinal Nematode Infections," aims to change how we treat infections caused by parasitic worms (also known as parasitic helminths). Parasitic helminths cause neglected tropical diseases, primarily affecting people in low-income regions with warmer climates. These worms can also affect agriculture, including animal health leading to higher food costs and economic strain on farmers. Despite their massive impact, these parasitic worms—specifically gut-dwelling worms—remain a neglected area of research.
The trouble with parasitic gut worms
There are thousands of parasitic worm species and Prof. Tritten works with a subgroup called nematodes. Gut nematodes are notoriously difficult to eradicate. These parasites live inside their hosts (such as humans and animals), draining their resources and disrupting biological processes. They have complex life cycles and can persist in an environment for months and years. Increasing drug resistance, with some deworming medications becoming less effective, creates an urgent need for new treatments. Effective control of gut nematodes requires a multifaceted approach, including the development of new drugs or alternative therapies.
Fighting worms from the inside
Enter Prof. Tritten’s innovative solution: using gut bacteria as a delivery system for RNA-based therapies. The idea is both simple and groundbreaking. Gut bacteria, naturally present in our digestive systems, will be engineered to produce specific RNA molecules that disrupt the worms’ biology. The RNA molecules would be packaged into extracellular vesicles (tiny “postal packages” that cells use to communicate) and delivered directly to the parasites. Prof Tritten is looking at how extracellular vesicles move between different organisms (like bacteria, hosts, and parasites) and how they might carry specific genetic instructions, called noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), that could be used to disrupt parasitic worms' biology. “We anticipate that these little packages produced by the engineered bacteria will effectively harm the parasitic worms, offering a novel way to combat these pathogens” she says.
What’s next?
While the project is still in its early stages, Prof. Tritten is optimistic about its long-term potential. If successful, this approach could pave the way for a scalable, cost-effective solution to nematode infections in both humans and animals.
But Tritten’s work isn’t just about the science, it’s also about collaboration. She is working with microbiologists, parasitologists, biochemists, synthetic biologists, a veterinarian and a gastroenterologist to make this work happen. Collaborating with partners at UC San Diego and Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany, she emphasizes the importance of tailoring scientific solutions to the realities of resource-limited settings. Diagnostic tools and treatments must be affordable and easy to use.
Of course, challenges remain. Developing a therapy that works safely in humans will take years of testing and regulatory approvals. But Prof. Tritten remains optimistic. “There’s so much we don’t yet know about parasitic worms, and that’s exactly what makes this work so exciting,” she says.
Prof. Tritten’s research reminds us that the solutions to our biggest problems might be closer than we think—right inside our own guts. By transforming gut bacteria into microscopic warriors, she’s not just fighting parasites; she’s offering hope to millions of people affected by these infections worldwide.
