A research team fae the University o Dundee is investigatin Cryptosporidium—a parasite aat staunds common hame cleanin products an bides in watter poses serious risks tae baith public halth an e fermin industry. Dr Mattie Christine Pawlowic, a Principal Investigator an Sir Henry Dale Fellow at e university’s School o Life Sciences, is leadin e study wi support fae a Wellcome Career Development Award.

Cryptosporidium is protectit by a teuch shell aat resists mony staundart disinfection methods. Dr Pawlowic explained, “Cryptosporidium is bieldit by a shell, but we ken verra little aboot foo it is sae protective.” Accordin tae her, e parasite his a mechanism similar tae a siller purse wi a zipper-like structure. “It uses a microscopic structure aat acts like a zipper. Fan e zipper apens, e parasites ‘hatch’ oot o the shell. In wir nyew research project, we are wirkin tae unnerstaund foo the parasites apen aat siller purse at e richt time an in e richt conditions,” she said. Dr Pawlowic added, “Cleanin products in supermercats claim tae kill 99.9% o germs, Cryptosporidium is e 0.1% they canna touch.”

E parasite poses a pairticular challenge acause staundart watter treatment methods sic as chlorination canna eradicate it. Insteid, costly interventions like bylin, ultraviolet licht, or specialized filtration systems are needed for tae ensure its removal fae watter supplies. E parasite can cause chronic diarrhoea, a condition aat can be fatal—specially in bairns, aulder adults, an immunocompromised fowk. E Warld Halth Organisation his identified diarrhoea as e third-leidin cause o deith in bairns unner 60 month.

In addition tae affectin human halth, Cryptosporidium threitens e weelfare o the UK fermin industry. Infections in livestock, aften transmitted via contact wi infected beasts or contaminated watter, can result in sair economic losses. A brakthrou annoonced last year by Dr Pawlowic’s team, in collaboration wi the Drug Discovery Unit an researchers fae the University o Vermont, identified twa drug molecules aat yielded promisin results in controllin e infection in caufs. Fooivver, forder research is needed afore iss finnins can bring effective, widespreid solutions.

“Wi ootbraks, e ramifications for fowk are significant an it becomes heidline news,” Dr Pawlowic noted. “Similarly, e halth o cattle an e economic impact o that are vital tae the UK. We canna be complacent aboot a parasite aat is sae widespreid in iss kintra, sae forder research is crucial if we are tae protect wir public an wir fermers.”

E University o Dundee continues tae lead in cryptosporidiosis research, strivin tae develop new medicines an deepen scientific unnerstaundin o the parasite’s survival mechanisms. Mair information aboot e research project is available on e university wabsite.