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

Cryptosporidium is protectit by a teuch shell that resists mony staundart disinfection methods. Dr Pawlowic explained, “Cryptosporidium is bieldit by a shell, but we ken verra little aboot hoo it is sae protective.” Accordin tae her, the parasite has a mechanism similar tae a siller purse wi a zip-like structure. “It yaises a microscopic structure that acts like a zip. Whan the zip appens, the parasites ‘hatch’ oot o the shell. In oor new research project, we are warkin tae unnerstaund hoo the parasites appen that siller purse at the richt time an in the richt conditions,” she said. Dr Pawlowic added, “Cleanin products in supermercats claim tae kill 99.9% o germs, Cryptosporidium is the 0.1% they cannae touch.”

The parasite poses a pairticular challenge acause staundart watter treatment methods sic as chlorination cannae eradicate it. Insteid, costly interventions like bylin, ultraviolet licht, or specialised filtration systems are required for tae ensure its removal fae watter supplies. The parasite can cause chronic diarrhoea, a condition that can be fatal—especially in bairns, aulder adults, an immunocompromised individuals. The Warld Halth Organisation haes identified diarrhoea as the third-leidin cause o deith in bairns unner 60 month.

In addition tae affectin human halth, Cryptosporidium threitens the weelfare o the UK fairmin industry. Infections in livestock, aften transmitted via contact wi infected animals or contaminated watter, can result in gey 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 that yielded promisin results in controllin the infection in caufs. Hooanivver, forther research is needed afore these finnins can bring effective, widespreid solutions.

“Wi ootbraks, the ramifications for fowk are significant an it becomes heidline news,” Dr Pawlowic noted. “Similarly, the halth o cattle an the economic impact o that is vital tae the UK. We cannae be complacent aboot a parasite that is sae widespreid in this kintra, sae mair research is crucial if we are tae protect oor public an oor fairmers.”

The 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 the research project is available on the university wabsite.