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Boston College researcher looks to stop a deadly parasite in its tracks
Date:12/10/2012

CHESTNUT HILL, MA (December 10, 2012) The American Cancer Society has awarded a four-year, $720,000 grant to Boston College Associate Professor of Biology Marc-Jan Gubbels for research into potential new drugs that can prevent the onset of toxoplasmosis in cancer patients with weakened immune systems.

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii has infected one out of every five people in the U.S., typically remaining dormant in healthy individuals. But when the immune system is weakened, the parasite attacks, wreaking havoc on the patient's body and often causing death.

Gubbels, who specializes in parasitology, said he's grateful for the opportunity to advance Toxoplasma gondii research as a means of improving the health of individuals at risk for toxoplasmosis.

"The American Cancer Society has given us a unique opportunity to take a new approach toward identifying potential targets to combat a deadly disease," said Gubbels. "This is a novel approach and we're excited to move forward with our work."

Among those most at risk for the stealthy killer toxoplasmosis are cancer patients whose immune systems are compromised during chemotherapy and other treatments that weaken the body's defenses. While there are drugs that can help hold the illness in check, they produce unwanted side effects in some patients and also inhibit the effectiveness of some anti-cancer drugs.

Gubbels, whose work has helped to unlock some of the genetic mysteries of Toxoplasma gondii, is researching new ways to prevent the spread of the parasite by limiting its mobility and effectively trapping it within the cells where it attacks.

The American Cancer Society grant will support work by the Gubbels' lab that could lead to the development of new drugs that can prevent the parasite from attacking its unsuspecting hosts. Patients battling cancer are particularly vulnerable when potent anti-cancer treatments weaken their immune syste
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Contact: Ed Hayward
ed.hayward@bc.edu
617-552-4826
Boston College
Source:Eurekalert

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