Katie Liu
Published: 11 Dec. 2013
The Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria, is
mutating to resist some of the most effective drugs against it. However, recent
studies have shown low levels of DNA methylation in its genome could be a
possible way to eliminate the parasite. The low levels are important to the
survival of the parasite. DNA methylation is a biochemical process regulating
how genes are expressed, which plays an important role in diseases. In humans,
DNA methylation is very important. Abnormal DNA methylation has been linked to
many diseases such as cancers and neurological disorders. Until now, it was
unsure if Plasmodium contained methylation, but
research has confirmed its low level presence in the parasite. The DNA
methylation in Plasmodium is different from the ones in
humans. Due to this difference, if a way can be found to shut down the
methylation enzyme, then it could kill the parasite in sick people. Despite
this, more research still needs to be done about Plasmodium.
This
relates to what we've learned during our evolution unit. The reason
why the parasite was becoming resistant to many drugs was due to the fact
that it was mutating and therefore was able to have some members of its
population resistant to the malaria cures. We also learned how animals also
adapted to their environments similarly to the Plasmodium through adaptation and natural
selection. This connects to what we've learned in our evolution unit.
We’ve also learned about DNA and gene expression during our molecular
biology unit, which relates back to the DNA methylation in the article.
If scientists were able to create a drug that specifically inhibits the methylation enzyme and was able to kill some percentage of the parasite, is it possible that the parasite could also become resistant to this drug as it did to others?
ReplyDeleteAbnormalities in the DNA methylation can be harmful, so the enzyme producing it should be very similar among the parasites. If a drug can be developed that specifically shuts down the enzyme, it would be able to shut down the enzymes in other parasites because the enzyme would not mutate otherwise the DNA methylation it produces can be harmful.
DeleteHow long does it take for the mutation for resistance to occur? Is there any way to slow down the mutation or maybe use the drug in different doses in order to trick the parasite so that it is harder for the mutation to occur because it is an inconsistent dosage? Or maybe pair the medicine/drug with different organic materials as it is applied to the parasite as another way to trick the parasite into not forming a mutation?
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