Healing hope in parasite
A CANCER-causing worm that infests people’s livers has been used by Cairns scientists to develop a “supercharged” treatment for chronic wounds.
The Thai liver fluke, opisthorchis viverrini, has been found to produce a peptide molecule – called granulin – that enhances a person’s natural healing ability.
Chronic or non-healing wounds, which are a major issue for those suffering diabetes, can lead to amputation.
The remarkable healing properties of the liver fluke were discovered by JCU researchers at the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine last year, after they sought to find a potential vaccine against the parasitic worm.
The parasite, which is contracted by humans after they consume raw fish, infects mil- lions of people in Asia and kills 26,000 people each year due to a parasite-induced bile duct cancer it causes.
The researchers tried producing large quantities of granulin from liver flukes for clinical trials, but found this process too challenging.
They built their own version of the molecule, a synthetic peptide, which was found to be far more effective.
James Cook University parasitologist Dr Michael Smout said the patent application for the synthetic molecule, called P4A, was published in March.
“Our next phase is to secure funding partners to help us progress from lab-based success to clinical trials and ultimately give hope to patients,” he said.
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PETER CARRUTHERS FOGARTY Park came alive to the sights and sounds of more than 2000 people celebrating Hindu culture through the annual celebration of light at the weekend.
Deepawali Festival co-ordinator Krishna Bhattarai said the event keeps getting bigger and this year included the Far North’s Korean and African communities.
“The festival was marvellous,” he said.
“It is all about a family gettogether and to give the opportunity to share the family’s bond with each other.”
He said there was dancing, music, meditation and yoga workshops and a huge cultural show that his two children got dressed up in special costumes to take part in.
Mr Bhattarai said the Deepawali, or Diwali, festival is celebrated by Indian, Nepalese and Sri Lankan people all over the world in November.
“The participation from other organisations was fantastic and we had fireworks go off at 9pm too,” he said.