A groundbreaking discovery made by researchers at the Université de Montréal and McGill has just been named one of the top 10 of the year by Québec Science magazine.
The team found a new mechanism of genetic information exchange by which Leishmania parasites exchange DNA encoding antibiotic resistance genes via nanoscale cargo vessels called extracellular vesicles. This allows the parasites to rapidly spread resistance to treatments, causing devastating consequences in human and canine patients.
This breakthrough will make it possible to develop drugs that inhibit the formation of vesicles, slowing the spread of resistance and allowing for more effective treatment of a plethora of parasitic and cancer diseases.
Featured image
Image: Christopher Fernandez-Prada
From left to right: David Langlais, Martin Olivier, Noélie Douanne, Atia Amin, George Dong & Christopher Fernandez-Prada.
Vote for your favorite Québec Science discovery!
Voting closes February 16, 2023, at 11:59 PM
https://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/30e-edition-des-decouvertes-de-lannee-de-quebec-science/
Related
Cell Reports - Leishmania parasites exchange drug-resistance genes through extracellular vesicles
Quebec Science - Parasites that improve by sharing their genes
