Genetically modified hookworms produce and deliver therapeutics
Hookworms, intestinal parasites that infect hundreds of millions of people in under-resourced tropical regions around the globe, have evolved to survive inside the human gut for years, secreting molecules that enable coexistence with their hosts. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have harnessed that biological mechanism for potential human benefit, engineering a hookworm to produce and deliver a drug within a living host.
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June 3, 2026 Genetically modified hookworms produce and deliver therapeutics by Washington University in St. Louis edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Robert Egan Stephanie Baum Scientific Editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Robert Egan Associate Editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread The GIST Add as preferred source WashU Medicine researchers genetically modified hookworms to produce and deliver a therapeutic antibody inside a host, a proof-of-concept that could lead to long-lasting…
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