Research

Crystal proteins as deworming therapies (anthelmintics)

The soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is the most widely used natural insecticide in the world. It is commonly used to control insect pests that damage crops and spread disease. Bt works because it produces crystal proteins—called Cry proteins—named for the crystals they naturally form.

These proteins are deadly to insects but very safe for humans and animals. We have discovered many Cry proteins that are similar to insect-killing ones, but instead kill parasitic nematodes (worms). We are developing these proteins as natural, safe, effective, and low-cost deworming treatments for both people and animals.

Because there are many different Cry proteins, they can be combined or rotated to help maintain long-term control of parasites. We are also studying how Cry proteins work and how they specifically target nematodes. More details about this work can be found in our publications.