The Most Unlikely Painkiller Is a Parasite

There is a parasitic worm, Schistosoma mansoni, that might just hold the key to a whole new approach to pain relief. According to a new study published in The Journal of Immunology, this worm has evolved a sneaky way to enter our bodies undetected, and in doing so, it has provided a major clue in the search for alternatives to opioid-based pain treatments.

When it’s ready to infect a human, the worm penetrates the skin. You would think that would cause itching, pain, a rash, something to let you know a worm is taking up residence. Nope! Turns out this little guy actively suppresses a protein in our sensory neurons called TRPV1+. This protein is responsible for sending signals to the brain that we interpret as pain, heat, or itching. Basically, the worm is a tiny, biological ninja, disabling the body’s alarm system before it even goes off.

The worm’s motivation is pretty simple: survival. If it can get in without being detected, it has a better chance of not being evicted. It’s a remarkably effective evolutionary tactic.

While this is bad news for those who might come in contact with infested water, the discovery offers a glimmer of hope on another front. The lead researcher, Dr. De’Broski R. Herbert, suggests that if they can identify and isolate these molecules, they could be used to develop new painkillers. So while this thoroughly icks me out, this parasite could hold the key to a better way to treat pain.