Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed an innovative microfluidic platform designed to replicate the blood microenvironment, enabling the study of the Babesia microti parasite. This work is directed by Tagbo Niepa, a BME associate professor of chemical engineering and biomedical engineering. The goal is to improve our ability to predict the parasite’s behavior and its impact on human health. The results were recently published in the journal Advanced Science, with the study’s DOI 10.1002/advs.202508185.
Babesia microti is a protozoan parasite that mainly infects rodents. It can lead to babesiosis, which can come on asymptomatically or with flu-like symptoms. These symptoms, including vomiting and nausea, can be especially serious in older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Babesiosis is increasing too, especially in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and Upper Midwestern areas of the United States. As you can imagine, this is an alarming trend, which has spurred researchers to discover more effective methods to monitor and study the infection.
The Microfluidic Innovation
Tagbo Niepa and his team then set their sights on a new objective. Along with collaborating research scientist Chao Li from the Niepa μBiointerface Lab, they designed a system that would streamline in vitro study of Babesia microti. They especially wanted a space where the parasite could flourish and stay contagious for long periods of time.
Niepa, Layton, and their colleagues wanted to develop the ideal petri dish for the parasite’s explosive growth and long-term survival. This will enable researchers to learn about it in vitro. This microfluidic platform allows scientists to monitor the parasite’s spread dynamically, providing a clearer picture of how Babesia microti interacts with its host’s blood cells.
The platform’s design allows researchers to better visualize cells at a single-cell resolution, providing unique opportunities to evaluate infection dynamics over time. Niepa noted, “You can observe the monolayer of cells and see the infection dynamics of Babesia over time.” This capability represents a huge leap in the ways that researchers can study the parasite’s behavior than what they could do with traditional methods.
Implications for Disease Understanding
The impact of this research goes far beyond tracking infection risk. Babesiosis is frequently underdiagnosed because of its wide-ranging presentation and possibility of asymptomatic infections. As such, Niepa and his collaborators are taking a closer look at the parasite’s life cycle in a lab setting. Their goals include discovering fundamental biological questions during the course of infection.
“This comes with some interesting biological questions that will be easier to study in our in vitro platform than in animal models,” Niepa stated. Babesia microti is a model system for studying its effects outside of its natural host, allowing researchers to conduct controlled experiments. This can provide important insight into the parasite’s pathogenic mechanisms.
Additionally, the future possibilities of combining automated drug-device operation and artificial intelligence (AI) onto the platform seems incredibly compelling. Niepa envisions a future in which artificial intelligence will maximize efficiency in detection. FDA’s latest breakthrough will increase both the speed and precision with which detection of infection can occur. This technological breakthrough may help us get precious knowledge to health care provider fighting to diagnose & treat babesiosis.
A New Era in Infection Research
This new collaboration between Niepa and Li, along with researchers from several other institutions, represents an exciting step forward in the fight against infectious diseases. Beyond this application, they’re using this microfluidic system to develop new methodologies. Such innovations have the potential to revolutionize the way that scientists study parasites and their interactions with host organisms.
Advanced high-resolution imaging methods, like composite confocal imaging, add further depth to this study. Their platform allows you to see B. microti mitochondria, stained with MitoTracker Green, inside infected red blood cells. This new and powerful tool provides a much deeper window into the process of infection at a cellular level.
Almost daily, new research emerges in this area. The experimental results from Niepa’s lab arrive as a key breakthrough for anyone wishing to understand how parasites such as Babesia microti spread through their hosts. Understanding these factors is critical to designing effective babesiosis treatments and preventive measures. This is all the more critical as disease impacts continue to escalate in at-risk areas.
