Trichomonas infection can provoke cell changes and prostate cancer in men, scientists report based on a study. A team of biologists from the University of Washington under the leadership of Prof. John Alderett found the very molecular mechanism leading to malignant degeneration, it is written in the journal PLoS Pathogens. The scientific team investigated the reaction of blood serum from patients with trichomoniasis and the protein alpha-actinin, which is released by Trichomonas vaginalis. It stimulates the immune system to respond to the presence of a certain antigen. It turns out that the single-celled parasite releases signals in the body of the infected cascade through proteins such as PIM1, c-MYC and HMGA1. The PIM1 protein is known to promote the growth of cancer cells, in addition to maintaining the activity of other molecules in the cascade and controlling the activation of a number of genes. According to the scientists, trichomonas attach to the healthy epithelial cells of the prostate gland, from where they start sending the signal messages leading to the pathological degeneration of the cells. Trichomoniasis is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, which in many cases is asymptomatic. It is rare for a man to distinguish the signs of the infection. Then it appears as urethritis. Half of the women develop vaginitis when infected. NEWS_MORE_BOX Symptoms typical for this type of infection are characteristic, such as itching, burning when urinating, copious discharge from the genitals in a yellowish, even greenish hue, foamy consistency. The infection can be mistaken for a fungal infection. It often occurs in parallel with other sexually transmitted diseases. Due to the asymptomatic course in most cases, trichomoniasis remains untreated. According to the researchers, trichomonas infection in men, however, increased the risk of developing prostate cancer by 40% later in life.