Dopamine signaling drives skin invasion by human-infective nematodes.

ABSTRACT: Skin-penetrating nematodes are one of the most prevalent causes of disease worldwide - nearly 15% of the global population is infected with at least one species of skin-penetrating nematode^1,2. The World Health Organization has targeted these parasites for elimination by 2030³, but the lack of preventative measures is a major obstacle to this goal. The infective larvae of skin-penetrating nematodes enter hosts through skin⁴, and blocking skin penetration is an as-yet unexplored approach for preventing infection. However, in order to prevent worm ingress via the skin, an understanding of the behavioral and neural mechanisms that drive skin penetration is required. Here, we describe the skin-penetration behaviors of the human-infective threadworm Strongylo

SUBMITTER: Patel R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11838280 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature