A genome-scale drug discovery pipeline uncovers new therapeutic targets and a unique p97 allosteric binding site in <i>Schistosoma mansoni</i>.

ABSTRACT: Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms that infect more than 200 million people globally. However, there is a shortage of molecular tools that enable the discovery of potential drug targets within schistosomes. Thus, praziquantel has remained the frontline treatment for schistosomiasis despite known liabilities. Here, we have conducted a genome-wide study in S. mansoni using the human druggable genome as a bioinformatic template to identify essential genes within schistosomes bearing similarity to catalogued drug targets. Then, we assessed these candidate targets in silico using a set of unbiased criteria to determine which possess ideal characteristics for a ready-made drug discovery campaign. Following this prioritization, we pursued a parasite p97 ortholog as a bona-fide dru

SUBMITTER: Stephens DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11952559 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature