The Eagle effect in the Wolbachia-worm symbiosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Onchocerciasis (river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) are two human neglected tropical diseases that cause major disabilities. Mass administration of drugs targeting the microfilarial stage has reduced transmission and eliminated these diseases in several countries but a macrofilaricidal drug that kills or sterilizes the adult worms is critically needed to eradicate the diseases. The causative agents of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are filarial worms that harbor the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. Because filarial worms depend on Wolbachia for reproduction and survival, drugs targeting Wolbachia hold great promise as a means to eliminate these diseases.

Methods

To better understand the relationship between Wolbachia and its worm h

SUBMITTER: Bulman CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7905570 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature