Schistosoma mansoni alter transcription of immunomodulatory gene products following in vivo praziquantel exposure.

ABSTRACT: Control of the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis relies almost entirely on praziquantel (PZQ) monotherapy. How PZQ clears parasite infections remains poorly understood. Many studies have examined the effects of PZQ on worms cultured in vitro, observing outcomes such as muscle contraction. However, conditions worms are exposed to in vivo may vary considerably from in vitro experiments given the short half-life of PZQ and the importance of host immune system engagement for drug efficacy in animal models. Here, we investigated the effects of in vivo PZQ exposure on Schistosoma mansoni. Measurement of pro-apoptotic caspase activation revealed that worm death occurs only after parasites shift from the mesenteric vasculature to the liver, peaking 24 hours after drug treatment. This indi

SUBMITTER: McCusker P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7959349 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature