ANTIBODIES TO NEURAL ANTIGENS IN NEMATODE ASCARIS

我们的目标是设计神经元和突触的免疫组织化学标记， 蛔虫的运动神经系统。 我们将 产生并使用针对突触和神经递质的抗体 以及负责合成它们的酶。 既然我们有 许多神经元的电生理和解剖信息 在运动神经系统中，我们可以将特定的 具有已知生理活性的抗原。 我们的目标是 一系列标签，以便可以使用 组织化学技术标记介导功能的分子。 这将使我们能够确定整个大脑的功能解剖结构， 线虫神经系统的细节，这将需要我们之前， 测试我们对细胞和分子机制的理解， 神经系统用来处理信息。 对蛔虫的神经系统有基本的了解是很重要的 由于蛔虫是研究控制蛔虫的模式线虫， 线虫的运动 蛔虫运动神经系统在解剖学上 与其他线虫相似，因此可以合理地假设， 在职能一级也将采用类似做法。 通过研究 蛔虫神经肌肉系统活动的潜在机制， 将发现适用于其他线虫的一般原则。 对线虫神经系统的了解将有助于 寄生生物学，并允许宿主和 寄生虫被确定为驱虫药物的目标。 鉴于 线虫对粮食供应的农业影响， 它们作为动物和人类寄生虫引起，特别是在热带和 在经济欠发达国家，这是一个重要的健康相关问题。 目标.

Our aim is to devise immunohistochemical labels for neurons and synapses in the motornervous system of the large parasitic nematode Ascaris. We will generate and use antibodies against synapses and against neurotransmitters and the enzymes responsible for their synthesis. Since we have electrophysiological and anatomical information about many of the neurons in the motor nervous system, we can correlate the presence of specific antigens with known physiological activities. Our objective is to generate a series of labels so that the function of a neuron can be determined using histochemical techniques that label the molecules that mediate function. This will enable us to determine the functional anatomy of the entire nematode nervous system in the detail that will be required before we can test our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that the nervous system uses to process information. Gaining a basic understanding of the Ascaris nervous system is important since Ascaris is a model nematode in which to investigate the control of locomotion in nematodes. The Ascaris motor nervous system is anatomically similar to that of other nematodes, so it is reasonable to assume that this similarity will also apply at the functional level. By studying the mechanisms underlying the activity of the neuromuscular system of Ascaris, general principles applying to other nematodes will be found. This basic understanding of the nematode nervous system will make a contribution to parasite biology, and allow differences in the biology between host and parasite to be identified as targets for anthelmintic drugs. In view of the agricultural impact of nematodes on food supplies, and the problems they cause as animal and human parasites, especially in tropical and economically less-developed countries, this is an important health-related goal.