Structure and Function of Ascaris Neuropeptides

线虫的运动系统是目前使用的许多驱虫药的靶标，因为 运动行为的中断干扰了许多线虫维持的正常过程 它们在宿主中的位置。遗传耐药性的问题正在使许多可用的药物 效果较差，因此开发新一代抗线虫药物非常重要。拟议的研究 旨在描述在运动神经系统中起重要作用的新的细胞间信号系统 控制运动。我们的策略是基于我们以前的工作，在这些工作中，我们分离和排序了大量的 猪蛔虫寄生线虫的29个新内源性神经肽家族。初步 实验表明，几乎所有被测试的多肽都具有很强的神经肌肉活性。 蛔虫系统。有些会导致瘫痪，有些则会夸大运动动作。神经肽， 因此，在运动神经系统的整体活动中起着重要的作用。有各种迹象表明 比我们到目前为止分离的多肽要多得多。没有迹象表明 目前可用的多肽是最有效的，所以我们建议分离新的多肽，集中在 这些存在于运动神经系统中，以检测具有强大功能的新多肽 生理活动。这是基础研究，新一代驱虫剂最终可以在此基础上 发展起来的。

The locomotory system of nematodes is the target of many currently used anthelminthics, since disruption of locomotory behavior interferes with the normal processes by which many nematodes maintain their position within the host. The problem of genetic drug resistance is making many of the available drugs less effective, so it is important to develop new generations of anti-nematdde drugs. The proposed research aims to describe new intercellular signaling systems that are important in the motornervous system that controls locomotion. Our strategy is based on our previous work in which we isolated and sequenced a large family of 29 novel endogenous neuropeptides in the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum. Preliminary experiments have shown that almost all of the peptides tested have potent activity .on the neuromuscular system of Ascaris. Some cause paralysis, others exaggerate locomotory movements. Neuropeptides, therefore, play an important role in the overall activity of the motornervous system. There is every indication that there are many more peptides than the ones we have isolated so far. There is no indication that the currently available peptides are the most potent, so we propose to isolate new peptides, concentrating on those that are present in the motornervous system, in order to detect new peptides that have potent physiological activity. This is basic research upon which new generations of anthelminthics can ultimately be developed.