The acetylcholine-gated chloride channel gene family in parasitic nematodes

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Infection with parasitic nematodes causes considerable disease burden in developing countries as well as North America.  Currently, the only method of control is through the use of nematocides.  However, despite the significant disease burden for both humans and domestic animals and rising incidences of drug resistance there are relatively few treatments available.  Therefore, the discovery and characterization of new nematocidal targets to both reduce the morbidity caused by human parasites as well as maintain the control of parasites of livestock will have far reaching global implications.  The recent completion of several parasitic nematode genomes has now provided an opportunity to begin a comprehensive search for potential new and unique nematocidal targets while at the same time increasing our understanding of the biology of these important pathogens. There is a large family of receptors called cys-loop receptors that have good potential as targets for new nematocides since they are important for the nervous system of parasitic nematodes and several members of this family are found only in invertebrates.