CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR STUDIES ON ASCARIS NEUROPEPTIDES

拟议项目的总体目标是确定 内源性神经肽在线虫行为控制中的作用 蛔虫。蛔虫中的神经肽种类繁多，包括 至少有16个家庭。FMRFamide样多肽家族包括at 至少15名成员。在建议的授权期内，我们计划决定 蛔虫FMR家族样肽通过确定其结合部位而发挥的作用 在单细胞级别上的操作。使用特定的抗体，我们还将 识别包含这些多肽的单个神经元，因此 识别细胞间信号系统的两个部分，通过 每一个神经肽。我们还计划使用几种新的策略来 发现新的神经肽家族；这些家族将包括生物测定、 将识别与以前无关的多肽的免疫分析 鉴定的多肽，以及几种化学物质的应用 修改。 对蛔虫神经系统有一个基本的了解很重要 由于蛔虫是一种模式线虫，可以在其中研究控制 线虫的运动。蛔虫的运动神经系统是解剖学上的 与其他线虫相似，所以我们有理由认为 这种相似性也将适用于职能层面。通过研究 蛔虫神经肌肉系统活动的潜在机制， 神经肽在控制这种活动中的作用，一般 适用于其他线虫的原理将会被发现。这是基本的 对线虫神经系统的了解将有助于 寄生生物学，并允许宿主和寄主之间的生物学差异 寄生虫在食物供应上被识别，以及它们造成的问题 动物和人类的寄生虫，特别是在热带和经济较少的地区- 对于发达国家来说，这是一个与健康相关的重要目标。

The overall aim of the proposed project is to determine the role of endogenous neuropeptides in the control of behavior in the nematode Ascaris. There is a wide diversity of neuropeptides in Ascaris, comprising at least 16 families. The family of FMRFamide-like peptides includes at least 15 members. In the proposed grant period we plan to determine the role of Ascaris FMRFamide-like peptides by determining their site of action at the single cell level. Using specific antibodies we will also identify the individual neurons that contain each of these peptides, thus identifying both halves of the intercellular signaling system mediated by each neuropeptide. We also plan to use several novel strategies to discover new families of neuropeptides; these will include bioassay,an immunoassay that will recognize peptides unrelated to previously identified peptides, and the application of several chemical modifications. 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, and the role of neuropeptide in controlling this activity, 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 on food supplies, and the problems they cause as animal and human parasites, especially in tropic and economically less- developed countries, this is an important health-related goal.