Neurobiology of schistosomes

血吸虫曼氏血吸虫引起一种名为血吸虫病的衰弱性疾病，折磨着全世界2亿多人。目前，治疗血吸虫病的药物较少，耐药率不断上升。在这项研究中，我们正在研究的过程中，通过它控制运动的主机。寄生虫在血流中表现出复杂的迁移模式，通过肺和心脏向其最终目的地肝门系统移动，成熟蠕虫通常居住在那里。这种迁移由寄生虫自身的神经肌肉系统和影响运动的宿主衍生物质控制。我们的目标是确定参与这种调节的机制，特别是介导寄生虫肌肉收缩的受体。通过这些研究，我们希望更多地了解染色体的基本生物学，并发现更有效的治疗这种严重疾病的形式。

The bloodfluke Schistosoma mansoni causes a debilitating disease called schistosomiasis that afflicts over 200 million people worldwide. At present, there are few drugs available for treatment of schistosomiasis and the incidence of drug resistance is rising. In this study, we are studying the process by which schistosomes control movement within the host. The parasites exhibit an intricate pattern of migration in the bloodstream, moving through the lungs and heart towards their final destination in the hepatic portal system, where the mature worms typically reside. This migration is controlled by the parasite's own neuromuscular system and by host-derived substances that influence motility. Our goal is to identify the mechanisms involved in this regulation, in particular the receptors that mediate muscle contraction in the parasite. Through these studies we hope to learn more about the basic biology of schistosomes and to discover more effective forms of treatment against this serious disease.