Acetylcholinesterase and Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Schistosomes and Other Parasitic Helminths
Schistosomiasis, which is caused by helminth trematode blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, is a serious health and economic problem in tropical areas, and the second most prevalent parasitic disease after malaria. Currently, there is no effective vaccine available and treatment is entirely depend...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/9/1550 |
| _version_ | 1828772196534714368 |
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| author | Hong You Chang Liu Xiaofeng Du Donald P. McManus |
| author_facet | Hong You Chang Liu Xiaofeng Du Donald P. McManus |
| author_sort | Hong You |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Schistosomiasis, which is caused by helminth trematode blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, is a serious health and economic problem in tropical areas, and the second most prevalent parasitic disease after malaria. Currently, there is no effective vaccine available and treatment is entirely dependent on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ), raising a significant potential public health threat due to the emergence of PZQ drug resistance. It is thus urgent and necessary to explore novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Previous studies demonstrated that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play important roles in the schistosome nervous system and ion channels, both of which are targeted by a number of currently approved and marketed anthelminthic drugs. To improve understanding of the functions of the cholinergic system in schistosomes, this article reviews previous studies on AChE and nAChRs in schistosomes and other helminths and discusses their potential as suitable targets for vaccine development and drug design against schistosomiasis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:40:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a150299179149a0816afbf56234862a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T14:40:00Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a150299179149a0816afbf56234862a2022-12-22T01:01:59ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492017-09-01229155010.3390/molecules22091550molecules22091550Acetylcholinesterase and Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Schistosomes and Other Parasitic HelminthsHong You0Chang Liu1Xiaofeng Du2Donald P. McManus3Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, AustraliaMolecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, AustraliaMolecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, AustraliaMolecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, AustraliaSchistosomiasis, which is caused by helminth trematode blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, is a serious health and economic problem in tropical areas, and the second most prevalent parasitic disease after malaria. Currently, there is no effective vaccine available and treatment is entirely dependent on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ), raising a significant potential public health threat due to the emergence of PZQ drug resistance. It is thus urgent and necessary to explore novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Previous studies demonstrated that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play important roles in the schistosome nervous system and ion channels, both of which are targeted by a number of currently approved and marketed anthelminthic drugs. To improve understanding of the functions of the cholinergic system in schistosomes, this article reviews previous studies on AChE and nAChRs in schistosomes and other helminths and discusses their potential as suitable targets for vaccine development and drug design against schistosomiasis.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/9/1550schistosomeacetylcholinesterasenicotinic acetylcholine receptorsdrug targetsvaccine targets |
| spellingShingle | Hong You Chang Liu Xiaofeng Du Donald P. McManus Acetylcholinesterase and Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Schistosomes and Other Parasitic Helminths Molecules schistosome acetylcholinesterase nicotinic acetylcholine receptors drug targets vaccine targets |
| title | Acetylcholinesterase and Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Schistosomes and Other Parasitic Helminths |
| title_full | Acetylcholinesterase and Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Schistosomes and Other Parasitic Helminths |
| title_fullStr | Acetylcholinesterase and Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Schistosomes and Other Parasitic Helminths |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acetylcholinesterase and Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Schistosomes and Other Parasitic Helminths |
| title_short | Acetylcholinesterase and Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Schistosomes and Other Parasitic Helminths |
| title_sort | acetylcholinesterase and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in schistosomes and other parasitic helminths |
| topic | schistosome acetylcholinesterase nicotinic acetylcholine receptors drug targets vaccine targets |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/22/9/1550 |
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