The Molecular Helminthology Lab maintains several collaborative projects involving immune rejection in Strongylid parasites and aging and functional genomics using a Parastrongyloid parasite model.
Strongylids
Strongylid parasites include many important nematode parasites of humans (e.g. hookworms Necator and Ancylostoma). These worms infect about a billion people mostly in tropical regions. Larval worms pass through the skin and migrate to the intestine where they attach and feed on blood leading to deteriorating health, especially with heavy infections. We are collaborating with Dr. Peter Hotez at George Washington University and Dr. Michael Cappello at Yale to characterize the antigens exposed to the host in the infectious larval stages as possible vaccine targets. For more information on hookworm, visit the CDC website.
A number of strongylid parasites are of veterinary importance (e.g. Haemonchus, Ostertagia, and Trichostrongylus). These worms reside as adults in the gastrointestinal tract and pass eggs through the feces. Anthelmintic treatments are available but are becoming less effective due to the development of resistance in many of these parasites. We are collaborating with AgResearch in NZ to characterize Strongylid host-interactive surface antigens that play a role in immune rejection of nematodes. Our major models are Trichostrongylus colubriformis in sheep and Heligmosomoides polygyrus in mice and rats.
Parastrongyloides
We are collaborating with Dr. Warwick Grant at La Trobe University in Australia to utilize a remarkable parasite of marsupial possums as a model for aging and parasitism research. Parastrongyloides trichosuri has the amazing ability to exist indefinitely as a free-living worm or to live as a parasitic worm within some small marsupials. Manipulation of culture conditions determines whether this worm lives only a few days as a free-living worm or at least several months as a parasite. We have developed methods for the stable introduction of a transgene into these organisms. We propose to use this model to study genes that are required for parasitism or that contribute to longevity.