Over the last decade, there has been accumulating evidence showing that signalling pathways are involved in extensive biological and physiological processes in the human blood fluke schistosomes, playing essential roles in environmental sensing, host penetration, growth, development, maturation, embryogenesis, tissue self-renewal and survival. Owing to the likelihood of resistance developing against praziquantel, the only drug currently available that is effective against all the human schistosome species, there is an urgent requirement for an alternative treatment, arguing for continuing research into novel or repurposed anti-schistosomal drugs. An increasing number of anticancer drugs are being developed which block abnormal signalling pathways, a feature that has stimulated interest in developing novel interventions against human schistosomiasis by targeting key cell signalling components. In this review, we discuss the functional characterization of signal transduction pathways in schistosomes and consider current challenges and future perspectives in this important area of research.
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Cover Image
Cover Image
Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness. Among the parasitology topics covered in this issue are perspectives on various aspects of trypanosome biology: Kemmerling et al. (pages 573–577) look at the immune response against Trypanosoma cruzi in the human placenta, while Maya et al. (pages 579–584) discuss therapeutic strategies in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy, which is caused by T. cruzi. In addition, McCulloch et al. (pages 585–592) and Ooi and Rudenko (pages 593–600) explore antigenic variation in trypanosomes. Image credit: Kateryna Kon (Shutterstock ID: 520410646).
Signalling pathways in schistosomes: novel targets for control interventions against schistosomiasis Available to Purchase
Roberto Docampo, Pengfei Cai, Donald P. McManus, Hong You; Signalling pathways in schistosomes: novel targets for control interventions against schistosomiasis. Emerg Top Life Sci 22 December 2017; 1 (6): 633–639. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20170093
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