Characterization of two strains of Schistosoma mansoni with different drug susceptibility

• Grant number: 21/02435-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2021
• End date: June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Helminthology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Silmara Marques Allegretti
• Grantee: Silmara Marques Allegretti
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Fernanda Janku Cabral ; Tiago Manuel Fernandes Mendes

Abstract

In Brazil, schistosomiasis is caused by Schistosoma mansoni parasites. Currently, it has been observed that different S. mansoni strains have different behaviors both in the vertebrate host, where they show differences in pathology and in drug susceptibility, and in the invertebrate host, where host compatibility differs between parasite strains. These differences may have implications not only in the parasite distribution, but as well in the search for new therapeutic alternatives as forms of control, justifying the need to study the difference between S. mansoni strains. The purpose of this project to characterize two different strains of S. mansoni, originated from two different geographic regions (Sergipe and Belo Horizonte) both in the intermediate host, as well as in the definitive host. To understand compatibility differences between the snail and the parasite, both sympatric and allopatric infections will be performed, evaluating the success of infection, the snails' oxidative response and the parasites' antioxidant counter-response. To understand differences in pathology and treatment response in the vertebrate host, both in vitro and in vivo assays will be performed. It is also this work objective to perform a comparative proteomic analysis between the different S. mansoni strains e relate the results with differences in pathology and/or susceptibility to praziquantel (the only drug currently available to treat this disease). (AU)