Genomics of anthelmintic resistance in Haemonchus contortus and evidences for DNA methylation

• Grant number: 14/25821-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: November 01, 2015 - April 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Helminthology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Simone Cristina Méo Niciura
• Grantee: Simone Cristina Méo Niciura
• Host Institution: Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alessandro Pelegrine Minho ; Ana Carolina de Souza Chagas ; Luciana Correia de Almeida Regitano ; Luiz Lehmann Coutinho ; Marcia Cristina de Sena Oliveira ; Patricia Tholon ; Sergio Novita Esteves ; Waldomiro Barioni Júnior

Abstract

The main losses in sheep production are caused by gastrointestinal nematodes, mainly Haemonchus contortus, and by anthelmintic resistance. Currently, monepantel is the only effective anthelmintic in several flocks. Resistance results from increased frequency of favorable genes to survival in population. Despite advancements of the candidate gene approaches to associate genetic polymorphisms to resistance, since it is a quantitative trait, it will only be well understood by genomic strategies. Furthermore, since epigenetics, such as DNA methylation, also contributes to the phenotypic variation, their importance to parasite physiology and to the development of resistance still needs to be better understood. So, in this project, monepantel resistance will be induced in H. contortus and selective sweeps will be detected by genomic sequencing of larvae pool (Pool-Seq), to identify genes under selection. In addition, the existence of DNA methylation will be in silico investigated. The goal of this study is to identify genomic molecular markers associated with resistance to monepantel, to contribute to the early diagnosis and monitoring of resistance and to maintain the effectiveness of monepantel in sheep flocks. Furthermore, the studies on metabolic pathways and epigenetic events involved in anthelmintic resistance will seek for alternative treatments and for new targets of drugs. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MEO NICIURA, SIMONE CRISTINA; TIZIOTO, POLYANA CRISTINE; MORAES, CAROLINE VALERIO; CRUVINEL, GIOVANNA GABRIELLE; ALEXANDRE DE ALBUQUERQUE, ANA CLAUDIA; MASCARENHAS SANTANA, RAUL COSTA; DE SOUZA CHAGAS, ANA CAROLINA; ESTEVES, SERGIO NOVITA; BENAVIDES, MAGDA VIEIRA; TALAMINI DO AMARANTE, ALESSANDRO FRANCISCO. Extreme-QTL mapping of monepantel resistance in Haemonchus contortus. PARASITES & VECTORS, v. 12, n. 1, AUG 14 2019. (14/25821-0)

NICIURA, S. C. M.; CRUVINEL, G. G.; MORAES, V, C.; CHAGAS, A. C. S.; ESTEVES, S. N.; BENAVIDES, V, M.; AMARANTE, A. F. T.. In vivo selection for Haemonchus contortus resistance to monepantel. JOURNAL OF HELMINTHOLOGY, v. 94, 2020. (14/25821-0)

YOUSMEL ALEMÁN GAINZA; ISABELLA BARBOSA DOS SANTOS; AMANDA FIGUEIREDO; LEONARDO APARECIDO LIMA DOS SANTOS; SÉRGIO NOVITA ESTEVES; WALDOMIRO BARIONI-JUNIOR; ALESSANDRO PELEGRINE MINHO; ANA CAROLINA DE SOUZA CHAGAS. Resistência anti-helmíntica de Haemonchus contortus em rebanhos ovinos no Brasil: concordância de métodos in vivo e in vitro (RESISTA-Test©). Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, v. 30, n. 2, 2021-05-03. (17/13249-8, 18/16070-1, 16/07132-8, 14/25821-0)