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Feeding physiology in nematode parasites: A Consumer’s Guide. Nick Sangster & Jeff Song Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Sydney. WORMS Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus. Life Cycle. Costs of internal parasites. Estimates for 1995: $ AUD 81M for control measures
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Feeding physiology in nematode parasites: A Consumer’s Guide Nick Sangster & Jeff Song Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Sydney
Costs of internal parasites • Estimates for 1995: • $AUD 81M for control measures • $AUD 141M production costs • Wool • Meat • Deaths • Animal suffering
Why study feeding physiology? • Essential for worm survival • Critical in the host-parasite interface • Site of action of ivermectins • Could be important for delivery of RNAi • Excellent organ for studying functional genomics • C. elegans model • visible in live worms • self contained nervous system so functions when dissected • amenable to electrophysiology, manipulation of medium • IVM resistance as selectable phenotype • complex pharmacology, so many receptors • developmental changes • Functional in free living stages
T. colubriformis fed rhodamine in vitro Control IVM
Physiology - electrophysiology Electropharyngograms Trichostrongylus colubriformis Caenorhabditis elegans
Aims • Describe the structure and physiology of larval and adult stages of parasitic nematodes • Describe the pharmacology of pumping • Describe the action of neuropeptides in somatic and pharyngeal muscle function
L1 pharynx • Pharyngeal structure • Pumping events • Neurotransmitters • Anthelmintics
Triradiate arrangement of pharyngeal muscle.Contraction opens the lumen
Pharyngeal pumping rate & duration Observation of microscopy Observation of video recording (L1)
Conclusions • The structure of pharynxes in different stages of free-living T. colubriformis differ • L1/L2 has single stage pumping, L3 no pumping • 5-HT and ACh initiate pumping, but the actions are different • Glutamate and GABA do not initiate pumping, but decrease and increase pumping rate, respectively • IVM inhibits pumping, the inhibition is probably via GluCl receptor.
Feeding in adults • Transition to a parasitic life style • Change from relatively short pharynx with terminal bulb and flaps to long thin pharynx • Anterior pharynx has typical pumping • Posterior pharynx pumps at a slower rate
Aims • To compare physiology (transmitters, anthelmintics) with L1 • To identify the FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs) in H. contortus • To describe the location of peptides and neurotransmitters in worms • To determine the actions of FaRPs native to H. contortus.
The team travels to Belfast to perform 3D reconstruction of H.c. nervous system
5-HT in adult Tc Effect of 5-HT on pumping frequency. Trace: 10-5 M 5-HT added at arrow
Pharynx ACh GABA Glu IVM 10-9 M
Gene Name Sequence species Method Ref. HF3 LQPNFLRFG H. c Characterization Collaborative project flp-6 PF3/AF8 KSAYMRFG H. c Characterization [Marks, 1999 #1061] flp-9 KPSFVRFG T. c Gene prediction Leech, pers. commu. flp-14 AF2 KHEYLRFG H. c & T. c Characterization Gene prediction [Keating, 1995 #1888] Leech, pers. commu. flp-16 AF15 AQTFVRFG H. c & T. c EST search Gene prediction This study Leech, pers. commu. flp-17 KSAFVRFG H. c EST search This study flp-17 KSQYIRFG H. c EST search This study flp-18 EMPGVLRFG H. c EST search This study flp-18 SVPGVLRFG H. c EST search This study flp-21 AF9 GLGPRPLRFG H. c EST search This study afp-1 AF14 SMPGVLRFG H. c EST search This study afp-1 AF20 GMPGVLRFG H. c EST search This study tcflp-2 AKWMRFG T. c Gene prediction Leech, pers. commu. FaRPs in H. contortus
Effects on drug susceptible and LEV-resistant (Lawes) L4 Haemonchus ACh KSAFVRFamide
Method—body muscle contraction Sangster et al (1991), International Journal for Parasitology 21, 689-695
ACh and LEV have excitatory effects, inhibited by nicotinic antagonists
The effects of KSAFVRFamide & KSQYIRFamide on susceptible and LEV-resistant worms
Conclusions • Although the pumping mechanisms are different the pharmacology in pharynxes from L1 and adult is similar. • 8 EST sequences coding H. contortus FaRPs were identified. • 3 FaRPs were extracted from L3 and sequenced. • On pharynx, ACh and LEV plus the flp-coded FaRPs, KSAFVRFamide and KSQYIRFamide, were inhibitory. • On body muscle ACh and LEV plus the flp17-coded FaRPs were excitatory and blocked by nicotinic antagonists d-tubocurarine and macamylamine. • The dose response was shifted (both on pharynx and muscle) in Lawes worms (which have reduced nicotinic receptors) indicating that the flp-17 FaRPs are cholinomimetic or presynaptically release ACh.
Acknowledgements • Jeff Song’s PhD work • Aaron Maule, QUB • Pharmacia & Upjohn company for funding • Special thank for Ms Sally Pope’s excellent drawing