Inhibition of Schistosoma mansoni ether-a-go-go related gene-encoded potassium channels leads to hypermotility and impaired egg production.
The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of ether-a-go-go related gene (ERG) potassium channel inhibition on Schistosoma mansoni. Use of dofetilide to block the schistosome ERGs resulted in a striking 'corkscrew' effect. The worms were unable to control their motility; they were hypermotile. The treated worms produced abnormal eggs, some of which consisted of little more than a spine. One of the S. mansoni ERGs (SmERGs), Smp_161140, was chosen for further study by RNAi. The transcript was knocked down to 50% compared to the controls. These RNAi-treated worms demonstrated seizure-like movements. In S. mansoni, as in other organisms, ERG channels seem to play a role in regulating muscle excitability. This work shows that egg production can be greatly reduced by effectively targeting muscle coordination in these important parasites.
['Parker-Manuel|S J|SJ|', 'Hahnel|S|S|', 'Grevelding|C G|CG|']
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence D000818:Animals D001700:Biomphalaria D006224:Cricetinae D018076:DNA, Complementary D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels D008647:Mesocricetus D009068:Movement D010058:Oviposition D010627:Phenethylamines D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers D034622:RNA Interference D012550:Schistosoma mansoni D016415:Sequence Alignment D013449:Sulfonamides
Schistosoma mansoni Hypermotility Egg production Ether-a-go-go related gene Dofetilide Voltage-gated potassium channel