Fighting anthelminthic drug resistance via vaccination

Background

Billions of people are infected with roundworms (nematodes). Globally, increasing antibiotic resistance (AR) and anthelmintic resistance (AHR) in bacteria, fungi, protozoa and parasitic worms (helminths) is becoming a major societal problem. In addition, the drugs used cause environmental pollution, seriously affecting butterflies and beetles on pastures. The increasing resistance of nematodes therefore requires new strategies to reduce the use of anthelmintic drugs.

Nematodes secrete pleiotropic virulence and immunomodulatory molecules, such as secretory secretory proteins (ESPs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs, loaded with proteins and microRNAs). The secreted ESPs and EVs enhance the parasite's 'resistance' by interfering with the host's immune system. Remarkably, recent data showed that 'vaccination' with EVs derived from the murine hookworm Heligmosomoides bakeri resulted in protective immunity against a challenging infection, suggesting that the defined peptide content of various parasitic EVs could be used as a blueprint for the successful development of multicomponent therapeutic anthelmintic vaccines.

Goal

The project aims to explore the vaccine potential of parasitic extracellular vesicles (EVs) from Ascaridae roundworms (Parascaris, Ascaris and Toxoacara).

Project description

Possible project question is:

• Characterization of the content of extracellular vesicles (EVs) (30 credits)

The microRNA content of Parascaris and Toxocara EVs has been sequenced by SciLifeLab in Solna. The protein content of EVs released from Parascaris, Ascaris and Toxocara will be analyzed by label-free proteomics at SciLifeLab in Uppsala. In the project, you will sort, annotate and compare the datasets using bioinformatics.

Specifications

Open project start. Suitable thesis for veterinarians and for bachelor/master students. Welcome with your application!