Schistosoma mansoni: Evaluation of an RNAi-based treatment targeting HGPRTase gene
Nenhuma Miniatura disponível
Data
2008-04-01
Autores
Pereira, T. C.
Pascoal, V. D. B.
Marchesini, R. B.
Maia, Ivan de Godoy [UNESP]
Magalhaes, L. A.
Zanotti-Magalhaes, E. M.
Lopes-Cendes, I.
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Editor
Academic Press Inc. Elsevier B.V.
Resumo
Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRTase) is an essential gene of the parasite Schistosoma mansoni and it is well conserved in its hosts (mouse and human) at the protein but not at the RNA level. This feature prompted us to assess RNA interference (RNAi) to combat schistosomiasis. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were Produced against HGPRTase, injected in infected mice and the number of worms was counted six days after injection. The total number of parasites was reduced by approximately 27% after treatment. RT-PCR analyzes showed a significant reduction in parasite target mRNA but not in host's homologue. The use of low doses of molecules did not oversaturate si- or miRNA pathways as mice survival rates were not affected by siRNAs. This is the first successful in vivo demonstration of a RNAi-based treatment against schistosomiasis. We believe that improvements in molecule delivery and an increase on siRNA dose could rapidly eliminate parasite. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Schistosoma mansoni, Trematode, hypoxanthine-guanine, phosphoribosyltransferase
Como citar
Experimental Parasitology. San Diego: Academic Press Inc. Elsevier B.V., v. 118, n. 4, p. 619-623, 2008.