Dracunculus medinensis and Schistosoma mansoni contain opiate alkaloids.
The results of analysis, by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection and by nano-electrospray-ionization, double quadrupole/orthogonal-acceleration, time-of-flight mass spectrometry, indicate that adult Dracunculus medinensis and Schistosoma mansoni both contain the opiate alkaloid morphine and that D. medinesis also contains the active metabolite of morphine, morphine 6-glucuronide. From these and previous observations, it would appear that many helminths are probably using opiate alkaloids as potent immunosuppressive and antinociceptive signal molecules, to down-regulate immunosurveillance responsiveness and pain signalling in their hosts.
Zhu
W
W
Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, 11568, USA.
Baggerman
G
G
Secor
W Evan
WE
Casares
F
F
Pryor
S C
SC
Fricchione
G L
GL
Ruiz-Tiben
E
E
Eberhard
M L
ML
Bimi
L
L
Stefano
G B
GB
D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D004321:Dracunculus Nematode / Q000737:chemistry*; D009020:Morphine / Q000032:analysis*; D009022:Morphine Derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods
D009022:Morphine Derivatives; C035349:morphine-6-glucuronide; D009020:Morphine