Imatinib has a fatal impact on morphology, pairing stability and survival of adult Schistosoma mansoni in vitro.
Schistosomes cause bilharzia (schistosomiasis), one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases for human and animals worldwide. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the only widely used drug for treatment and control of this parasitemia. Since a vaccine is not yet available, and in light of emerging resistance against PZQ, the search for alternatives has high priority. Here we present that Imatinib, a compound used in human cancer therapy (Gleevec; STI-571), significantly affected schistosome morphology and physiology in vitro. Besides its negative effect on gonad development and pairing stability, Imatinib led to pathological alterations of the gastrodermis, which finally caused the death of the parasite.
Institute for Parasitology, Justus-Liebig-University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
S
S
Beckmann
C G
CG
Grevelding
D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001549:Benzamides; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008853:Microscopy; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000871:Anthelmintics; D001549:Benzamides; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases