title: An antagonist of the retinoid X receptor reduces the viability of Trichuris muris in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trichuriasis is a parasitic disease caused by the human whipworm, Trichuris trichiura. It affects millions worldwide, particularly in the tropics. This nematode parasite burrows into the colonic epithelium resulting in inflammation and morbidity, especially in children. Current treatment relies mainly on general anthelmintics such as mebendazole but resistance to these drugs is increasingly problematic. Therefore, new treatments are urgently required.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospect of using the retinoid X receptor (RXR) antagonist HX531 as a novel anthelmintic was investigated by carrying out multiple viability assays with the mouse whipworm Trichuris muris.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HX531 reduced both the motility and viability of T. muris at its L3, L4 and adult stages. Further, bioinformatic analyses show that the T. muris genome possesses an RXR-like receptor, a possible target for HX531.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggested that Trichuris-specific RXR antagonists may be a source of much-needed novel anthelmintic candidates for the treatment of trichuriasis. The identification of an RXR-like sequence in the T. muris genome also paves the way for further research based on this new anthelmintic lead compound.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. rebecca.hurst@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rebecca J M
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hopwood
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Frederick A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Partridge
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burgis
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Sattelle
authors.forename: Kathryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Else
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016513:Mice, SCID; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000469:parasitology; D014258:Trichuris / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D001565:Benzoates; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; C438269:diazepinylbenzoic acid