title: New insights into the FLPergic complements of parasitic nematodes: Informing deorphanisation approaches.
abstract: FMRFamide-like peptide (FLP) receptors are appealing as putative anthelmintic targets. To date, 31flp-encoding genes have been identified inCaenorhabditis elegansand thirteen FLP-activated G-protein coupled receptors (FLP-GPCRs) have been reported. The lack of knowledge on FLPs and FLP-GPCRs in parasites impedes their functional characterisation and chemotherapeutic exploitation. Using homology-based BLAST searches and phylogenetic analyses this study describes the identification of putativeflpandflp-GPCR gene homologues in 17 nematode parasites providing the first pan-phylum genome-based overview of the FLPergic complement. These data will facilitate FLP-receptor deorphanisation efforts in the quest for novel control targets for nematode parasites.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biosciences-Parasitology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Ciaran J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biosciences-Parasitology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Louise E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zamanian
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biosciences-Parasitology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McVeigh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Tim A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Day
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kimber
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biosciences-Parasitology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Nikki J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biosciences-Parasitology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Aaron G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Maule
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biosciences-Parasitology, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mousley
keywords: FLP; FLP-receptor; FMRFamide-like peptide; Nematode; Neuropeptide GPCR