Genome of parasitic worm cracked by scientists (9/25/2007)

Over 130 million people worldwide are infected by filarial worms which are transmitted by the bite of a mosquito

The DNA of a parasitic worm that causes the painful and disfiguring disease elephantiasis has been successfully sequenced by scientists. The data, published today (20 September) in Science, provides researchers with a genetic 'blueprint' of the filarial worm Brugia malayi. Scientists hope this will lead to the identification of new genes to target with drugs, and eventually to the development of a vaccine to prevent infection.

Filarial worms infect over 130 million people worldwide with an additional 1.1 billion believed to be at risk of infection, mostly in Africa and Asia. The parasites are transmitted by a mosquito bite and once inside the human body develop into adult worms in the lymphatic vessels, causing severe damage, pain and swelling. Elephantiasis - painful, disfiguring swelling of the legs and genital organs - is a classic sign of late-stage disease.

The new research, carried out by scientists in the UK and the USA, involved identifying all the genes encoded in the worm's DNA. Identifying the genes means researchers can then work out what proteins this particular species is able to produce, leading to an understanding of issues such as how the worm's metabolism works, or how it manages to infect a human host.

One of the authors, Dr David B. Guiliano from Imperial College London's Department of Life Sciences, explains: "Proteins are essential parts of all organisms, and participate in every process within cells. Scientists can now conduct detailed analyses of the information in the genetic code of this worm to see what proteins it produces, thereby giving a clearer insight than ever before into this parasite's biology.

"We hope that our data will enable both ourselves and other research teams around the world to move forward and study the mechanisms by which this parasite infects humans in greater detail, which should lead to better targeted drugs to treat infection, and hopefully - in the long run - a vaccine to prevent it."

The study was led by Elodie Ghedin at the Institute for Genome Research, the J. Craig Venter Institute and the University of Pittsburgh in the USA and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the Imperial College London

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