UWEC CERCA 2025

Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by three parasitic flatworm species,including Schistosoma mansoni, relies on freshwater snails as intermediate hosts. Interrupting theparasite’s ability to locate snails could provide a novel strategy for disease control. Praziquantelis the current treatment of choice for human infections, and it exerts its effect by targetingtransient receptor potential (TRP) channels on the parasite, leading to death of the worm. Despiteits effectiveness in eliminating adult parasites, treated individuals remain susceptible toreinfection.In this study, a drug screening approach was used to identify compounds targeting the transientTRP receptors in miracidia, a larval stage of the parasite. A custom 96-well acrylic device wasdesigned; worms were added to each well and treated with 10 µM of drug.The impact of eachcompound on miracidia behavior was assessed to identify potential drug candidates. Toaccurately monitor their responses, a high-resolution recording device was utilized. This systemenabled precise observation of miracidia motility and orientation, allowing identification ofcompounds that disrupt general movement or host-seeking behavior. Preliminary findingssuggest that TRP channel modulators play a role in altering miracidia navigation, offering apromising avenue for disrupting the parasite’s life cycle.