UWEC CERCA 2025

Schistosomes are parasitic flatworms that cause schistosomiasis, a highly prevalent neglected tropical disease impacting over 250-million people worldwide. Life cycle progression through a snail intermediate host during their first larval stage, which are called miracidia, is required for worms to become infective to humans. The mechanism miracidia use to locate snails is not known. However, a secreted snail peptide known as P12 has been shown to elicit responses from miracidia that suggest it may serve as a cue for them in locating their snail hosts. The objective of this study was to investigate the role and structural requirements of P12 in Schistosoma mansoni miracidia host-seeking. P12 was cloned and sequenced from five snail species, revealing natural variation at 7 key residues. Quantitative methods were employed to characterize miracidia behavioral responses to snail cues and synthesized P12 variants. Preliminary findings suggest that stimulant gradients are required to elicit behavioral changes in miracidia. Infection experiments with live snails were carried out to determine if P12-rich solutions can disrupt these gradients and dysregulate miracidia sensation. Miracidia dysregulation control strategies are an under-researched approach to reducing the prevalence of schistosomiasis, but they could have especially significant impacts in endemic regions of the world.