Year: 2014
Type: review
Abstract: The discovery of the epigenetic regulation of gene expression has revolutionized both our understanding of how genomes function and approaches to the therapy of numerous pathologies. Schistosomes are metazoan parasites and as such utilize most, if not all the epigenetic mechanisms in play in their vertebrate hosts: histone variants, histone tail modifications, non-coding RNA and, perhaps, DNA methylation. Moreover, we are acquiring an increasing understanding of the ways in which these mechanisms come into play during the complex schistosome developmental program. In turn, interest in the actors involved in epigenetic mechanisms, particularly the enzymes that carry out epigenetic modifications of histones or nucleic acid, as therapeutic targets has been stimulated by the finding that their inhibitors exert profound effects, not only on survival, but also on the reproductive function of Schistosoma mansoni. Here, we review our current knowledge, and what we can infer, about the role of epigenetic mechanisms in schistosome development, differentiation and survival. We will consider which epigenetic actors can be targeted for drug discovery and what strategies can be employed to develop potent, selective inhibitors as drugs to cure schistosomiasis.
Source: Frontiers in Genetics
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Funders: Université de Lille, European Commission, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais
OpenAlex ID: W1976717554