UNDERSTANDING THE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF AN ANTISCHISTOSOMAL COMPOUND

As of currently, the only available treatment for schistosome parasites is praziquantel. Due to increasing resistance to the compound, it is crucial that other possible drug candidates be investigated. Fortunately, a new compound with antischistosomal activity called EE1 has proven effectiveness against both juvenile and adult worms in mice models. Yet, how the compound produces this effect is unknown. We have applied techniques to uncover hints at this anti-worm activity, including electron microscopy, ELISA, and in vitro assays. Our work suggests that the compound may function by inducing the host immune response