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The beta-tubulin genes of two Strongyloides species

Authors :
Lewis A. Melville
James S. McCarthy
Alex M. Sykes
Source :
Experimental parasitology. 112(3)
Publication Year :
2005

Abstract

The World Health Organization is sponsoring major treatment programs with the aim of controlling helminth infection throughout the tropical world. Prominent among the anthelmintics recommended for use in these programs are drugs in the benzimidazole (BZ) class. Resistance to these drugs has been associated with polymorphisms in the beta-tubulin gene. We have cloned and sequenced the beta-tubulin genes of Strongyloides stercoralis and Strongyloides ratti and have proceeded to develop a protocol for genotyping single worms for polymorphisms in beta-tubulin. Our findings indicate that S. ratti has a single beta-tubulin gene, making DNA sequence analysis of a single larva PCR product a feasible means of studying BZ resistance in these species. Our genotyping test allows the identification of polymorphisms at codons 167, 198, and 200 in the Strongyloides beta-tubulin gene, thus enabling survey for BZ resistant genotypes.

Details

ISSN :
00144894
Volume :
112
Issue :
3
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Experimental parasitology
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....d9fa19329ca157066df45fb91eb7d767