Presentation Type
Oral/Paper Presentation
Abstract
Abstract
It is estimated that nearly 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with at least one species of intestinal parasite: whipworm, hookworm, or roundworm (Weaver et al). Emodepside is a drug in veterinary use that is used to deworm intestinal parasitic nematodes. Emodepside binds to presynaptic lactrophillin receptors in nematodes paralyzing the pharynx and other somatic musculature (Harder et al). In a recent study, patients that used Emodepside to treat hookworm had a 95% cure rate after taking 30mg (Mrimi et al). C. elegans, a free living nematode, is cost-effective and has been shown to be a powerful model organism for anthelmintic study, as they are in the same phylum as the parasitic worms (Weaver et al). We have examined the effects that different concentrations of Emodepside have on larval stage one and four C. elegans and observed motility and death rates of the worms over a seven day period by scoring them with a health score scale ranging from 0-3. Results showed C. elegans treated with emodepside on average had a significant decrease in motility compared to the control group.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Brian Ellis
Recommended Citation
Bennie, Malia, "Emodepside Exposure to Larval Stage One and Four C. elegans is Associated with Dose Dependent Motility Deficits and Increased Mortality Rates" (2025). Student Scholar Symposium. 167.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/student_scholars_symposium/2025/Full_schedule/167
Emodepside Exposure to Larval Stage One and Four C. elegans is Associated with Dose Dependent Motility Deficits and Increased Mortality Rates
Abstract
It is estimated that nearly 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with at least one species of intestinal parasite: whipworm, hookworm, or roundworm (Weaver et al). Emodepside is a drug in veterinary use that is used to deworm intestinal parasitic nematodes. Emodepside binds to presynaptic lactrophillin receptors in nematodes paralyzing the pharynx and other somatic musculature (Harder et al). In a recent study, patients that used Emodepside to treat hookworm had a 95% cure rate after taking 30mg (Mrimi et al). C. elegans, a free living nematode, is cost-effective and has been shown to be a powerful model organism for anthelmintic study, as they are in the same phylum as the parasitic worms (Weaver et al). We have examined the effects that different concentrations of Emodepside have on larval stage one and four C. elegans and observed motility and death rates of the worms over a seven day period by scoring them with a health score scale ranging from 0-3. Results showed C. elegans treated with emodepside on average had a significant decrease in motility compared to the control group.