| Project Number | 07-4-156-12 |
| Research Focus Area: | Biotechnology |
| Project Director: | Craig LaMunyon, Ph.D. |
| Co-Investigators: | None |
| Collaborator/Cooperator: | Aidyl Gonzalez-Serricchio, Ph.D., Research Associate, Cal Poly Pomona, College of Science |
| ARI Total Funding: | $63,293 |
| Matching Funds: | $244,515 |
| Abstract:
Nematodes are important parasites of a wide diversity of economically important plants and animals on a global scale. Alternatives to current control practices are badly needed because of evolving nematode resistance and because of the toxicity of current nematicides to other organisms and to the environment. Here, we propose to use bioinformatics to investigate potential new control methods using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living nematode. We aim to use microarray and proteomic data to identify drug targets associated with spermatogenesis, which is a developmental process that is susceptible to disruption. We plan to focus on receptors and transporters, because numerous inhibitors and blockers are available for them. The proposed research has three components: (1) Complete our analysis of the sperm proteome analyzing data from Multidimensional Protein Identification Technology (MudPIT); (2) Data mine the sperm proteome and sperm microarray databases for drug targets; and (3) Test drugs against their identified targets. The drugs will be tested with both C. elegans and with Pristionchus pacificus , two distantly related nematodes. Drugs that test positive with both nematodes will be candidates for control of parasitic nematodes. We plan to disseminate our results through publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at professional meetings, and in ARI sponsored reports and publications. |
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