Lupin (Lupinus spp.) seeds exert anthelmintic activity associated with their alkaloid content

The growing range of drug resistant parasitic nematode populations threatens the sustainability of ruminant farming worldwide. In this context, nutraceuticals, animal feed that provides necessary dietary requirements while ensuring parasite control, could contribute to increase farming sustainability in developed and low resource settings. In this study, we evaluated the anthelmintic potential of lupin seed extracts against the major ruminant trichostrongylids, Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta. In vitro observations showed that seed extracts from commercially available lupin varieties could significantly but moderately inhibit larval migration. This anthelmintic effect was mediated by the seed alkaloid content and was potent against both fully susceptible and multidrug resistant H. contortus isolates as well as a susceptible T. circumcincta isolate. Analytical chemistry revealed a set of four lupanine and sparteine-derivatives with anthelmintic activity, and electrophysiology assays on recombinant nematode acetylcholine receptors suggested an antagonistic mode of action for lupin alkaloids. An in vivo trial in H. contortus infected lupin-fed ewes and goats failed to demonstrate any direct anthelmintic effect of crude lupin seeds but infected lupin-fed goats suffered significantly less parasite-mediated blood losses. Altogether, our findings suggest that the anthelmintic potential of lupin remains limited. However, the potent alkaloids identified could lead to the development of novel drugs or may be used in combination with current anthelmintics to improve their efficacy.

Functional reconstitution of Haemonchus contortus acetylcholine receptors in Xenopus oocytes provides mechanistic insights into levamisole resistance

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The cholinergic agonist levamisole is widely used to treat parasitic nematode infestations. This anthelmintic drug paralyses worms by activating a class of levamisole-sensitive acetylcholine receptors (L-AChRs) expressed in nematode muscle cells. However, levamisole efficacy has been compromised by the emergence of drug-resistant parasites, especially in gastrointestinal nematodes such as Haemonchus contortus. We report here the first functional reconstitution and pharmacological characterization of H. contortus L-AChRs in a heterologous expression system.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

In the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, five AChR subunit and three ancillary protein genes are necessary in vivo and in vitro to synthesize L-AChRs. We have cloned the H. contortus orthologues of these genes and expressed them in Xenopus oocytes. We reconstituted two types of H. contortus L-AChRs with distinct pharmacologies by combining different receptor subunits.

KEY RESULTS

The Hco-ACR-8 subunit plays a pivotal role in selective sensitivity to levamisole. As observed with C. elegans L-AChRs, expression of H. contortus receptors requires the ancillary proteins Hco-RIC-3, Hco-UNC-50 and Hco-UNC-74. Using this experimental system, we demonstrated that a truncated Hco-UNC-63 L-AChR subunit, which was specifically detected in a levamisole-resistant H. contortus isolate, but not in levamisole-sensitive strains, hampers the normal function of L-AChRs, when co-expressed with its full-length counterpart.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

We provide the first functional evidence for a putative molecular mechanism involved in levamisole resistance in any parasitic nematode. This expression system will provide a means to analyse molecular polymorphisms associated with drug resistance at the electrophysiological level.

Emodepside and SL0-1 potassium channels: a review

Nematode parasites infect humans and domestic animals; treatment and prophylaxis require anthelmintic drugs because vaccination and sanitation is limited. Emodepside is a more recently introduced cyclooctadepsipeptide drug that has actions against GI nematodes, lungworm, and microfilaria. It has a novel mode of action which breaks resistance to the classical anthelmintics (benzimidazoles, macrocyclic lactones and cholinergic agonists). Here we review studies on its mode of action which suggest that it acts to inhibit neuronal and muscle activity of nematodes by increasing the opening of calcium-activated potassium (SLO-1) channels.

On the mode of action of emodepside: slow effects on membrane potential and voltage-activated currents in Ascaris suum

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Anthelmintics are required for treatment and prophylaxis of nematode parasites of humans and domestic animals. Emodepside, a cyclooctadepsipeptide, is a modern anthelmintic that has a novel mode of action involving a Ca-activated K channel (SLO-1) in Caenorhabditis elegans, sometimes mediated by a latrophilin (LAT) receptor. We examined mechanisms of action of emodepside in a parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

RT-PCR was used to investigate expression of slo-1 and lat-1 in A. suum muscle flaps, and two-micropipette current-clamp and voltage-clamp techniques were used to record electrophysiological effects of emodepside.

KEY RESULTS

Expression of slo-1 and lat-1 were detected. Emodepside produced a slow time-dependent (20 min), 4-aminopyridine sensitive, concentration-dependent hyperpolarization and increase in voltage-activated K currents. Sodium nitroprusside increased the hyperpolarizations and K currents. N-nitro-L-arginine inhibited the hyperpolarizations and K currents. Phorbol-12-myristate-13 acetate increased the K currents, while staurosporine inhibited the hyperpolarizations and K currents. Iberiotoxin reduced these emodepside K currents. The effect of emodepside was reduced in Ca-free solutions. Emodepside had no effect on voltage-activated Ca currents.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Asu-slo-1 and Asu-lat-1 are expressed in adult A. suum muscle flaps and emodepside produces slow activation of voltage-activated Ca-dependent SLO-1-like K channels. The effect of emodepside was enhanced by stimulation of protein kinase C and NO pathways. The data are consistent with a model in which NO, PKC and emodepside signalling pathways are separate and converge on the K channels, or in which emodepside activates NO and PKC signalling pathways to increase opening of the K channels.