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The development of RNA interference (RNAi) in gastrointestinal nematodes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2012

MURRAY E. SELKIRK ,
STANLEY C. HUANG ,
DAVID P. KNOX  and
COLLETTE BRITTON
MURRAY E. SELKIRK
Affiliation:
Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ
STANLEY C. HUANG
Affiliation:
Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ
DAVID P. KNOX
Affiliation:
Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ
COLLETTE BRITTON*
Affiliation:
Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, G61 1QH
*
*Corresponding author: E-mail:Collette.Britton@glasgow.ac.uk
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Summary

Despite the utility of RNAi for defining gene function in Caenorhabditis elegans and early successes reported in parasitic nematodes, RNAi has proven to be stubbornly inconsistent or ineffective in the animal parasitic nematodes examined to date. Here, we summarise some of our experiences with RNAi in parasitic nematodes affecting animals and discuss the available data in the context of our own unpublished work, taking account of mode of delivery, larval activation, site of gene transcription and the presence/absence of essential RNAi pathway genes as defined by comparisons to C. elegans. We discuss future directions briefly including the evaluation of nanoparticles as a means to enhance delivery of interfering RNA to the target worm tissue.

Keywords

Animal parasitic nematodeRNAideliverypathways
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 139 , Special Issue 5: Genetic manipulation of parasitic helminths to define gene function , April 2012 , pp. 605 - 612
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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