The dopaminergic signalling system in the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica

The study uses publicly available omics datasets to search for dopamine signalling components and polypyrimidine tract-binding proteins (PTBs) in flatworm parasites, focusing on the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. In silico identification of DA pathway components across platyhelminths revealed that essential components of the dopamine signalling machinery are evolutionarily conserved throughout most platyhelminths, except for cestodes and some monogeneans.

PTBs were found to have some variability in their consensus signature motifs compared to those seen in mammals. Drug bioassays were used to expose the effects of DA and a dopamine reuptake transporter inhibitor on juvenile F. hepatica. Functional genomics in the form of RNA interference (RNAi)-induced gene silencing was combined with an in vitro liver fluke culture system to interrogate gene function.