Unraveling the Anticoagulant Potential of the Helminth Parasite Fasciola hepatica (URANUS)
Reference: CNS2022-135561.
Funding: The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, State Research Agency, and the European Union «NextGenerationEU»/PRTR (2023-2025)
Principal Investigator: Javier González Miguel.
Duration: 2023-2025.
Total budget: 152.000 €
Summary:
Parasites, evolving from free-living ancestors over millions of years, have developed unique adaptations for their parasitic lifestyles, including manipulating the host coagulation system for nutritional and survival benefits. Fasciola hepatica, causing fasciolosis, deeply interacts with the host blood during its life cycle, leading to significant hemorrhage, especially during its migratory stages. While juvenile parasites ingest some blood during migration, adult F. hepatica is an obligate blood-feeder, contributing to hemorrhagic anemia and host morbidity. The project URANUS seeks to explore this interaction, potentially offering insights into early infection elimination and novel antithrombotic therapies for humans.
