Fighting global worming: understanding parasites using evolutionary genomics (360G-Wellcome-210101_Z_18_Z)

Roundworms (Nematoda) and flatworms (Platyhelminthes) are among the most species-rich animal groups. They include free-living animals, but also parasites with a dramatic impact. Worm infections (helminthiasis) ruin farm animals and plants, and infect more than half of the worldwide human population decreasing birth outcome, cognitive development, and school and work performance. Understanding their biology is imperative to fight these organisms with a huge socioeconomic importance. This is a pilot study to apply evolutionary genomics to the origins of parasitism and drug targets detection. Genomes compared under the light of their evolutionary relationships will define differential genetic content (gene gains and losses) between parasites and non-parasites. This will provide new insights on how harmless organisms became parasitic at genome level, but will also detect new targets to fight these diseases. Parasite-specific gains will constitute ideal drug targets, providing high specificity; gene losses will indicate deficiencies in the parasites physiology that can be also attacked. The application of evolutionary biology to discover drug targets is highly original, building on the emerging field of evolutionary medicine, and has never been applied to macroscopic parasites. This project will be the basis of future research and collaborations to further develop drugs to target these diseases.