# Characterizing new nematode-specific drug targets to eliminate the reservoir for human toxocariasis

> **NIH NIH R21** · IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $191,250

## Abstract

Project Summary
Toxocara canis causes visceral and ocular larval migrans in humans. The reason why this disease cannot
be eliminated is because tissue-dwelling larvae persist in the animal reservoir (dogs) where they tolerate
anthelmintic treatment, and the mechanism for drug tolerance is unknown. Our hypothesis is that T. canis
larvae evade drug treatment by effluxing antiparasitic drugs with permeability glycoproteins (P-
glycoproteins) that efflux anthelmintics. In this application we propose to 1) record the repertoire of P-
glycoprotein gene expression in T. canis, 2) map the precise tissues where P-glycoproteins are expressed,
3) demonstrate induction of P-glycoprotein activity by anthelmintic drugs, 4) characterize the unique
pharmacology of T. canis P-glycoprotein, and 5) discover nematode-specific P-glycoprotein inhibitors
that enhance the performance of antiparasitic drugs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9882952
- **Project number:** 5R21AI144493-02
- **Recipient organization:** IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew Brewer
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $191,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-01 → 2022-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9882952

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9882952, Characterizing new nematode-specific drug targets to eliminate the reservoir for human toxocariasis (5R21AI144493-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9882952. Licensed CC0.

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