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7064341 
Journal Article 
Chromatin regulation in schistosomes and histone modifying enzymes as drug targets 
Pierce, RJ; Dubois-Abdesselem, F; Caby, S; Trolet, J; Lancelot, J; Oger, F; Bertheaume, N; Roger, E; , 
2011 
1 
Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
ISSN: 0074-0276
EISSN: 1678-8060 
FUNDACO OSWALDO CRUZ 
RIO DE JANEIRO, RJ 
106 
7 
794-801 
English 
22124550 
WOS:000297789800003 
Only one drug is currently available for the treatment and control of schistosomiasis and the increasing risk of selecting strains of schistosome that are resistant to praziquantel means that the development of new drugs is urgent. With this objective we have chosen to target the enzymes modifying histones and in particular the histone acetyl-transferases and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Inhibitors of HDACs (HDACi) are under intense study as potential anti-cancer drugs and act via the induction of cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Schistosomes like other parasites can be considered as similar to tumours in that they maintain an intense metabolic activity and rate of cell division that is outside the control of the host. We have shown that HDACi can induce apoptosis and death of schistosomes maintained in culture and have set up a consortium (Schistosome Epigenetics: Targets, Regulation, New Drugs) funded by the European Commission with the aim of developing inhibitors specific for schistosome histone modifying enzymes as novel lead compounds for drug development.