Molecular characterisation of a pH-gated chloride channel from Sarcoptes scabiei

Kate Mounsey, J Dent, Deborah Holt, James McCarthy, Bart Currie, Shelley Faye Walton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Reports of ivermectin resistance in scabies mites raise concerns regarding the sustainability of mass intervention programs for scabies worldwide and for the treatment of crusted scabies. Ligand gated ion channels (LGICs) are the primary targets of ivermectin in invertebrates. We report the molecular characterisation of SsCl-a novel LGIC from Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. While SsCl shows sequence similarity to other LGICs, phylogenetic analysis does not suggest strong homology to conventional glutamate, histamine or GABA gated channels. Instead, it is most similar to Drosophila pH-sensitive and group 1 clades. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, SsCl forms a homomeric, pH-gated chloride channel that is irreversibly activated by ivermectin. These results provide the first confirmation that this group of LGIC exists in arachnids, and suggest that SsCl may be an in vivo target of ivermectin in S. scabiei. � 2007 Springer-Verlag.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-156
Number of pages8
JournalInvertebrate Neuroscience
Volume7
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2007

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