Biomechanics of the Platyhelminth Adhesion, Locomotion, and Reproduction

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Christoph G. Grevelding; Dr. Simone Häberlein; Privatdozent Dr. Alexander Mosig; Professor Dr. Felix H. Schacher
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens ; Biophysics ; Polymer Materials
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 491921522

Blood flukes and liver flukes are parasitic flatworms that infect mammalian hosts in which they grow, feed, reproduce, and ultimately cause chronic infectious diseases. Two of the highly prevalent and medically important species affecting humans are Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola hepatica that are in the focus of this project. These flatworms own two suckers that enable the parasite to move to its final destinations within the host and to feed on host tissues. Although suckers are essential morphological structures of this class of parasites, the biomechanics of their suction-based adhesion system is little understood. Schistosomes exhibit another important biological feature: proximate and constant physical contact between male and female parasite are essential for female sexual maturation. This project investigates fundamental biomechanical principles contributing to parasite adhesion, locomotion, and reproduction: physical forces occurring at the parasite-host interface by the action of suckers, and physical forces acting at the parasite-parasite interface of the constantly paired schistosome couple. The biophysical questions to be answered are: (i) Do adhesion forces and locomotion patterns differ between different fluke stages, sexes and species? (ii) Do these forces depend on the physical properties of the parasite’s environment, such as substrate stiffness and flow stress? (iii) Do forces that act on the schistosome couple influence the reproductive capacity of the female parasite? (iv) And which forces act on the female schistosome by the body of the male partner? To visualize, quantify and mathematically model these forces, we will unite in an interdisciplinary approach soft matter engineering of mechano-responsive polymeric hydrogels with microfluidics-based biochip systems (“worm-on-a-chip”), traction force microscopy, helminthology, in-vitro techniques, and advanced 3D tomography-based imaging. Knowing the underlying biophysical mechanisms of adhesion, locomotion and reproduction will help to expand the understanding of the parasites’ successful evolution and their adaptations to different host habitats.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2332: Physics of Parasitism