# VOLATILE ACID FORMATION BY PARASITIC HELMINTHS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO · 1988 · $52,028

## Abstract

Parasitic helminths pose significant health problems throughout the world
but, in many cases, adequate means of chemotherapy still are not
available.  It is clear that many helminths exhibit a predominantly
anaerobic energy metabolism which differs substantially from that of the
host, and it appears that many potent anthelmintics specifically interfere
with helminth energy metabolism.  However, before the differences between
host and parasite can be fully exploited, the energy-generating reactions
operating in these parasites need to be examined in more detail.  The
present study is designed to characterize the regulation and energetics of
volatile fatty acid synthesis in mitochondria isolated from the porcine
nematode, Ascaris suum.  This organism has served as an excellent model for
many studies of helminth metabolism.  Its mitochondria function
anaerobically, using unsaturated organic acids, instead of O2, as terminal
electron-acceptors and it excretes acetate, propionate and the
branched-chain fatty acids (BFA), 2-methylbutyrate and 2-methylvalerate, as
end products of carbohydrate degradation.  However, little is known about
the factors controlling their formation.  In the present study, the rates
of pyruvate decarboxylation and BFA formation in intact mitochondria will
be correlated with the activity state of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
and the levels of a number of physiologically important intramitochondrial
metabolites.  In addition, pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase and the
membrane-bound electron-transport components involved in BFA synthesis will
be isolated and characterized.  Since all helminths exhibiting anaerobic
mitochondrial metabolisms excrete acetate and contain similar
electron-transport systems, these studies should have broad application.
Hopefully, once the enzymatic differences between host and parasite
metabolism have been identified and evaluated, a more sensible approach to
chemotherapy can be adopted.  In addition, the more that is known about the
biochemical mode of action of anthelmintics, the more rational efficient
drug usage will become.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3127932
- **Project number:** 5R01AI018427-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** XA77NAJYELF1
- **Principal Investigator:** Richard Walter Komuniecki
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $52,028
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-01-01 → 1989-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3127932

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3127932, VOLATILE ACID FORMATION BY PARASITIC HELMINTHS (5R01AI018427-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3127932. Licensed CC0.

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