Peptidomic Identification of Behaviour-Modulating Putative Neuropeptides in Schistosoma mansoni Miracidia

Conor E Fogarty; Saowaros Suwansa-Ard; Tomas Lang; Phong Phan; Mary G Duke; Russell C Wyeth; Scott F Cummins; Tianfang Wang

doi:10.3390/ijms27062839

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Peptidomic Identification of Behaviour-Modulating Putative Neuropeptides in Schistosoma mansoni Miracidia

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Peptidomic Identification of Behaviour-Modulating Putative Neuropeptides in Schistosoma mansoni Miracidia

Conor E Fogarty, Saowaros Suwansa-Ard, Tomas Lang, Phong Phan, Mary G Duke, Russell C Wyeth, Scott F Cummins and Tianfang Wang

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol.27(6), pp.1-21

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27062839

PMID: 41898700

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Abstract

schistosomiasis

Schistosoma mansoni

miracidia

putative neuropeptide

behavioural bioassay

parasite-host interaction

Neuropeptides regulate diverse physiological and behavioural processes in parasites, yet their functional roles in the infective larval stages of Schistosoma mansoni remain poorly defined. In this study, we identified miracidia-derived putative neuropeptides and examined their roles in regulating miracidial behaviour. Peptidomic analysis revealed ten putative neuropeptides, including five whose proteomic identification in this life stage was previously unreported. Neuropeptide precursor proteins were evaluated for stage-specific expression and Schistosoma genus specificity to prioritise candidates with potential functional and biocontrol relevance. Protein–protein interaction analysis identified Smp_176700 as a highly connected neuropeptide precursor associated with proteins implicated in miracidial structure and infection. Eight putative neuropeptides derived from six precursor proteins were synthesised and externally applied to miracidia in acute (1 min) and prolonged (360 min) behavioural assays. During acute exposure, most peptides induced significant concentration-dependent behavioural changes at 3 mg/mL and 0.1 mg/mL, characterised by reduced swimming velocity and increased directional change, with no significant effects at 0.01 mg/mL. Prolonged exposure revealed peptide-specific effects, with ASLSYF-OH and FLLGLPPSLRQH-OH producing the most pronounced behavioural modulation. These findings demonstrate that S. mansoni miracidia express bioactive neuropeptides capable of modulating larval behaviour, providing insight into schistosome neurobiology and identifying potential targets for transmission-blocking interventions.

Details

Title: Peptidomic Identification of Behaviour-Modulating Putative Neuropeptides in Schistosoma mansoni Miracidia
Authors: Conor E Fogarty - University of the Sunshine Coast
Saowaros Suwansa-Ard - University of the Sunshine Coast
Tomas Lang - University of the Sunshine Coast
Phong Phan - University of the Sunshine Coast
Mary G Duke - QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
Russell C Wyeth - St. Francis Xavier University
Scott F Cummins - University of the Sunshine Coast
Tianfang Wang (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol.27(6), pp.1-21
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.3390/ijms27062839
ISSN: 1422-0067
PMID: 41898700
Copyright note: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Data Availability: The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article/Supplementary Materials. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Grants: Decoding the molecular components of aquatic parasite-host interactions, DP180103694, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Development of an eco-friendly approach to mitigate helminth parasite infections, DP250103567, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Biomedicine; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991219627702621
Output Type: Journal article

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