War waged on God of Plague

QIMR scientist, Dr Li Yuesheng, has spent over 30 years researching schistosomiasis and his goal is the eventual elimination from China of the disease which Chairman Mao called the God of Plague and which has killed countless numbers of Chinese over many centuries.

Because of its early emphasis on tropical diseases, QIMR has often worked on conditions that affect people living in developing countries. Current schistosomiasis research in the Molecular Parasitology Laboratory is a prime example of international collaboration, from the laboratory bench here at QIMR, to the fieldwork conducted in China.

Coordinated by Yuesheng Li, who currently holds a NHMRC Career Development Award, the work has received substantial funding from various international organisations over the past three years and has built important working relationships between the McManus Laboratory and different Chinese Institutions.
Within China, the majority of field research is undertaken in the lake regions adjacent to the Yangtze River where schistosomiasis (also called bilharzia) is endemic, and water buffalo – hosts to the worm during part of its life style – are prolific. Laboratory work in China is conducted in the Hunan Institute of Parasitic Disease in Yueyang. Conveniently, the Institute is affiliated to a nearby hospital where clinical trials associated with the research are carried out.

Since 2004, Yuesheng’s work has comprised five different projects:

Vaccine Trials on Schistosoma Japonicum infection (Wellcome Trust and NIH)
This comprised trials of vaccine candidates using two different molecules from a laboratory at Harvard University in the US. Water buffalo were challenged in an effort to reduce transmission at the source. A reduction of around 50% of adult worms and up to 61% eggs was recorded. These are impressive figures, some of the highest obtained with schistosome vaccines.

Artemether position in schistosomiasis control programs (Wellcome Trust and WHO)
Although the drug praziquantel had been found effective for killing adult worms, this project tested the effectiveness of artemether in killing young worms. A combination of the two drugs was also tried in order to knock out both young and adult worms with the same dose. The combination was not better than praziquantel used alone, but a lower dose of this drug was shown to be as effective as the higher dosage currently used in China.

Immunotherapeutic mechanisms in human schistosomiasis (TDR, Dana Foundation, NHMRC)
This project collects samples of blood and tissues from both the liver and spleen from patients with severe schistosome infections. Over 200 have been collected, allowing Yuesheng and his colleagues a unique opportunity to study the genetic, immunological and pathological aspects of the disease.

Susceptibility factors and effector mechanisms for infection and advanced disease caused by Schistosoma japonicum (TDR and HHMI)
This is an ongoing genetic study designed to improve understanding of the immunobiology of infection and the pathology of schistosomiasis. It has resulted in a number of papers and an International Research Scholarship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for Yuesheng in 2005. He is the first Chinese scientist to receive this award.

Pathways to improved, sustainable morbidity control and prevention of schistosomiasis in the People’s Republic of China (Wellcome Trust and NHMRC)
This is a multi-project program grant with a stipulation that approximately 50% of the funds (the Wellcome Trust component) must be used in China. Yuesheng achieves this by spending several months of the year in China engaged in the field work, and the remainder at QIMR. The overall aim is to provide and test new interventions for more effective and sustained control of schistosomiasis in China