Microfluidic Culture Model for Drug Screening on Schistosome Parasites

Vincent Girod (1, 2, 3) , Marie-Jose Ghoris (2) , Jérôme Vicogne (2) , Vincent Senez (1)

1 LIMMS - Laboratory for Integrated Micro Mechatronics Systems
2 CIIL - Centre d’Infection et d’Immunité de Lille - INSERM U 1019 - UMR 9017 - UMR 8204
3 IEMN - Institut d’Électronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie - UMR 8520

Schistosomiasis is a challenging parasitic model due to the absence of transgenic strains and systems allowing maintenance of heathy worms outside of their host (mammals). Classical in vitro studies (Petri dish) do not allow long-term survival of worm couples with retention of basic biological functions like mobility and pairing. We have designed a microfluidic device that sustainably cultivates adult worm couples. The influences of the composition and physical characteristics of mass flow on the mobility, pairing and long-term survival of worms have been studied. We have also assessed the effect of Praziquantel, the only therapeutic molecule currently in use.

Mots clés: Mesenteric vein; Schistosomiasis; flatworms; microfluidic culture of whole animal

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Vincent Girod, Marie-Jose Ghoris, Jérôme Vicogne, Vincent Senez. Microfluidic Culture Model for Drug Screening on Schistosome Parasites. 2021 IEEE 34th International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Jan 2021, Gainesville (en ligne), United States. pp.583-586, ⟨10.1109/MEMS51782.2021.9375137⟩. ⟨hal-03325111⟩