Xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) modulate the biological activity and behavior of many drugs, including anthelmintics. The effects of anthelmintics can often be abolished by XMEs when the drugs are metabolized to an inefficient compound. XMEs therefore play a significant role in anthelmintic efficacy. Moreover, differences in XMEs between helminths are reflected by differences in anthelmintic metabolism between target species. Taking advantage of the newly sequenced genomes of many helminth species, progress in this field has been remarkable. The present review collects up to date information regarding the most important XMEs (phase I and phase II biotransformation enzymes; efflux transporters) in helminths. The participation of these XMEs in anthelmintic metabolism and their possible roles in drug resistance are evaluated.

Department of Biochemical Sciences Charles University Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové 500 05 Hradec Králové Czech Republic

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Charles University Prague Faculty of Pharmacy Heyrovského 1203 Hradec Králové 500 05 Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

Biotransformation of anthelmintics in nematodes in relation to drug resistance

Hookworm genes encoding intestinal excreted-secreted proteins are transcriptionally upregulated in response to the host's immune system

Phylogenetic and transcriptomic study of aldo-keto reductases in Haemonchus contortus and their inducibility by flubendazole

Flubendazole carbonyl reduction in drug-susceptible and drug-resistant strains of the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus: changes during the life cycle and possible inhibition

Short-chain dehydrogenases in Haemonchus contortus: changes during life cycle and in relation to drug-resistance

The induction and inhibition of UDP-glycosyltransferases in Haemonchus contortus and their role in the metabolism of albendazole

Assessing the Anthelmintic Candidates BLK127 and HBK4 for Their Efficacy on Haemonchus contortus Adults and Eggs, and Their Hepatotoxicity and Biotransformation

Sub-lethal doses of albendazole induce drug metabolizing enzymes and increase albendazole deactivation in Haemonchus contortus adults

UDP-glycosyltransferase family in Haemonchus contortus: Phylogenetic analysis, constitutive expression, sex-differences and resistance-related differences

Metabolism of albendazole, ricobendazole and flubendazole in Haemonchus contortus adults: Sex differences, resistance-related differences and the identification of new metabolites

RNA-seq analyses of the midgut from blood- and serum-fed Ixodes ricinus ticks