Joseph Alan Dent, McGill University
Associate Professor
Biology
Montreal, Quebec
joseph.dent@mcgill.ca
Office:
(514) 398-6463
Bio/Research
My lab uses molecular genetic and electrophysiological approaches in the model nematode Caenorhabitis elegans to examine the role of ligand-gated ion channels in the sensitivity of worms to antiparasitic drugs. We have focused on the role of the glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) in the s...
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Bio/Research
My lab uses molecular genetic and electrophysiological approaches in the model nematode Caenorhabitis elegans to examine the role of ligand-gated ion channels in the sensitivity of worms to antiparasitic drugs. We have focused on the role of the glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) in the sensitivity of nematodes to the widely used antiparasitic drug ivermectin. Our electrophysiological characterisation of two GluCl subunit proteins, GluCl-alpha-2 and GluCl-alpha-3, expressed in Xenopus oocytes showed that ivermectin acts directly on and activates chloride channels formed from these proteins. We also showed that mutations in genes encoding these two GluCl subunit proteins confer ivermectin resistance. Moreover, we discovered that several GluCls must be mutated simultaneously to confer high-level resistance, a result that has important implications for the evolution of drug resistance and the design of new antiparasitic drugs. More recently, as part of a collaborative research partnership with Crompton Inc., we are trying to identify promising targets for the development of new antiparasitic drugs. We have also been collaborating with Drs. Prichard and Beech to characterise ivermectin receptors from parasitic nematodes.
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