Effects of Ivermectin and Capparis spinosa extract-loaded silver nanoparticles on Calcineurin gene of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices in vitro | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||||
| Article 41, Volume 35, Issue 1, January 2026 | ||||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.389598.1675 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Raid S. Radhwan; Ali M. Abed  
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| Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Tikrit, Tikrit, Iraq | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus, poses significant health and economic challenges, particularly in regions reliant on livestock. Current treatments, including surgery and benzimidazoles, are hindered by limited efficacy, resistance, and side effects, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Methods: This study investigates the in vitro effects of Ivermectin and Capparis spinosa extract, both in free and silver nanoparticle-loaded forms (Ivm-AgNPs and Ext-AgNPs), on the expression of Calcineurin A (CNA) and Calcineurin B (CNB) genes in E. granulosus protoscoleces (PSCs). PSCs were collected from infected sheep livers, and their viability assessed via eosin exclusion. AgNPs were synthesized using a green method with C. spinosa and characterized by UV-Vis, FESEM, XRD, FTIR, and TEM. Treatments were applied at various concentrations for 12 and 24 hours. Total RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed to cDNA, and gene expression analyzed using qRT-PCR, normalized to β-actin and calculated via the 2⁻ΔΔCT method. Results: Showed that CNA expression was significantly upregulated after 24 hours, particularly with Ivm and Ext alone (P≤0.002), while Ivm-AgNPs and Ext-AgNPs induced significant increases at lower concentrations (P≤0.022). In contrast, CNB expression was significantly downregulated by Ivm and Ext at all doses (P≤0.001), with Ivm-AgNPs showing similar effects at high and medium doses (P<0.006), whereas Ext-AgNPs had no significant impact (P≥0.250). These findings suggest that Calcineurin subunits are differentially regulated by these treatments and that AgNP formulations can modulate these effects. Conclusions: This supports the potential of targeting Calcineurin in CE therapy and encourages further exploration of gene–protein–function relationships in E. granulosus. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Echinococcus granulosus; Ivermectin; Capparis spinosa Extract; Silver Nanoparticle; Calcineurin | ||||
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