Why deworming medicines sometimes don’t work for hookworms
Genomic approaches to define hookworm population diversity and deworming drug response
This project looks at hookworm genes in Ghana to learn why common deworming medicines like albendazole sometimes fail to clear infections in children and communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257324 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient or community member, researchers will work with communities in Ghana to collect parasite samples and treatment information before and after albendazole deworming campaigns. Scientists will create the first high-quality African reference genome for the hookworm species Necator americanus and sequence parasites from different communities. They will link parasite genetic differences to how well albendazole works and to patterns of transmission between communities. The goal is to spot genetic markers of reduced drug response that could explain persistent infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people living in hookworm-endemic communities in Ghana — especially children and women involved in local deworming programs or those with ongoing infections after treatment.
Not a fit: People without hookworm infection or those living outside the participating endemic areas are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help health programs detect and respond to drug-resistant hookworms faster and improve the choice and timing of deworming treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Genetic approaches have successfully identified drug-resistance markers in animal parasites and there are reports of reduced deworming effectiveness in some human settings, but creating an African reference genome for human hookworms is a new step.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cappello, Michael — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Cappello, Michael
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.