BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Worrying Worms
10 August 2014

Worrying Worms

Worms can be slippery characters but none are more difficult to pin down than S. mansoni (female is the smaller of the two in this image). As this carrier of the tropical disease schistosomiasis matures, it's forever changing its physical characteristics and location within different hosts. This complex life cycle makes the parasite a moving target and extremely difficult to treat. What’s deadly to an adult worm, for example, may leave a youngster untouched and free to continue the infection. Searching for new ways to fight the disease, scientists have identified a protein-modifying enzyme as a potential point of attack. The molecule is active in critical parts of adult worm's body (shown in green) and has been linked to movement and reproduction. Therefore finding new drugs that interfere with this enzyme could be the best way to stop this tricky customer in its tracks.

Written by Jan Piotrowski

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.