Philip Thomas LoVerde, Ph.D.

Dr. Phillip LoVerde's lab research involves studies of host-parasite interactions of schistosomes. Our strengths are in molecular parasitology, immunoparasitology and genetics. 

They have contributed continuously to molecular studies on Schistosoma, eg in the sequence of the schistosome genome, the resequence of the genome to make it a reference genome, development of a 5 cM genetic map for S. mansoni, identification and characterization of nuclear receptors in schistosomes, and elucidated TGF signal pathways in schistosomes. 

As a collaboration, they identified the gene responsible for oxamniquine (OXA) drug resistance, worked out the mode of action of OXA and determined the structure of the enzyme (Sulfotransferase)-co-factor and drug. They identified the sulfotransferase homologues from S. haematobium and S. japonicum. Using an iterative approach, they have identified derivatives that will kill all the major human species of Schistosoma.

Selected Publications

Carvalho-Queiroz, C, Nyakundi, R, Ogongo, P, Rikoi, H, Egilmez,NK, Farah, IO, Kariuki, TK, LoVerde, PT. Protective potential of antioxidant enzymes as vaccines for schistosomiasis in a non-human primate model. Frontiers in Immunology, 6:273. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00273.

Valentim CL, Cioli D, Chevalier FD, Cao X, Taylor AB, Holloway SP, Pica-Mattoccia L, Guidi A, Basso A, Tsai IJ, Berriman M, Carvalho-Queiroz C, Almeida M, Aguilar H, Frantz DE, Hart PJ, LoVerde PT*, Anderson TJ*. Genetic and molecular basis of drug resistance and species-specific drug action in schistosome parasites. Science. 2013 Dec 13;342(6164):1385-9. * equal contributors

Oliveira KC, Carvalho ML, Verjovski-Almeida S, LoVerde PT. Effect of human TGF-β on the gene expression profile of Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2012 Jun;183(2):132-9.

Wu W, LoVerde PT. Nuclear hormone receptors in parasitic helminths. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2011 Mar 1;334(1-2):56-66.

Berriman M, Haas BJ, LoVerde PT, Wilson RA, Dillon GP, Cerqueira GC, Mashiyama ST, Al-Lazikani B, Andrade LF, Ashton PD, Aslett MA, Bartholomeu DC, Blandin G, Caffrey CR, Coghlan A, Coulson R, Day TA, Delcher A, DeMarco R, Djikeng A, Eyre T, Gamble JA, Ghedin E, Gu Y, Hertz-Fowler C, Hirai H, Hirai Y, Houston R, Ivens A, Johnston DA, Lacerda D, Macedo CD, McVeigh P, Ning Z, Oliveira G, Overington JP, Parkhill J, Pertea M, Pierce RJ, Protasio AV, Quail MA, Rajandream MA, Rogers J, Sajid M, Salzberg SL, Stanke M, Tivey AR, White O, Williams DL, Wortman J, Wu W, Zamanian M, Zerlotini A, Fraser-Liggett CM, Barrell BG, El-Sayed NM. The genome of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. Nature. 2009 Jul 16;460(7253):352-8.

Taylor AB, Roberts KM, Cao X, Clark NE, Holloway SP, Donati E, Polcaro CM, Pica-Mattoccia L, Tarpley RS, McHardy SF, Cioli D, LoVerde PT, Fitzpatrick PF, Hart PJ. Structural and Enzymatic Insights into Species-specific Resistance to Schistosome Parasite Drug Therapy. J Biol Chem. 2017 May 23. pii: jbc.M116.766527. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M116.766527. PMID:28536265

Chevalier ,FD, Le Clec’h, W, Eng, N, Rugel, AR, de Assis, RR, Corrêa-Oliveira, G, Holloway, SP, Cao, X, Hart, PJ, LoVerde, PT, Anderson, TJC.Independent origins of loss-of-function mutations conferring oxamniquine resistance in a Brazilian schistosome population.Int. J. Parasitol. (2016), Apr 9. pii: S0020-7519(16)30022-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.03.006.

PROFESSOR
BIOCHEMISTRY/PATHOLOGY

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Epidemiologic Science, University of Michigan, 1976

M.S., Epidemiologic Science, University of Michigan, 1976

M.S., Wildlife Management, University of Michigan, 1971

B.S., Zoology, University of Michigan, 1968

CONTACT

Email: LOVERDE@UTHSCSA.EDU

Phones: (210) 567-3737

Research Profile
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GRADUATE STUDENTS

Edward Rodriguez