Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Phyllis Baker on 14/12/2010 19:30:02

Title: Do thread worms paralyse smooth muscle in the gut?
Post by: Phyllis Baker on 14/12/2010 19:30:02

Phyllis Baker asked the Naked Scientists:
   
In 1978, I remember having long discussions with my husband, a neuroscientist, as to how thread worms survived in the bowel.

He was quite convinced that they secreted a substance which paralysed the action of smooth muscle and also enabled the gut to reabsorb more water thus preventing the parasites from being expelled.

This rather nicely links two items in a recent broadcast (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/).

I don't think he ever did any experiments on it.

What do you think?