AcNR1F orchestrates epidermal remodeling to enable host adaptation in Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

AcNR1F regulates epidermal remodeling and host adaptation in Angiostrongylus cantonensis, with a 38.11% reduction in transcripts upon RNAi treatment.

• Why it matters: Understanding how parasitic nematodes adapt to different hosts is crucial for controlling zoonotic infections like eosinophilic meningitis. The role of nuclear receptors in this process remains unclear, limiting potential intervention strategies.
• What they did: Researchers used multi-omic analyses, RNA interference, LC-MS/MS, and luciferase assays to investigate AcNR1F functions, revealing its high expression in adult worms and identification of host-derived ligands such as cholesterol and corticosterone.
• The result: AcNR1F directly targets collagen genes, influences cuticle structure, and affects development and reproduction, suggesting it acts as a molecular switch for host adaptation in A. cantonensis.