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
More Info...

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Edward Rodriguez 

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 1976 - PhD - Epidemiologic Science - University of Michigan
  • 1976 - MS - Epidemiologic Science - University of Michigan
  • 1971 - MS - Wildlife Management - University of Michigan
  • 1968 - BS - Zoology - University of Michigan
  • Postdoctoral Training - NIH Traineeship, Mollusc Division - Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan

  Appointments

  • 4/2008 - Adjunct Scientist - Texas Biomedical Research InstituteSan Antonio
  • 9/2007 - Professor - UTHSCSA, Biochemistry and Pathology, San Antonio
  • 1/2005 - Distinguished Professor Emeritus - SUNYBuffalo

• Instruction & Training

  • - Present, Individual Instruction, UT Health San Antonio
  • - Present, Individual Instruction, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2018 - Present, Individual Instruction, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2017 - Present, Eukaryotic Pathogens, Micro 5025, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2017 - Present, Individual Instruction, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2017 - Present, High School/Junior High School Student Supervision, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2017 - Present, Individual Instruction, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2017 - Present, Individual Instruction, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2017 - Present, Fungal and Parasitic Infections, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2017 - Present, Microbial Pathogenesis MICR5031, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2017 - Present, Undergraduate Student Supervision, UT Health San Antonio
  • 1/2017 - Present, Introduction to Translational Science, MEDI 6001, UT Health San Antonio
  • 11/2016 - Present, Biochemical Studies for Evaluating the Impact of Hepatitis C Virus Co- Infection with Schistosomiasi, Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Cairo University
  • 1/2013 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, Federal University of Minas Gerais
  • 1/2013 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
  • 1/2013 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France
  • 1/2012 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France)
  • 1/2012 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 1/2012 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed
  • 1/2011 - Present, Fundamentals of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 1/2011 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed
  • 1/2011 - Present, MEDI 6001 Introduction to Translational Science
  • 8/2009 - Present, Biochemistry, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • Biochemistry

• Research & Grants

  The  LoVerde's lab research involves studies of host-parasite interactions of schistosomes. Our strengths are in molecular parasitology, immunoparasitology and genetics. We have contributed continuously to molecular studies on Schistosoma, eg in the sequence of the schistosome 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. 

   

   

  Grants

  Federal

  Funding Agency NIH, NIAID Title Structure Guided Redesign of an Antischistosomal drug Status Active Period 7/2015 - 6/2020 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail The major goal is re-engineer an anti-schistosomal drug to make it effective against all human species of schistosomes.

  Private

  Funding Agency   Title Modeling Drug Induced Resistance in S. mansoni endemic areas Status Active Period 6/2012 - 5/2017 Role Contributor Grant Detail The major goal is to develop a model of schistosomiasis transmission that will elucidate host-parasite dynamics of Schistosoma mansoni in an endemic population in Brazil.

• Publications

  Journal Article

  LoVerde PT. Real-time PCR for sexing Schistosoma mansoni cercariae 2016 Jan;. Albonico M, Levecke B, LoVerde PT, Montresor A, Prichard R, Vercruysse J, Webster JP. Monitoring efficacy of drugs for Neglected Tropical Diseases controlled by preventive chemotherapy -Highlights from the Working Group on Monitoring of Neglected Tropical Diseases Drug Efficacy 2016 Jan;:229-236. LoVerde PT. Indepent origins of loss-of-function mutations conferring oxamniquine resistance in Brazilian Schistosome population 2016 Jan;. 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 2015 Jan;6.

  Not Specified

  Savioli L, Albonico M, Colley DG, Correa-Oliveira R, Fenwick A, Green W, Kabatereine N, Kabore A, Katz N, Klohe K, LoVerde PT, Rollinson D, Stothard JR, Tchuem Tchuente LA, Waltz J, Zhou XN. Building a global schistosomiasis alliance: an opportunity to join forces to fight inequality and rural poverty 2017 Mar;. LoVerde PT, Bethony, J.M., Correa-Oliveira, R., Calzavara-Silva, C.E.,. A next-generation proteome array for Schistosoma mansoni 2016 Jan;.