Praziquantel Interaction with Mammalian Targets in the Spotlight.

Chan et al. recently demonstrated that the antischistosomal drug praziquantel has a potent and specific interaction with human 5-HT2B receptors, and that the drug also elicits contraction of mouse mesenteric vasculature apparently mediated by the same receptor subtype We consider what this might mean about the drug's molecular therapeutic targets in both the worm and the host.