VOLUME 18 NUMBER 2 (July to December 2025)

Computational docking analysis of Schistosoma haematobium egg derived proteins: Implications of IPSE/α-1 and serpin in bladder cancer development

Schistosoma haematobium is the primary cause of urogenital schistosomiasis worldwide. If left untreated, the disease can lead to chronic inflammation and Schistosoma-induced bladder cancer. This study explores the carcinogenic potential of two proteins secreted by S. haematobium eggs, IPSE/α-1 and serpin. In silico methods were used to examine their physicochemical properties and interactions with human host proteins. Results show that both proteins exhibit high stability, extended half-lives, and binding affinities with cancer-related host proteins. HADDOCK analysis revealed a negative binding score for IPSE/α-1 with EGFR, suggesting it could potentially induce tissue hyperplasia, while serpin demonstrated stronger binding to p53, potentially inhibiting its tetramerization and rendering the protein nonfunctional. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms driving Schistosoma-induced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder and highlight potential targets for further research in parasite-associated cancer development. Moreover, these findings offer new opportunities for cancer prevention and lay the groundwork for developing targeted therapies and immunotherapies against parasite-associated cancers. Integrating these insights into therapeutic strategies could significantly enhance efforts to prevent and treat Schistosoma-induced malignancies.