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Conference Agenda

Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).

Daily Overview

Session

CP13: Ticks, Mites, kissing bugs 10 min talks
Location: Lecture Theatre 3
Session Chair: Katja Fischer, QIMR Berghofer
Session Chair: Xavier Barton, Murdoch University

Presentation 4

Elucidating keratinocyte-mediated non-histaminergic signalling in scabies-associated itch

Deepani D. Fernando¹, Tia Hutton¹, Jakub O'Grady¹, Tam H Nguyen², Gunter Hartel³, Gil Yosipovitch⁴, Katja Fischer¹

1: Infection and Inflammation Program, QIMR Berghofer, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 2: Microscopy and Spatial Cell Biology Facility, QIMR Berghofer, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 3: Population Health Program, QIMR Berghofer, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 4: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Dr Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and Miami Itch Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America

Scabies, caused by Sarcoptes scabiei, is a highly prevalent skin disease characterised by severe and persistent pruritus manifesting in over 90% of patients. The limited effectiveness of antihistamines suggests a dominant role for non-histaminergic itch pathways, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined.Using a porcine scabies model, we localised itch mediators, such as PAR-2, MRGPRX2, tryptase, histamine, IL-31, periostin, NK-1R, β tubulin III and substance P, during infection using immune-histochemistry. Significant upregulation of PAR-2, MRGPRX2, tryptase, histamine, IL-31, periostin, NK-1R and substance P was observed following infection, while β tubulin III expression was reduced. Building on these findings, we aim to investigate keratinocyte-associated receptors (PAR-1, PAR-2, and MRGPRX2) in mediating itch responses to mite stimuli. HaCaT keratinocytes will be treated with whole mite extracts and recombinant proteins (SMIPP-Cc, Sar s 1c), followed by total RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and qPCR analysis of target gene expression, normalised to internal control GAPDH expression.These findings support the involvement of both histaminergic and non-histaminergic pathways in scabies itch. The second part of the study is expected to define keratinocyte-specific receptor responses, providing mechanistic insight into non-histaminergic itch signalling and identifying potential therapeutic targets for treatment-resistant and chronic pruritus.