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Despite many studies, its site of action has not been established. Until now, the consensus has been that diethylcarbamazine works by activating host immune systems, not by a direct action on the parasites. Here we show that low concentrations of diethylcarbamazine have direct and rapid (&lt;30\u2009s) temporary spastic paralyzing effects on the parasites that lasts around 4\u2009h, which is produced by diethylcarbamazine opening TRP channels in muscle of <jats:italic>Brugia malayi<\/jats:italic> involving TRP-2 (TRPC-like channel subunits). GON-2 and CED-11, TRPM-like channel subunits, also contributed to diethylcarbamazine responses. Opening of these TRP channels produces contraction and subsequent activation of calcium-dependent SLO-1K channels. Recovery from the temporary paralysis is consistent with inactivation of TRP channels. Our observations elucidate mechanisms for the rapid onset and short-lasting therapeutic actions of diethylcarbamazine.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s42003-020-01128-4","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,7,28]],"date-time":"2020-07-28T10:04:50Z","timestamp":1595930690000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":31,"title":["Diethylcarbamazine activates TRP channels including TRP-2 in filaria, Brugia malayi"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"3","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1417-0986","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Saurabh","family":"Verma","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sudhanva S.","family":"Kashyap","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alan P.","family":"Robertson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2422-1847","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Richard J.","family":"Martin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,7,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"1128_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ramaiah, K. & E. 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