Genetics and AI Join Forces to Fight Drug-Resistant Cattle Parasites

Parasitic worms have long been a costly and persistent challenge in cattle production. Now, researchers are turning to genomics and artificial intelligence to develop the next generation of anti-parasitic drugs as resistance to current treatments continues to grow.

Scientists at the University of Calgary have launched a multi-year project aimed at identifying new therapeutic targets for helminths—parasitic roundworms that infect the gastrointestinal tract of cattle and significantly affect productivity.

For veterinarians working in food-animal practice, the stakes are high. Gastrointestinal parasites reduce feed efficiency, impair weight gain, and contribute to significant economic losses in the beef industry.

“These parasites are a silent drag on production,” says James Wasmuth, PhD, who leads the project. “They rob cattle of nutrients, reduce growth, and cost the industry hundreds of millions through treatment and lost productivity. With resistance to existing drugs rising, we simply don’t have a strong pipeline of new options.”

A Growing Anthelmintic Resistance Problem

Helminths have historically been managed with a relatively small number of drug classes. Over time, however, resistance has emerged in multiple parasite populations worldwide, including in Western Canada.

For veterinarians advising cattle producers, this shrinking arsenal of effective dewormers presents a growing management challenge. Once-reliable treatments may no longer provide consistent control, increasing the need for improved diagnostics, targeted treatment strategies, and—ultimately—new drugs.

Recognizing the urgency of the problem, the research team has secured a $1.4 million grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to accelerate the discovery of novel anti-parasitic compounds.

The initiative also involves collaboration with industry partners including Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Alberta Beef Producers.

From Parasite Genome to Drug Candidate

At the heart of the project is a drug discovery pipeline that begins with the genetic sequencing of parasitic worms.

By analyzing parasite genomes, researchers can identify biological pathways essential for parasite survival. These pathways may serve as potential drug targets.

The team then uses AI-driven protein modeling tools such as AlphaFold to predict the three-dimensional structures of key parasite proteins. Once these targets are identified, researchers can screen large chemical libraries virtually to identify compounds that may interfere with parasite biology.

Promising candidates are then tested in laboratory studies on live parasites before moving through medicinal chemistry optimization.

“We’ve already developed several novel compounds that show strong activity against live parasites while preserving mammalian cells,” says Darren Derksen, PhD, a medicinal chemist involved in the project. “But there’s still a long road from early discovery to a drug that can be used in cattle.”

Veterinary Expertise in the Research Pipeline

The project integrates expertise from multiple disciplines, including parasitology, pharmacology, and chemistry.

Among the collaborators is Brielle Rosa, DVM, PhD, a clinical pharmacologist at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, who contributes the clinical and veterinary perspective needed to translate laboratory findings into real-world livestock applications.

Parasite biology expertise is provided by Constance Finney, PhD, from the university’s Department of Biological Sciences.

This interdisciplinary approach is designed to ensure that potential drug candidates are not only scientifically promising but also practical for use in cattle production systems.

What Comes Next

Over the next five years, the research team will continue refining and optimizing candidate compounds with the goal of advancing the most promising options toward cattle trials.

If successful, the genome-to-drug pipeline could eventually extend beyond beef cattle to other livestock species affected by parasitic infections, including sheep and poultry.

For veterinarians working in production animal medicine, the development of new anthelmintic options would represent a critical advance in maintaining herd health and sustainable parasite control.

Because as drug resistance spreads, the future of parasite management may depend on the next generation of therapies now being developed in the lab.