Abstract
Using a genomic microarray, gene expression at three different developmental stages of the schistosome parasite were analyzed, resulting in the identification of 1154 developmentally enriched transcripts.
Highlights
Schistosome bloodflukes are complex trematodes responsible for 200 million cases of schistosomiasis worldwide
The 12,000 element schistosome array The microarray used in this study contained 12,000 individual 45-50-mer oligonucleotides based on 11,998 tentative consensus sequences (TCs), as documented by the Schistosoma mansoni Genome Index maintained at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) [27]
Of the 12,912 sequences provided by TIGR, 11,998 TCs were chosen based on the maximum size of the TC available
Summary
Schistosome bloodflukes are complex trematodes responsible for 200 million cases of schistosomiasis worldwide. Their life cycle is characterized by a series of remarkable morphological and biochemical transitions between an invertebrate host, an aquatic environment, and a mammalian host. We report a global transcriptional analysis of how this parasite alters gene regulation to adapt to three distinct environments. The causative agents of schistosomiasis are schistosome bloodflukes, multicellular trematodes whose life cycle is characterized by a series of striking morphological and biochemical transitions between an intermediate host snail in an aquatic environment, two free-swimming aquatic larval forms, and a warmblooded mammalian host (Figure 1). Transcripts from cercariae function primarily in energy metabolism and motility. The schistosome represents an ideal but challenging biological system in which to identify programs of gene regulation that have evolved to facilitate adaptation of metazoa to different biological microenvironments.
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