Transcriptional changes in Schistosoma mansoni during early schistosomula development and in the presence of erythrocytes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Schistosomes cause more mortality and morbidity than any other human helminth, but control primarily relies on a single drug that kills adult worms. The newly transformed schistosomulum stage is susceptible to the immune response and is a target for vaccine development and rational drug design.

Methodology/principal findings

To identify genes which are up-regulated during the maturation of Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula in vitro, we cultured newly transformed parasites for 3 h or 5 days with and without erythrocytes and compared their transcriptional profiles using cDNA microarrays. The most apparent changes were in the up-regulation of genes between 3 h and 5 day schistosomula involved in blood feeding, tegument and cytoskeletal development, cell adhesion, and

SUBMITTER: Gobert GN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2817720 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature