Transcriptional analysis of a unique set of genes involved in Schistosoma mansoni female reproductive biology.

ABSTRACT: Schistosomiasis affects more than 200 million people globally. The pathology of schistosome infections is due to chronic tissue inflammation and damage from immune generated granulomas surrounding parasite eggs trapped in host tissues. Schistosoma species are unique among trematode parasites because they are dioecious; females require paring with male parasites in order to attain reproductive maturity and produce viable eggs. Ex vivo cultured females lose the ability to produce viable eggs due to an involution of the vitellarium and loss of mature oocytes. In order to better understand schistosome reproductive biology we used data generated by serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) to identify uncharacterized genes which have different transcript abundance in mature females, those that

SUBMITTER: Cogswell AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3499410 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature