Schistosome Transgenesis: The Long Road to Success

Overview

Journal Biology (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Jan 22

PMID 38248478

Authors

Bernd H Kalinna

Allen G Ross

Anna K Walduck

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

As research on parasitic helminths has entered the post-genomic era, research efforts have turned to deciphering the function of genes in the public databases of genome sequences. It is hoped that, by understanding the role of parasite genes in maintaining their parasitic lifestyle, critical insights can be gained to develop new intervention and control strategies. Methods to manipulate and transform parasitic worms are now developed to a point where it has become possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying host-parasite interplay, and here, we summarise and discuss the advances that have been made in schistosome transgenesis over the past 25 years. The ability to genetically manipulate schistosomes holds promise in finding new ways to control schistosomiasis, which ultimately may lead to the eradication of this debilitating disease.

Citing Articles

CRISPR-based functional genomics for schistosomes and related flatworms.

Ittiprasert W, Brindley P Trends Parasitol. 2024; 40(11):1016-1028.

PMID: 39426911 PMC: 11560492. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.09.010.

References

Wilson R, Ashton P, Braschi S, Dillon G, Berriman M, Ivens A . 'Oming in on schistosomes: prospects and limitations for post-genomics. Trends Parasitol. 2006; 23(1):14-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2006.10.002. View

Li J, Xiang M, Zhang R, Xu B, Hu W . RNA interference in vivo in Schistosoma japonicum: Establishing and optimization of RNAi mediated suppression of gene expression by long dsRNA in the intra-mammalian life stages of worms. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018; 503(2):1004-1010. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.06.109. View

Rossi A, Wippersteg V, Klinkert M, Grevelding C . Cloning of 5' and 3' flanking regions of the Schistosoma mansoni calcineurin A gene and their characterization in transiently transformed parasites. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2003; 130(2):133-8. DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(03)00158-0. View

Yang W, Luo F, Zhang W, Sun C, Tan C, Zhou A . Inhibition of signal peptidase complex expression affects the development and survival of . Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023; 13:1136056. PMC: 10020623. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1136056. View

Wippersteg V, Ribeiro F, Liedtke S, Kusel J, Grevelding C . The uptake of Texas Red-BSA in the excretory system of schistosomes and its colocalisation with ER60 promoter-induced GFP in transiently transformed adult males. Int J Parasitol. 2003; 33(11):1139-43. DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7519(03)00168-1. View

Copeland C, Brindley P, Heyers O, Michael S, Johnston D, Williams D . Boudicca, a retrovirus-like long terminal repeat retrotransposon from the genome of the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. J Virol. 2003; 77(11):6153-66. PMC: 154989. DOI: 10.1128/jvi.77.11.6153-6166.2003. View

Wilson R, Coulson P . Immune effector mechanisms against schistosomiasis: looking for a chink in the parasite's armour. Trends Parasitol. 2009; 25(9):423-31. PMC: 3686490. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2009.05.011. View

Wippersteg V, Kapp K, Kunz W, Jackstadt W, Zahner H, Grevelding C . HSP70-controlled GFP expression in transiently transformed schistosomes. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2002; 120(1):141-50. DOI: 10.1016/s0166-6851(01)00446-7. View

Llorens C, Munoz-Pomer A, Bernad L, Botella H, Moya A . Network dynamics of eukaryotic LTR retroelements beyond phylogenetic trees. Biol Direct. 2009; 4:41. PMC: 2774666. DOI: 10.1186/1745-6150-4-41. View

10.

Dadara A, Skelly P . Gene suppression in schistosomes using RNAi. Methods Mol Biol. 2014; 1201:143-64. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1438-8_8. View

11.

Ittiprasert W, Moescheid M, Chaparro C, Mann V, Quack T, Rodpai R . Targeted insertion and reporter transgene activity at a gene safe harbor of the human blood fluke, . Cell Rep Methods. 2023; 3(7):100535. PMC: 10391569. DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100535. View

12.

Plasterk R, Izsvak Z, Ivics Z . Resident aliens: the Tc1/mariner superfamily of transposable elements. Trends Genet. 1999; 15(8):326-32. DOI: 10.1016/s0168-9525(99)01777-1. View

13.

Osakunor D, Woolhouse M, Mutapi F . Paediatric schistosomiasis: What we know and what we need to know. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018; 12(2):e0006144. PMC: 5805162. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006144. View

14.

Handler A, McCombs S, Fraser M, Saul S . The lepidopteran transposon vector, piggyBac, mediates germ-line transformation in the Mediterranean fruit fly. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998; 95(13):7520-5. PMC: 22671. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.13.7520. View

15.

Smit C, van Diepen A, Nguyen D, Wuhrer M, Hoffmann K, Deelder A . Glycomic Analysis of Life Stages of the Human Parasite Schistosoma mansoni Reveals Developmental Expression Profiles of Functional and Antigenic Glycan Motifs. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2015; 14(7):1750-69. PMC: 4587318. DOI: 10.1074/mcp.M115.048280. View

16.

Laha T, Loukas A, Verity C, McManus D, Brindley P . Gulliver, a long terminal repeat retrotransposon from the genome of the oriental blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum. Gene. 2001; 264(1):59-68. DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(00)00601-6. View

17.

Skelly P, Dadara A, Harn D . Suppression of cathepsin B expression in Schistosoma mansoni by RNA interference. Int J Parasitol. 2003; 33(4):363-9. DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7519(03)00030-4. View

18.

Wang L, Xie H, Xu L, Liao Q, Wan S, Yu Z . rSj16 Protects against DSS-Induced Colitis by Inhibiting the PPAR-α Signaling Pathway. Theranostics. 2017; 7(14):3446-3460. PMC: 5596435. DOI: 10.7150/thno.20359. View

19.

Fallon P, Doenhoff M . Drug-resistant schistosomiasis: resistance to praziquantel and oxamniquine induced in Schistosoma mansoni in mice is drug specific. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1994; 51(1):83-8. DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1994.51.83. View

20.

Abe H, Ohbayashi F, Shimada T, Sugasaki T, Kawai S, Mita K . Molecular structure of a novel gypsy-Ty3-like retrotransposon (Kabuki) and nested retrotransposable elements on the W chromosome of the silkworm Bombyx mori. Mol Gen Genet. 2000; 263(6):916-24. DOI: 10.1007/s004380000270. View