Schistosoma mansoni

Genetic differences between strains of Biomphalaria glabrata (Planorbidae) that are susceptible and unsusceptible to schistosomiasis

A. L. D. Oliveira, Da Silva, D., Manzano, B. C., Abdel-Hamid, A. Z., Marcelino, M. Y., Zanotti-Magalhães, E. M., Zanotti-Magalhães, E. M., Magalhães, L. A., and Ribeiro-Paes, J. T., Genetic differences between strains of Biomphalaria glabrata (Planorbidae) that are susceptible and unsusceptible to schistosomiasis, vol. 9, pp. 1450-1459, 2010.

Despite the implementation control programs, schistosomiasis continues to spread throughout the world. Among modern control strategies, vector control is currently being emphasized. Within this context, analysis of the genetic variability of intermediate host snails (Biomphalaria spp) is important because it allows identification of specific sequences of the genome of this mollusk related to susceptibility/resistance to Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Differences in the number of hemocytes in the snail host Biomphalaria tenagophila, resistant and susceptible to Schistosoma mansoni infection

A. L. D. Oliveira, Zanotti-Magalhães, E. M., Zanotti-Magalhães, E. M., Magalhães, L. A., Ribeiro-Paes, J. T., and Levada, P. M., Differences in the number of hemocytes in the snail host Biomphalaria tenagophila, resistant and susceptible to Schistosoma mansoni infection, vol. 9, pp. 2436-2445, 2010.

The relationships between schistosomiasis and its intermediate host, mollusks of the genus Biomphalaria, have been a concern for decades. It is known that the vector mollusk shows different susceptibility against parasite infection, whose occurrence depends on the interaction between the forms of trematode larvae and the host defense cells. These cells are called amebocytes or hemocytes and are responsible for the recognition of foreign bodies and for phagocytosis and cytotoxic reactions.

Identification of a new Schistosoma mansoni membrane-bound protein through bioinformatic analysis

F. C. Cardoso, Pinho, J. M. R., Azevedo, V., and Oliveira, S. C., Identification of a new Schistosoma mansoni membrane-bound protein through bioinformatic analysis, vol. 5, pp. 609-618, 2006.

Progress in schistosome genome research has enabled investigators to move rapidly from genome sequences to vaccine development. Proteins bound to the surface of parasites are potential vaccine candidates, or they can be used for diagnosis. We analyzed 4342 proteins deduced from the Schistosoma mansoni transcriptome with bioinformatic computer programs. Thirty-four proteins had membrane-bound motifs. Within this group, we selected the Sm29 protein to be further characterized by in silico analysis.

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