@article{0a53970fd47040b69718e9061d3b881e,
title = "Functional analysis of vasa/PL10-like genes in the ovary of Schistosoma mansoni",
abstract = "The RNA helicase Vasa plays a pivotal role in the development of the germ line. To decipher the functional roles of vasa/PL10-like genes in the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni, we performed RNA interference followed by the analysis of the ovary in the adult female. Double-stranded RNA targeting the schistosome vasa-like gene Smvlg1 reduced the volume of the ovary. Changes in morphology of the ovary were analysed using carmine red-staining of the parasites followed by a novel confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)-based approach to control for natural autofluorescence in female schistosome tissues. The reduction in the ovary volume may have been promoted by the loss of germ cells. By contrast, significant differences were not apparent in the number of eggs produced or hatching rate of eggs laid by the female schistosomes transfected with Smvlg1-specific dsRNA. The findings suggested a role for S. mansoni vasa/PL10-like gene -1 in germ cell development within the schistosome ovary that might impact in the pathogenesis and disease transmission by this neglected tropical disease pathogen.",
keywords = "Confocal microscopy, Functional genomic tools, Germline, RNAi, Schistosoma mansoni, Vasa/PL10-like genes, Gene Expression, Genitalia, Genes, Helminth, Transfection/methods, DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics, Microscopy, Confocal/methods, Ovary/anatomy & histology, Animals, RNA Interference, Schistosoma mansoni/genetics, Female",
author = "Skinner, {Danielle E.} and Anastas Popratiloff and Alrefaei, {Yousef N.} and Mann, {Victoria H.} and Gabriel Rinaldi and Brindley, {Paul J.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Anna Protasio for inisghtful, helpful comments and informative discussion. These studies were supported by NIH-NIAID awards R01AI072773 (PJB) and R21AI109532 (GR), and the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award number 107475/Z/15/Z; the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIAID, the NIH or the Wellcome Trust. Mice infected with S. mansoni were provided by the NIAID Schistosomiasis Resource Center for distribution through BEI Resources, NIH-NIAID Contract HHSN272201000005I. Funding Information: We thank Anna Protasio for inisghtful, helpful comments and informative discussion. These studies were supported by NIH-NIAID awards R01AI072773 (PJB) and R21AI109532 (GR), and the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award number 107475/Z/15/Z; the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIAID, the NIH or the Wellcome Trust. Mice infected with S. mansoni were provided by the NIAID Schistosomiasis Resource Center for distribution through BEI Resources, NIH-NIAID Contract HHSN272201000005I. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020",
year = "2020",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1016/j.molbiopara.2020.111259",
language = "English",
volume = "236",
journal = "Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology",
issn = "0166-6851",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}
