Flatworm functional genomics initiative- FUGI

Despite the global impact of helminthiasis, lack of access to tractable experimental systems is severely hampering research progress. FUGI will advance this agenda by developing reverse genetics, genome-editing tools and immortal cell lines built around the thorough characterisation and understanding of parasitic flatworm stem cell systems. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 methods for facilitating flatworm genome-editing will grant unprecedented control over individual gene-level investigations. Use o f this technology to derive lines of knockout/knock-in flatworms will be assisted by our experience in harnessing retroviruses as germ-line, gene-transduction agents. Creation of immortalised flatworm cell lines, based on the proliferative potential of stem cell systems, will allow lifecycle-free, NC3R compliant, helminthology to proceed at pace. By applying tools of human stem cell science to parasitic flatworms, we will produce self-renewable resources for obtaining biological material, for optimising genome-editing tools and for generating homologous proteins suitable for functional investigations. FUGI will produce enabling resources (stored in community-accessible repositories) that will provide our field, for the first time, with the means to characterise the gene products responsible for parasite pathogenesis and persistence. These functional genomics tools will allow the helminth community to ask fundamental questions necessary to accelerate the development of novel anthelmint hic drugs and vaccines.