How the Schistosoma mansoni parasite manipulates its hosts' genomes

This research project investigates how the Schistosoma mansoni parasite affects its host's genomes to cause a tropical disease known as schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis, more commonly known as bilharzia, is a neglected tropical disease that affects a quarter of a billion people at any one time in tropical areas of the globe. The parasite has two hosts: the freshwater ramshorn snails and humans.

We are investigating how this parasite influences both its hosts' genomes to elicit a successful infection.

Why is new schistosomiasis research needed?

Schistosomiasis or bilharzia is a chronic parasitic infection found in Sub-Saharan Africa and South America and is considered a neglected tropical disease.

There is no vaccine and only a single drug for treatment that is becoming less effective due to increased resistance.

The indigenous populations continue to be reinfected due to their reliance on infected water for washing, drinking and recreation. This disease highlights societal inequalities within specific communities and societies. Tourists can also be infected but are usually treated and the infection eliminated.

There is some evidence that schistosomiasis correlates with HIV infections in a population and there is even some suggestion that the parasite may even help the virus to enter individuals, and their cells.

On a global scale, climate change and higher temperatures have enabled the parasite and its snail host to be found in areas that were formerly too cold for them to exist.

A pioneering research collaboration

This work is a long-term collaboration between Professor Joanna Bridger and her mentor Professor Matty Knight, who have worked together since the mid-1980s on this parasitic disease.

Between these two women is a depth of understanding and knowledge of the intermediary host, the snail and molecular techniques to analyse its gene expression before and after infection and the ability to analyse the genome behaviour of the infected host.

This expertise has led to important findings that have shown for the first time that the parasitic worm is able to manipulate its host genome by eliciting the repositioning of genes in the host cell nuclei for upregulation.

We are currently determining what exactly is exuded from the parasite that impacts the host genome.

When we know this, we have a target for new treatments and preventative measures.

Research outputs

• Bridger JM, Knight M. Frontiers in Immunology, 2024 Mar 22;15:1385106. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1385106
• Knight M, et al. BioRXiv. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3069723/v1.
• Smith M, et al. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2021 Sep 8;15(9):e0009094. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009094
• Bridger JM, Brindley PJ, Knight M. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2018 Aug 9;12(8):e0006552. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006552
• Adema CM, et al. Nature Communications, 2017 May 16;8:15451. doi: 10.1038/ncomms15451
• Mitta G, et al. Advances in Parasitology, 2017;97:111-145. doi: 10.1016/bs.apar.2016.08.006
• Knight M, et al. International Journal for Parasitology, 2016 Jun;46(7):389-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.03.003
• Rinaldi G, et al. International Journal for Parasitology, 2015 Jul;45(8):527-35. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.02.012
• Arican-Goktas HD, et al. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2014 Sep 11;8(9):e3013. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003013.
• Knight M, et al. Frontiers in Genetics, 2014 Jul 21;5:230. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00230.
• Bridger JM, et al. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2014;773:263-79. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4899-8032-8_12.
• Adema CM, et al. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2012;6(12):e1835. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001835.
• Knight M, et al. International Journal of Parasitology, 2011 Jan;41(1):61-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.07.015.
• Odoemelam EC, et al. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2010;659:379-88. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60761-789-1_29.
• Odoemelam EC, et al. International Journal of Parasitology, 2009 May;39(6):675-8.