美国UT西南医学中心研究组James J. Collins III取得最新进展。他们利用曼氏血吸虫单细胞RNA测序（RNA-seq）图谱确定了供血的关键调节子。该成果发表在2020年9月25日出版的《科学》杂志上。

据悉，血吸虫病是一种被忽视的热带病，感染了2.4亿人。没有疫苗，只有一种药物，就需要新的治疗靶标。致病性血吸虫是血管内扁虫寄生虫，以血液为食并产卵，从而导致病理。人们对成功寄生的寄生虫的各种组织的功能了解甚少，这阻碍了对治疗靶标的识别。

 

附：英文原文

 

Title:A single-cell RNA-seq atlas of Schistosoma mansoni identifies a key regulator of blood feeding

 

Author:George Wendt1,*, View ORCID ProfileLu Zhao1,*, View ORCID ProfileRui Chen1, View ORCID ProfileChenxi Liu2, View ORCID ProfileAnthony J. O’Donoghue

 

Issue&Volume:25 Sep 2020

 

Abstract: Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that infects 240 million people. With no vaccines and only one drug available, new therapeutic targets are needed. The causative agents, schistosomes, are intravascular flatworm parasites that feed on blood and lay eggs, resulting in pathology. The function of the parasite’s various tissues in successful parasitism are poorly understood, hindering identification of therapeutic targets. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we characterize 43,642 cells from the adult schistosome and identify 68 distinct cell populations, including specialized stem cells that maintain the parasite’s blood-digesting gut. These stem cells express the gene hnf4, which is required for gut maintenance, blood feeding, and pathology in vivo. Together, these data provide molecular insights into the organ systems of this important pathogen and identify potential therapeutic targets.

 

DOI:DOI: 10.1126/science.abb7709

 

Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/369/6511/1644