TY - JOUR
T1 - A single-cell RNA-seq atlas of Schistosoma mansoni identifies a key regulator of blood feeding
AU - Wendt, George
AU - Zhao, Lu
AU - Chen, Rui
AU - Liu, Chenxi
AU - O'Donoghue, Anthony J.
AU - Caffrey, Conor R.
AU - Reese, Michael L.
AU - Collins, James J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/9/25
Y1 - 2020/9/25
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
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U2 - 10.1126/science.abb7709
DO - 10.1126/science.abb7709
M3 - Article
C2 - 32973030
AN - SCOPUS:85091619819
SN - 0036-8075
VL - 369
JO - Science
JF - Science
IS - 6511
M1 - eabb7709
ER -