title: Use of differential display to detect changes in gene expression in the intermediate snail host Biomphalaria glabrata upon infection with Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: Changes in gene expression in Biomphalaria glabrata following infection with Schistosoma mansoni have been investigated using a modified differential display approach. RNA was extracted from ovotestis, mantle tissue and anterior nephridium of control and exposed snails at 2 time-points (4 h and 24 h) post-exposure and analysed by RNA fingerprinting. A number of transcripts were identified; some novel and some homologous to mRNAs in GenEMBL that were previously unknown in B. glabrata. Down regulation of one 241 bp mRNA expressed sequence fragment - with an open reading frame showing 48% identity to a cytochrome p450 over 80 residues - has been confirmed using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Preliminary classification of B. glabrata cyp450 sequence shows it to fall into CLAN 2 of the cytochrome p450 superfamily. Differential display has been successful in identifying changes in gene expression in Biomphalaria glabrata upon infection with Schistosoma mansoni and promises to be a useful technique for the investigation of the interaction between host and parasite.
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, Aberdeen University.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lockyer
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rollinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001700:Biomphalaria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000145:classification; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System