title: Existence of host DNA sequences in schistosomes--horizontal and vertical transmission.
abstract: The localization of repetitive DNA sequences in the mouse genome such as mouse type 2 Alu sequence (B2) and mouse retrovirus-related sequences was shown in the body of adult Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mansoni by applying an in situ PCR and hybridization technique. Using the same method, mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I sequence was also found in schistosomes. Furthermore, mouse MHC class I sequence and type A retroviral sequence were detected in S. japonicum and S. mansoni cercarial DNA by blot hybridization. These findings indicated that horizontal and vertical transmission of host DNA sequences occurred in schistosomes. The incorporation and propagation of host sequences in schistosomes and the roles played by such host sequences form the focus of this brief review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan. imase@dokkyomed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imase
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iwamura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012190:Retroviridae; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000635:transmission*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral