title: Advances in mRNA silencing and transgene expression: a gateway to functional genomics in schistosomes.
abstract: The completion of the WHO Schistosoma Genome Project in 2008, although not fully annotated, provides a golden opportunity to actively pursue fundamental research on the parasites genome. This analysis will aid identification of targets for drugs, vaccines and markers for diagnostic tools as well as for studying the biological basis of drug resistance, infectivity and pathology. For the validation of drug and vaccine targets, the genomic sequence data is only of use if functional analyses can be conducted (in the parasite itself). Until recently, gene manipulation approaches had not been seriously addressed. This situation is now changing and rapid advances have been made in gene silencing and transgenesis of schistosomes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010 VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Elissaveta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tchoubrieva
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalinna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049751:Genome, Helminth; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D012547:Schistosoma / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes