title: Progress with schistosome transgenesis.
abstract: Genome sequences for Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mansoni are now available. The schistosome genome encodes ~13,000 protein encoding genes for which the function of only a minority is understood. There is a valuable role for transgenesis in functional genomic investigations of these new schistosome gene sequences. In gain-of-function approaches, transgenesis can lead to integration of transgenes into the schistosome genome which can facilitate insertional mutagenesis screens. By contrast, transgene driven, vector-based RNA interference (RNAi) offers powerful loss-of-function manipulations. Our laboratory has focused on development of tools to facilitate schistosome transgenesis. We have investigated the utility of retroviruses and transposons to transduce schistosomes. Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG) pseudotyped murine leukemia virus (MLV) can transduce developmental stages of S. mansoni including eggs. We have also observed that the piggyBac transposon is transpositionally active in schistosomes. Approaches with both VSVG-MLV and piggyBac have resulted in somatic transgenesis and have lead to integration of active reporter transgenes into schistosome chromosomes. These findings provided the first reports of integration of reporter transgenes into schistosome chromosomes. Experience with these systems is reviewed herewith, along with findings with transgene mediated RNAi and germ line transgenesis, in addition to pioneering and earlier reports of gene manipulation for schistosomes.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Yousef Noori
authors: YN
authors: Alrefaei
authors: Tunika Ida
authors: TI
authors: Okatcha
authors: Danielle Elaine
authors: DE
authors: Skinner
authors: Paul James
authors: PJ
authors: Brindley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D049751:Genome, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009052:Leukemia Virus, Murine / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D034622:RNA Interference; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D004279:DNA, Viral; C028391:G protein, vesicular stomatitis virus; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins