Single-cell RNA sequencing of female Schistosoma mansoni after 2 days of BATT treatment
Schistosomiasis, a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, represents a significant zoonotic parasitic disease that affects over 200 million people across 78 countries, with a substantial burden on public health systems globally. The phenomenon of male-induced sexual maturation in female schistosomes was first documented as early as 1928. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction remain poorly understood and have yet to be fully elucidated. In a significant advancement, a recent study identified a novel mechanism through which the male schistosome synthesizes a dipeptide pheromone, beta-alanyl-tryptamine (BATT), which acts as a key inducer of female reproductive development.This study aimed to answer how female schistosome initiate the sexual maturation process upon receiving BATT signals.