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Transformative tools for parasitic flatworms
Schistosome single-cell atlas and genome-wide functional dissection reveal druggable targets Schistosomes, a type of parasitic flatworm, are complex multicellular pathogens with an oversized and probably underestimated impact on human health. Schistosomiasis is one of the “neglected” tropical diseas...
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Published in: | Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2020-09, Vol.369 (6511), p.1562-1564 |
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Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Schistosome single-cell atlas and genome-wide functional dissection reveal druggable targets
Schistosomes, a type of parasitic flatworm, are complex multicellular pathogens with an oversized and probably underestimated impact on human health. Schistosomiasis is one of the “neglected” tropical diseases, named in part because of a perceived lack of tools to probe parasite biology. On pages 1649 and 1644 of this issue, Wang
et al.
(
1
) and Wendt
et al.
(
2
), respectively, show that this neglect is unwarranted. With creative use of postgenomic and parasitological approaches, these authors uncover previously unknown aspects of schistosome biology, highlight avenues for intervention, and provide new resources for the field. Wang
et al.
report a loss-of-function screen that reveals numerous essential genes and identify small-molecule inhibitors of two kinases required for muscle development. Wendt
et al.
unveil a single-cell atlas for adult schistosomes, unearthing a gut stem cell lineage that can be targeted to eliminate egg production and pathology. |
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ISSN: | 0036-8075 1095-9203 |
DOI: | 10.1126/science.abe0710 |