Scientists decode the genome of the death snail

Scientists at the University of Aberdeen, a member of the international research group, have worked to better understand the biology of a snail that infects about 200 million people, killing about 200,000 people each. years in developing countries.

Specifically, Schistosomiasis is also known as a fever snail or bilharzia, the second most contagious snail infection after the global health-threatening parasite malaria. This snail contains schistosome parasites, often found in tropical snails. And most notably, a research program 'Biomphalaria glabrata' belongs to the topic of large-scale gene research published in the journal Nature Communications.

The study, led by the University of New Mexico, collaborated with more than 100 researchers from all over Europe, the US, Africa and Australia and the British Association including scientists from Aberdeen University, Aberystwyth, Brunel, Kingston, Westminster, Museum of Natural History, London (WHO Cooperation Center) and European Institute of Bioinformatics.

Scientists have identified a number of important processes in this snail's genome, which will help them understand how to kill lethal parasites and find new ways to stop them. transmission.

The Aberdeen University team, led by Dr. Catherine Jones (representative of the British Association for International Steering), Dr. Les Noble and Dr. Anne Lockyer, worked with colleagues at the University. Brunel, most interested in snail gene traits, other functions, detoxification as well as controlling the reproductive mechanism of this death snail. This information promises to provide new control strategies. For example, designing pesticides that can inhibit genes in harmful snails, spread the disease.

In particular, pesticides for infectious species often have a broad spectrum effect, which can kill both fish and other aquatic organisms, so making and using drugs to kill harmful snails is also a problem. very difficult. In addition, the genetic understanding associated with the reproduction of Schistosomiasis will help to create strategies to limit the number of eggs that this species produces.

Dr Jones, of the School of Biological Sciences, said: ' This snail infection causes a major global health threat, it kills about 200,000 people each year, especially infecting millions of children. . Children tend to get this disease because they are very exposed to the parasitic water . "

Our team and international corporations have joined hands for the first time to analyze the genome of this disease-causing snail and as a result have a better understanding of their biological mechanism and how they spread the disease. In the future, we can propose specific strategies to reduce the spread of Schistosomiasis, helping the World Health Organization achieve its goal of eliminating the disease by 2025.