A single-cell RNA-seq atlas of identifies a key regulator of blood feeding.
George Wendt, Lu Zhao, Rui Chen, Chenxi Liu, Anthony J O'Donoghue, Conor R Caffrey, Michael L Reese, James J Collins
Author Information
- George Wendt: Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. ORCID
- Lu Zhao: Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. ORCID
- Rui Chen: Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. ORCID
- Chenxi Liu: Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. ORCID
- Anthony J O'Donoghue: Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. ORCID
- Conor R Caffrey: Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Michael L Reese: Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. ORCID
- James J Collins: Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. jamesj.collins@utsouthwestern.edu. ORCID
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that infects 240 million people. With no vaccines and only one drug available, new therapeutic targets are needed. The causative agents, schistosomes, are intravascular flatworm parasites that feed on blood and lay eggs, resulting in pathology. The function of the parasite's various tissues in successful parasitism are poorly understood, hindering identification of therapeutic targets. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we characterize 43,642 cells from the adult schistosome and identify 68 distinct cell populations, including specialized stem cells that maintain the parasite's blood-digesting gut. These stem cells express the gene , which is required for gut maintenance, blood feeding, and pathology in vivo. Together, these data provide molecular insights into the organ systems of this important pathogen and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Dryad | 10.5061/dryad.0k6djh9xk
Animals
Atlases as Topic
Blood
Female
Gene Expression
Helminth Proteins
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4
Male
RNA Interference
RNA-Seq
Schistosoma mansoni
Schistosomiasis mansoni
Single-Cell Analysis
Stem Cells
Helminth Proteins
Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4
