Pearce E J, Freitas T C
Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Parasite Immunol. 2008 Apr;30(4):215-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2007.01005.x.
The sequencing of the schistosome genome and the establishment of techniques for RNAi and transient transfection in these parasites have opened the door for a reverse genetics approach to studying schistosomes. One of the most intriguing aspects of schistosome biology is the interaction of these parasites with the immune system. The immune response underlies the ability of the host to survive while infected and to eventually develop resistance to further infection. However, it is also instrumental in the development of disease due to its role orchestrating granuloma formation around tissue-trapped parasite eggs. While schistosomes have clearly evolved mechanisms for evading host immune responses, their normal development is, paradoxically, also dependent upon the presence of a normal immune system. This article will review recent advances in the development of tools for studying gene function in schistosomes, and discuss how these new tools may be exploited to investigate issues of key importance in the interaction of schistosomes with the host immune system.
血吸虫基因组测序以及在这些寄生虫中建立RNA干扰和瞬时转染技术，为采用反向遗传学方法研究血吸虫打开了大门。血吸虫生物学最引人入胜的一个方面是这些寄生虫与免疫系统的相互作用。免疫反应是宿主在感染时存活并最终对进一步感染产生抵抗力的能力的基础。然而，由于其在组织中捕获的寄生虫卵周围协调肉芽肿形成的作用，它在疾病发展中也起作用。虽然血吸虫显然已经进化出逃避宿主免疫反应的机制，但矛盾的是，它们的正常发育也依赖于正常免疫系统的存在。本文将综述研究血吸虫基因功能工具开发的最新进展，并讨论如何利用这些新工具来研究血吸虫与宿主免疫系统相互作用中关键重要问题。
