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Genomic basis of anti-schistosome resistance in snails

Award Number: R21AI132953
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/19/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2022

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Genomic basis of anti-schistosome resistance in snails - SUMMARY Mechanisms of snail resistance to schistosomes have long been considered as one of the most important topics in snail-based schistosomiasis research, but these mechanisms remain largely unknown. Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease transmitted by freshwater snails, continues to plague the health of 207 million people around the world. There is no effective vaccine available and current treatment of the disease relies solely on the single therapy of praziquantel. There is a growing realization that control programs that include reducing or eliminating vector snail populations are the most effective measures to achieve sustainable disease control. Much effort has been devoted to understanding the molecular biology of these snails with the goal of devising vector- targeted control strategies to disrupt disease transmission. As part of this effort, we have created two highly inbred lines of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, the most studied schistosome-transmitting snail species. The albino iM line was generated from a single parent of the schistosome-susceptible M line snail and has now undergone 76 consecutive generations of self-fertilization, while pigmentated iBS-90, an inbred line now through 20 generations of self-fertilization, was derived from a schistosome-resistant BS-90 snail. We have sequenced the whole genome of an iM snail strain. This genome, now available for mapping, is more relevant to unraveling genes suspected of governing resistance than for any other B. glabrata genome or associated mapping efforts previously undertaken. This is because we have repeatedly confirmed that iM line and iBS-90 are completely susceptible and resistant to Schistosoma mansoni, respectively. Building on the solid data and unique resources we have developed, we propose to identify genes conferring snail resistance to schistosomes. Towards that end, bulked segregant analysis (BSA) in combination with double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) will be undertaken to screen the two bulked F2 segregant populations with extreme contrasting phenotypes (resistance and non-resistance) (Aim 1). Further investigation will be conducted to apply RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to reveal genes that are highly activated after exposure to schistosome. After comparatively analyzing the two datasets from genomic DNA and genome-wide transcriptomes, we will select candidate resistance genes for subsequent RNAi analysis (Aim 2). By better understanding molecular mechanisms of how snails kill schistosomes, we will eventually be able to develop novel stratagies for the snail- based control of schistosomiasis. !


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2023	2020	UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, THE	1700 LOMAS BLVD NE STE 2200	ALBUQUERQUE	NM	87106	BERNALILLO	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	10/27/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $194,256 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO	1700 LOMAS BLVD NE	ALBUQUERQUE	NM	87106	BERNALILLO	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	1/30/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$194,256
														Subtotal = $194,256

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $235,870 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO	1700 LOMAS BLVD NE	ALBUQUERQUE	NM	87106	BERNALILLO	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	2/15/2019	NEW	$235,870
														Subtotal = $235,870

Grand Total All Awards = $430,126

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Genomic basis of anti-schistosome resistance in snails

Award Number: R21AI132953

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/19/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2022

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