Schistosoma comparative genomics: integrating genome structure, parasite biology and anthelmintic discovery

Authors

Martin T. Swain, Aberystwyth University
Denis M. Larkin, Aberystwyth University
Conor R. Caffrey, University of California - San Francisco
Stephen J. Davies, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Alex Loukas, James Cook University
Patrick J. Skelly, Tufts University
Karl F. Hoffmann, Aberystwyth UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

2011

Comments

Published in Trends in Parasitology (2011) p. 1-10; doi:10.1016/j.pt.2011.09.003

Abstract

Schistosoma genomes provide a comprehensive resource for identifying the molecular processes that shape parasite evolution and for discovering novel chemotherapeutic or immunoprophylactic targets. Here, we demonstrate how intragenus and intergenus comparative genomics can be used to drive these investigations forward, illustrate the advantages and limitations of these approaches and review how post-genomic technologies offer complementary strategies for genome characterisation. Although sequencing and functional characterisation of other schistosome/platyhelminth genomes continues to expedite anthelmintic discovery, we contend that future priorities should equally focus on improving assembly quality, and chromosomal assignment, of existing schistosome/platyhelminth genomes.