This is a new RO1 grant application to study the evolutionary diversification of the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, and its snail host, Biomphalaria spp. Schistosomiasis is one of the most serious of parasitic diseases, and future control efforts will require a better understanding of the basic biology of these parasites, including their evolutionary biology. Moreover an important key to understanding schistosome evolution is to comprehend their dependence on snails as intermediate hosts, yet there exists a lack of even rudimentary knowledge of the evolutionary relationships among these snail vectors, and how those relationships might influence schistosome evolution. However, in order to obtain a 'global' perspective on past and present evolution of S. mansoni and its snail host species, representative samples across the entire geographic range of these organisms would be required for a comprehensive analysis. Accordingly, the PI proposes to obtain samples of S. mansoni populations and corresponding host snails covering their geographic ranges, and, using genomic and mitochondrial target gene sequence analyses in conjunction with powerful molecular phylogenetic techniques, he will then construct a series of cladograms or trees to develop robust hypotheses regarding evolutionary relationships among S. mansoni populations, and among their snail hosts. The data generated will address questions of how genetic variation in S. mansoni is apportioned among and within continents, whether this variation results from geographic isolation or is driven by coevolution with their hosts, and what factors influence variability within parasite populations. Hypotheses also will be provided regarding the origins of Biomphalaria, whether susceptibility is an ancestral or derived trait, how Biomphalaria is related to other snail host genera, and how snail evolution may have influenced schistosome evolution.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI044913-03
Application #
6374087
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-TMP (01))
Program Officer
Aultman, Kathryn S
Project Start
1999-04-01
Project End
2004-03-31
Budget Start
2001-04-01
Budget End
2002-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$212,597
Indirect Cost
Name
University of New Mexico
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
829868723
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
Country
United States
Zip Code
87131
Brant, Sara V; Loker, Eric S; Casalins, Laura et al. (2017) Phylogenetic Placement of a Schistosome from an Unusual Marine Snail Host, the False Limpet (Siphonaria lessoni) and Gulls (Larus dominicanus) from Argentina with a Brief Review of Marine Schistosomes from Snails. J Parasitol 103:75-82
Brant, S V; Pomajbikova, K; Modry, D et al. (2013) Molecular phylogenetics of the elephant schistosome Bivitellobilharzia loxodontae (Trematoda: Schistosomatidae) from the Central African Republic. J Helminthol 87:102-7
Steinauer, Michelle L; Christie, Mark R; Blouin, Michael S et al. (2013) Non-invasive sampling of schistosomes from humans requires correcting for family structure. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 7:e2456
Hanelt, Ben; Bolek, Matthew G; Schmidt-Rhaesa, Andreas (2012) Going solo: discovery of the first parthenogenetic gordiid (Nematomorpha: Gordiida). PLoS One 7:e34472
Steinauer, Michelle L; Blouin, Michael S; Criscione, Charles D (2010) Applying evolutionary genetics to schistosome epidemiology. Infect Genet Evol 10:433-43
Lotfy, Wael M; Brant, Sara V; Ashmawy, Karam I et al. (2010) A molecular approach for identification of paramphistomes from Africa and Asia. Vet Parasitol 174:234-40
Hanelt, B; Mwangi, I N; Kinuthia, J M et al. (2010) Schistosomes of small mammals from the Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya: new species, familiar species, and implications for schistosomiasis control. Parasitology 137:1109-18
Brant, Sara V; Cohen, Andrew N; Cohen, Andrew N et al. (2010) Cercarial dermatitis transmitted by exotic marine snail. Emerg Infect Dis 16:1357-65
Black, Carla L; Steinauer, Michelle L; Mwinzi, Pauline N M et al. (2009) Impact of intense, longitudinal retreatment with praziquantel on cure rates of schistosomiasis mansoni in a cohort of occupationally exposed adults in western Kenya. Trop Med Int Health 14:450-7
Brant, S V; Loker, E S (2009) Schistosomes in the southwest United States and their potential for causing cercarial dermatitis or 'swimmer's itch'. J Helminthol 83:191-8

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