DNA polymorphism of schistosomes and their snail hosts

ABSTRACT

DNA polymorphism of schistosomes and their snail hosts

Andrew J. G. Simpson¹

Emmanuel Dias Neto¹

Teofania H. D. A. Vidigal¹

Heloísa B. Pena²

Omar S. Carvalho¹

Sergio D. J. Pena²

FIOCRUZ, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou, Belo Horizonte, Brasil

UFMG, ICB, Departamento de Bioquímica, Belo Horizonte, Brasil

Analysis of the genomes of schistosomes and one of their intermediate hosts, Biomphalaria glabrata, using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) demonstrated that intraspecific genetic polymorphism in the parasite is limited but in the snail is highly pronounced. This suggests an important role for the snail in the determination of the epidemiology of the disease. In addition to their intraspecific stability, schistosome derived RAPDs exhibit a high level of interspecific polymorphism and are thus ideal for the construction of phylogenetic trees. For the detection of intraspecific polymorphisms extensive variation in the mitochondrial DNA is being exploited for the development of a PCR based test for Schistosoma mansoni. Gene level polymorphisms are being analyzed by Low Stringency Single Specific Primer PCR.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  01 June 2009
• Date of issue
  Apr 1995