Development of “-omics” research in Schistosoma spp. and -omics-based new diagnostic tools for schistosomiasis

Abstract

Schistosomiasis, caused by dioecious flatworms in the genus Schistosoma, is torturing people from many developing countries nowadays and frequently leads to severe morbidity and mortality of the patients. Praziquantel based chemotherapy and morbidity control for this disease adopted currently necessitate viable and efficient diagnostic technologies. Fortunately, those “-omics” researches, which rely on high-throughput experimental technologies to produce massive amounts of informative data, have substantially contributed to the exploitation and innovation of diagnostic tools of schistosomiasis. In its first section, this review provides a concise conclusion on the progresses pertaining to schistosomal “-omics” researches to date, followed by a comprehensive section on the diagnostic methods of schistosomiasis, especially those innovative ones based on the detection of antibodies, antigens, nucleic acids, and metabolites with a focus on those achievements inspired by “-omics” researches. Finally, suggestions about the design of future diagnostic tools of schistosomiasis are proposed, in order to better harness those data produced by “-omics” studies.

Advances in the Diagnosis of Human Schistosomiasis

“…In addition, cathepsin B (Sm31) from S. mansoni adult worms has shown promise as a useful serum diagnostic marker (280,281). Other schistosome proteins and antigens from different life cycle stages which may be of value as diagnostic markers include protease inhibitors, such as ␣ macroglobulin, a serpin, the MEG 2 and 3 egg secretory proteins, and the 18-kDa, 31/32-kDa, 38-kDa, Sm29, and Sm21.7 proteins (282)(283)(284).…”

Development of real-time and lateral flow recombinase polymerase amplification assays for rapid detection of Schistosoma mansoni

“…Although this work represented a first and important step for the use of RPA for S. mansoni diagnosis, the lateral flow approaches lacked specificity with cross-reactivity with S. haematobium and Schistosoma bovis observed. One of the benefits of molecular based approaches is that they can be designed for different DNA biomarkers, allowing assays to be optimised to achieve high levels of sensitivity and specificity (Wang and Hu, 2014;Blasco-Costa et al, 2016). Once the isothermal molecular platform, such as LAMP and RPA, has been established and proved to work in the required settings then the molecular assays can be tailored to the need and sample type.…”

Effects of Polymorphisms in the SjSP-13 Gene of Schistosoma japonicum on Its Diagnostic Efficacy and Immunogenicity

“…However, all the currently used immunodiagnostic techniques are based on crude antigens extracted from either eggs or worms (SEA or SWAP), resulting in a wide cross-reaction with antibodies to other flukes ( Yu et al, 2007 ; Zhou et al, 2008 ). To improve specificity, it is essential to identify a single molecule marker instead of crude antigens ( Wang and Hu, 2014 ).…”