New Research Tools for Urogenital Schistosomiasis

Abstract

Approximately 200,000,000 people have schistosomiasis (schistosome infection). Among the schistosomes, Schistosoma haematobium is responsible for the most infections, which are present in 110 million people globally, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. This pathogen causes an astonishing breadth of sequelae: hematuria, anemia, dysuria, stunting, uremia, bladder cancer, urosepsis, and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection. Refined estimates of the impact of schistosomiasis on quality of life suggest that it rivals malaria. Despite S. haematobium's importance, relevant research has lagged. Here, we review advances that will deepen knowledge of S. haematobium. Three sets of breakthroughs will accelerate discoveries in the pathogenesis of urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS): (1) comparative genomics, (2) the development of functional genomic tools, and (3) the use of animal models to explore S. haematobium-host interactions. Comparative genomics for S. haematobium is feasible, given the sequencing of multiple schistosome genomes. Features of the S. haematobium genome that are conserved among platyhelminth species and others that are unique to S. haematobium may provide novel diagnostic and drug targets for UGS. Although there are technical hurdles, the integrated use of these approaches can elucidate host-pathogen interactions during this infection and can inform the development of techniques for investigating schistosomes in their human and snail hosts and the development of therapeutics and vaccines for the control of UGS.

Cross-species prophylactic efficacy of Sm-p80-based vaccine and intracellular localization of Sm-p80/Sm-p80 ortholog proteins during development in Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma japonicum, and Schistosoma haematobium

“…Contrary to other reports (Ghandour 1978; Vuong et al 1996), no eggs were observed in the urinary bladders of the hamsters in the control group or the vaccinated group. This drawback further supports the argument that hamster is not an ideal animal model to fully study urogenital schistosomiasis (Honeycutt et al 2014; Rinaldi et al 2015). The data presented here on cross-species efficacy of Sm-p80 against S. japonicum and S. haematobium infections in addition to our previously published vaccine efficacy studies against S. mansoni infections strengthens the paradigm that Sm-p80-based vaccine could be useful in the control of the three major species of schistosomes that infect humans thereby reducing the overall global burden of the disease.…”

The role of estradiol metabolism in urogenital schistosomiasis-induced bladder cancer

“…Characterization and functional analysis of these enzymes, summarized in Tables 1 and 2, employing functional genomic tools such as transgenesis, gene silencing, and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing might provide in the near future insights in their biological roles in the hostparasite relationship including in UGS-induced SCC. [39][40][41] …”

Metabolite profiling for biomarkers in Schistosoma haematobium infection and associated bladder pathologies

“…In chronic cases, infected persons may experience abdominal pain, enlarged liver, paralysis, granuloma formation, blood in the urine and the risk of early onset and aggressive bladder cancer [ 1 ]. A population of more than 200 million in different countries is at risk of schistosomiasis [ 1 ] and more than 100 million are said to be affected by urogenital schistosomiasis [ 2 ]. Several studies in different parts of Nigeria have reported moderate to high prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis [ 3 , 4 ].…”