International Scholarly Research Notices

Review Article

Applications of RNA Interference in Schistosomiasis: Gene Function Identification and Development of New Therapies

Table 1

Summary of some studies using RNAi in the development of new drugs or in the identification of gene function in Schistosoma species.
ObjectiveSpeciesTarget geneMoleculeSystemEffectReference
TherapeuticsS. mansoni SMDR2; SmMRP1siRNABoth*Reduction in egg
burden in host liver		[32]
S. mansoni SmCDdsRNABothSchistosomules did not survive to maturity after transfer to host[33]
S. mansoni HGPRTasesiRNAIn vivo Parasites were reduced by ~27%[34]
S. mansoni SGTP1; SGTP4siRNABothDecreased viabilityin vivo following infection[35]
S. mansoni SmNPP-5siRNABothParasites were greatly impaired in their ability to establish infection[36]
S. mansoni SmInActdsRNAIn vitro Eggs aborted their development[37]
S. mansoni TGRdsRNABothWorm burden reductions of ~60%[38]
Gene function identificationS. mansoni SmPKA-CdsRNAIn vitro Inhibition of SmPKA-C expression in adult schistosomes results in parasite death [39]
S. mansoni 32 genesdsRNAIn vitro 11 genes: reduction in sporocyst size based on length measurements[28]
S. mansoni LAP1; LAP2dsRNAIn vitro Decreased enzymatic activity that is critical to the hatching of schistosome eggs[27]
S. mansoni GST26; GST28; GPx; Prx1; Prx2, SODdsRNAIn vitro Increased susceptibility to H2O2 oxidativestress, except SOD[40]
S. mansoni Sm-TSP-1; Sm-TSP-2dsRNABothSignificantly thinner and more vacuolated tegument, and morphology consistent with a failure of tegumentary invaginations to close[31]
S. mansoni SmCB1dsRNAIn vitro Decreased enzymatically ability of the cathepsin B[41]
S. japonicum SjColVsiRNABothAlteration in spines on the suckers’ inner wall[16]
S. mansoni SmTK4 (Tyk kinase)dsRNAIn vitro Alterations in spermatogenesis and oogenesis[19]
 S. japonicum SjTYR1 e SjTYR2siRNAIn vitro Changes in morphology and the number
of intrauterine eggs		[42]
“Both” means: in vitro and in vivo.