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.
| Objective | Species | Target gene | Molecule | System | Effect | Reference |
| Therapeutics | S. mansoni | SMDR2; SmMRP1 | siRNA | Both* | Reduction in egg burden in host liver | [32] | S. mansoni | SmCD | dsRNA | Both | Schistosomules did not survive to maturity after transfer to host | [33] | S. mansoni | HGPRTase | siRNA | In vivo | Parasites were reduced by ~27% | [34] | S. mansoni | SGTP1; SGTP4 | siRNA | Both | Decreased viabilityin vivo following infection | [35] | S. mansoni | SmNPP-5 | siRNA | Both | Parasites were greatly impaired in their ability to establish infection | [36] | S. mansoni | SmInAct | dsRNA | In vitro | Eggs aborted their development | [37] | S. mansoni | TGR | dsRNA | Both | Worm burden reductions of ~60% | [38] |
| Gene function identification | S. mansoni | SmPKA-C | dsRNA | In vitro |
Inhibition of SmPKA-C expression in adult schistosomes results in parasite death | [39] | S. mansoni | 32 genes | dsRNA | In vitro | 11 genes: reduction in sporocyst size based on length measurements | [28] | S. mansoni | LAP1; LAP2 | dsRNA | In vitro | Decreased enzymatic activity that is critical to the hatching of schistosome eggs | [27] | S. mansoni | GST26; GST28; GPx; Prx1; Prx2, SOD | dsRNA | In vitro | Increased susceptibility to H2O2 oxidativestress, except SOD | [40] | S. mansoni | Sm-TSP-1; Sm-TSP-2 | dsRNA | Both | Significantly thinner and more vacuolated tegument, and morphology consistent with a failure of tegumentary invaginations to close | [31] | S. mansoni | SmCB1 | dsRNA | In vitro | Decreased enzymatically ability of the cathepsin B | [41] | S. japonicum | SjColV | siRNA | Both | Alteration in spines on the suckers’ inner wall | [16] | S. mansoni | SmTK4 (Tyk kinase) | dsRNA | In vitro | Alterations in spermatogenesis and oogenesis | [19] | | S. japonicum | SjTYR1 e SjTYR2 | siRNA | In vitro | Changes in morphology and the number of intrauterine eggs | [42] |
|
|
“Both” means: in vitro and in vivo.
|