The genome of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosoma mansoni is responsible for the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis that affects 210 million people in 76 countries. Here we present analysis of the 363 megabase nuclear genome of the blood fluke. It encodes at least 11,809 genes, with an unusual intron size distribution, and new families of micro-exon genes that undergo frequent alternative splicing. As the first sequenced flatworm, and a representative of the Lophotrochozoa, it offers insights into early events in the evolution of the animals, including the development of a body pattern with bilateral symmetry, and the development of tissues into organs. Our analysis has been informed by the need to find new drug targets. The deficits in…

• BW
  Burroughs Wellcome Fund
• PR
  Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation
• WH
  World Health Organization
• U
  UNICEF
• SF
  Sandler Foundation
• WT
  Wellcome Trust
• MO
  Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
• FD
  Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
• CD
  Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
• FD
  Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: AI48828
• JS
  Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Award: 13557021
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• FI
  Fogarty International Center