Single_cell_transcriptome_of_schistosome_ovary_and_vitellaria_

Schistosomiasis, a major neglected tropical diseases affecting the poorest regions in the world, is caused by the infection with parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma. Schistosomes exhibit an exceptional reproductive biology since the sexual maturation of the female, which includes the differentiation of the reproductive organs, is controlled by pairing. The pathology associated with the infection is driven by the parasite eggs that get trapped in host tissues, mainly the liver and intestinal wall. Undertsanding the processes contributing to female maturation is not only of interest to the fundametal sexual biology of the parasite, but also critical to identify targets for novel control strategies for schistosomiasis. In this study, we isolated ovary and vitellaria tissue from both immature and mature female worms and employed single cell transcriptomics to identify specific signatures associated with the development of the female reproductive tissue triggered by pairing with the male.