Single_cell_transcriptome_of_schistosome_sporocysts

Schistosomiasis, a major Neglected Tropical Disease caused by the infection with blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, affects more than 200 million people worldwide. To complete the life cycle, the parasite undergoes a sexual and asexual reproduction within a definitive mammalian host and a snail host, respectively. The intra-molluscan phase provides a critical parasite amplification step to ensure a successful transmission. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the intra-molluscan developmental stages are poorly understood. Single-cell transcriptomics provides an opportunity to define cellular types and investigate transcriptional signatures of specific cell populations in the first intra-snail stage of the parasite. Here, we collected and cultured schistosome mother sporocysts for 5 days and performed single cell sequencing to define the firs cell atlas of the intrasnail developmental stage of Schistosoma mansoni.