RNA sequencing of Schistosoma japonicum after knocking down Sj2003 in vitro using RNAi

Schistosomiasis affects more than 250 million people worldwide and is one of the neglected tropical diseases. In this study, we systematically mined the highly expressed uncharacterized genes (UGs) in both genders of this parasite throughout key developmental stages in their mammalian host.Specifically, for Sjc_0002003, we elucidated the molecular basis of its phenotypic effects. To investigate the regulatory mechanisms of Sjc_0002003, we conducted RNA-seq analysis and functional studies, revealing that silencing Sjc_0002003 downregulates a suite of intestinal genes, resulting in gut dilation. These findings underscore the potential of UGs in schistosomes as viable targets for drug development in schistosomiasis treatment.