Development of CRISPR based technology in schistosome bloodflukes

Schistosomiasis is a serious global problem and the
second most devastating parasitic disease after malaria. Currently, there is no
effective vaccine available and treatment is entirely dependent on praziquantel
chemotherapy, which raises significant potential threat to public health should
drug resistance develop. The paucity of molecular tools to manipulate
schistosome gene expression has made an understanding of genetic pathways in
these parasites difficult, increasing the challenge of identifying new
potential drug and vaccine candidates

 1) we aim to develop a CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat)- mediated gene editing system in schistosomes for better understanding gene function, providing a powerful approach in the identification of new drug and
vaccine targets and the unravelling of potential drug resistance mechanisms.

2) we will develop fast, accurate, easy-to-use and low-cost diagnostic tools by using CRISPR/Cas12 and Cas13 based system, for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, hookworm and other neglected tropical diseases.

CRISPR-based genome editing in schistosomes has the
potential to revolutionize functional genomics by addressing existing technical challenges. It enables novel drug discovery and provides critical insights into the mechanisms of drug resistance. Additionally, the development of CRISPR-based diagnostic tools for various helminths aligns with the urgent WHO need for ultra-sensitive, portable, point-of-care technologies. These tools can facilitate rapid disease mapping, enhance the monitoring of helminth control programs, and support the assessment of elimination targets.