Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
11:21
Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity
Published on: March 12, 2015
Functional genomics approaches in parasitic helminths
J Hagen1, E F Lee, W D Fairlie
1Department of Veterinary Science, Centre for Animal Biotechnology, The University of Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
Parasite Immunology
|June 30, 2011
Summary
Functional genomics in parasitic helminths is advancing gene discovery for novel control strategies. New genetic manipulation tools enable a deeper understanding of parasite biology and host interactions.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Parasitic helminth research is entering the post-genomic era, focusing on gene function and annotation.
- Publicly available sequence data offers potential for new control interventions but has been challenging to exploit.
- Emerging genetic manipulation techniques are crucial for understanding helminth molecular mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current functional genomics approaches in parasitic helminths.
- To highlight the potential applications of these technologies in cell biology, systems biology, and immunobiology.
- To facilitate the exploitation of genomic resources for parasite control.
Main Methods:
- Review of current functional genomics methodologies.
- Discussion of genetic manipulation and transformation techniques.
- Analysis of applications in understanding helminth biology.
Main Results:
- Functional genomics enables deciphering gene function and annotation in parasitic helminths.
- Genetic manipulation tools are key to understanding nutrition, metabolism, development, and host immune interactions.
- These approaches offer insights into cell biology, systems biology, and immunobiology.
Conclusions:
- Functional genomics is essential for advancing parasitic helminth research in the post-genomic era.
- Genetic manipulation technologies unlock the potential of genomic data for understanding parasite biology.
- These advancements pave the way for developing novel interventions and control strategies against parasitic helminths.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Microbial Interactions: Parasitism
Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...
01:29Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
02:02Genomics
Genomics is the science of genomes: it is the study of all the genetic material of an organism. In humans, the genome consists of information carried in 23 pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus, as well as mitochondrial DNA. In genomics, both coding and non-coding DNA is sequenced and analyzed. Genomics allows a better understanding of all living things, their evolution, and their diversity. It has a myriad of uses: for example, to build phylogenetic trees, to improve productivity and...
01:29Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...
01:15Anthelminthic Agents
Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
01:15Diversity of Protists I
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...