2024/10/16 by Svenja Gramberg, Oliver Puckelwaldt, Tobias Schmitt +2 · 1 voice · 15 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Immunology and Microbiology · #Biology #Computational biology #Drug resistance #Flatworm #Gene #Gene expression #Gene expression profiling #Genetics #Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms #Multicellular organism #Parasite Biology and Host Interactions #Parasites and Host Interactions #Transcriptome
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s41467-024-53215-3
published in Nature Communications 15(1), 8918 (Nature Portfolio)
openalex publication_date 2024/10/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23
The spatial organization of gene expression dictates tissue functions in multicellular parasites. Here, we present the spatial transcriptome of a parasitic flatworm, the common liver fluke Fasciola hepatica. We identify gene expression profiles and marker genes for eight distinct tissues and validate the latter by in situ hybridization. To demonstrate the power of our spatial atlas, we focus on genes with substantial medical importance, including vaccine candidates (Ly6 proteins) and drug resistance genes (glutathione S-transferases, ABC transporters). Several of these genes exhibit unique expression patterns, indicating tissue-specific biological functions. Notably, the prioritization of tegumental protein kinases identifies a PKCβ, for which small-molecule targeting causes parasite death. Our comprehensive gene expression map provides unprecedented molecular insights into the organ systems of this complex parasitic organism, serving as a valuable tool for both basic and applied research.