Transcriptome analysis of the acoelomate human parasite Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosoma mansoni is the primary causative agent of schistosomiasis, which affects 200 million individuals in 74 countries. We generated 163,000 expressed-sequence tags (ESTs) from normalized cDNA libraries from six selected developmental stages of the parasite, resulting in 31,000 assembled sequences and 92% sampling of an estimated 14,000 gene complement. By analyzing automated Gene Ontology assignments, we provide a detailed view of important S. mansoni biological systems, including characterization of metazoa-specific and eukarya-conserved genes. Phylogenetic analysis suggests an early divergence from other metazoa. The data set provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of tissue organization, development, signaling, sexual dimorphism, host interactions and immune evasion and identifies novel proteins to be investigated as vaccine candidates and potential drug targets

Ancylidae (Gastropoda, Basommatophora) na América do Sul: sistemática e distribuição South American Ancylidae (Gastropoda, Basommatophora): systematic and distribution

<abstract language="eng">The family Ancylidae is represented in South America by the genera: Gundlachia Pfeiffer, 1849, Ferrissia Walker, 1903, Burnupia Walker, 1912 and Laevapex Walker, 1903. The species are caracterized using the combination of shell features and radula by scanning electron microscope, shell muscle and mantle pigmentation. The conchometry is also presented, but it does not help to species identification. The distribution of G. crequi (Bavay, 1904), G. foncki (Philippi, 1866), G. philippiana (Biese, 1948), G. obliqua (Broderip & Sowerby, 1832), G. moricandi (Orbigny, 1837), G. concentrica (Orbigny, 1835), G. radiata (Guilding, 1828), G bakeri Pilsbry, 1913, G ticaga (Marcus & Marcus, 1962), F. gentilis Lanzer, 1991, B. ingae Lanzer, 1991, L. vazi Santos, 1989 and Laevapex sp. in the Neotropical region is based on the bibliography, examination of the material deposited in scientific institutions and in the author's collection