The RNA helicase Vasa plays a pivotal role in the development of the germ line. To decipher the functional roles of vasa/PL10-like genes in the human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni, we performed RNA interference followed by the analysis of the ovary in the adult female. Double-stranded RNA targeting the schistosome vasa-like gene Smvlg1 reduced the volume of the ovary. Changes in morphology of the ovary were analysed using carmine red-staining of the parasites followed by a novel confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)-based approach to control for natural autofluorescence in female schistosome tissues. The reduction in the ovary volume may have been promoted by the loss of germ cells. By contrast, significant differences were not apparent in the number of eggs produced or hatching rate of eggs laid by the female schistosomes transfected with Smvlg1-specific dsRNA. The findings suggested a role for S. mansoni vasa/PL10-like gene -1 in germ cell development within the schistosome ovary that might impact in the pathogenesis and disease transmission by this neglected tropical disease pathogen.

RNA 解旋酶 Vasa 在生殖系的发育中起关键作用。为了破译vasa/PL10样基因在人类血吸虫曼氏血吸虫中的功能作用，我们进行了 RNA 干扰，然后分析了成年女性的卵巢。靶向血吸虫血管样基因Smvlg1的双链RNA减少了卵巢的体积。使用寄生虫的胭脂红染色分析卵巢形态的变化，然后采用基于新型共聚焦激光扫描显微镜 (CLSM) 的方法来控制女性血吸虫组织中的自然自发荧光。生殖细胞的丢失可能促进了卵巢体积的减少。相比之下，用Smvlg1特异性 dsRNA转染的雌性血吸虫产卵数量或产卵孵化率没有明显差异。研究结果表明S. mansoni vasa/PL10样基因 -1 在血吸虫卵巢内生殖细胞发育中的作用，这可能影响这种被忽视的热带病病原体的发病机制和疾病传播。