NIAID
Schisto Resource Center
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Announcement Schistosoma mansoni Maintenance Class

The Biomedical Research Institute maintains a contract entitled "Maintenance, Development and Production of Schistosomiasis Parasites, Reagents, and Assays" through which investigators can obtain schistosome life stages for their research or teaching purposes. This unique resource is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) of NIH. The three major schistosome species affecting humans (Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, and S. japonicum), obtained either in their specific snail host, or in infected mammals, can be made available on request.

For over 30 years this supply contract has been a major factor in the development of schistosomiasis research programs in numerous institutions. It has made the schistosome species available to biochemists, immunologists and others who cannot reasonably maintain these life cycles because of a lack of space, time, funding or requisite expertise. This supply contract allows investigators to obtain schistosome life cycle stages free of charge. In addition to fostering the development of schistosomiasis research, this resource serves as a backup facility for those investigators who have had problems with their own established life cycles. Personnel associated with this project are also available to provide training and technical assistance to other laboratories on snail cultivation, parasite collection and host infection.

When publications arise from your work using materials and/or schistosome life
stages from our resource facility, we ask that acknowledgment be made to
NIAID Contract No. HHSN272201000009I.

Announcement of a Schistosoma mansoni Maintenance Class

BRI offers a periodic Schistosoma mansoni maintenance class, designed to acquaint investigators working in the field of schistosomiasis with basic techniques and strategies for maintaining S. mansoni in the laboratory. Among the topics covered are procedures for setting up and maintaining the complete S. mansoni life cycle in the research laboratory, the pathology of the disease, collection of adult worms and eggs from tissues, exposure of snails to miracidia, and an examination of all the intramolluscan life stages.

For the first time, our Oct. 19-21 (2011) class will be incorporating some basic molecular techniques that will help bring to the attendees an added molecular dimension to their ongoing schistosomiasis-related research. Using standard molecular techniques, we will lead attendees through a project of how to use the non-viral carrier polyethylene imine (PEI) for gene-silencing by double-stranded RNA.

We anticipate the attendees will come away with a greater appreciation of the basic biology of the parasite, greater confidence in maintaining the life cycle in their own laboratories, and strategies for incorporating up-to-date molecular methods for investigating various aspects of the parasite and host interaction.

Anyone interested in attending the class for Oct. 19-21, please contact Dr. Fred Lewis (flewis@afbr-bri.com) as soon as possible. NIH provides a stipend to help offset costs of travel and lodging.

Dates for the Spring 2012 class have not been set, but please contact us for information if you may be interested in attending in the near future.