Confocal Z stack through a cercaria of Schistosoma mansoni labelled with CFSE

• Schistosomiasis is an important parasitic disease caused by blood flukes (schistosomes), which currently infects >200 million people worldwide.
   
• In the majority of cases, the disease is chronic and immune responses are down regulated allowing long-term survival of the blood flukes (schistosomes) on the one hand, and minimizing immunopathological damage to the host on the other.
   

 
• We propose a central mechanism whereby schistosomes cause immune down-regulation is via continuous, repeated stimulation of a group of cells comprising the innate immune system during skin penetration by schistosome cercariae .
   
• We are investigating the interaction of schistosome molecules with the innate immune system in order to identify a novel route to exploit in the development of future control measures.



Transverse section of mouse pinna 48 hours after infection with Schistosoma mansoni
Copyright, Dr Adrian P. Mountford, University of York
   
• The proposal is based upon a multidisciplinary and integrated consortium bringing together field based researchers (epidemiologists, health care workers), and basic scientists (immunologists, biochemists) from 3 African and 3 European countries.  Together, the partners will deliver an innovative project that will identify novel strategies in the control of schistosomiasis.