| revious studies involving the trematode Schistasoma mansoni have suggested that, upon infection of the definitive host, successful completion of parasite development and migration is dependent on the receipt of appropriate host-derived signals by the parasite and on transmission of signals between male and female parasites. A molecular understanding of the signals and receptors involved in these interactions may reveal new opportunities to disrupt the parasite life cycle for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. This study has sought to identify, by molecular and biochemical means, parasite receptors expressed on the surface membrane of the schistosome neodermis. Detection of a protein serine-threonine kinase activity in association with parasite surface molecules, together with other biochemical evidence, suggested that a member of the transforming growth factor... |
