Trainee Mentoring Award
Mentee: Evaristus C. Mbanefo, PhD
Mentor: Michael Hsieh, MD, PhD
Objective: To develop a qPCR based assay for detection of mRNA transcripts of interleukin-4-inducing principle of Schistosoma mansoni eggs (IPSE) as a quantitative morbidity biomarker and diagnostic tool for schistosomiasis
Project Summary:
Schistosomiasis caused by infection with Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium still causes significant morbidity and mortality, limiting the developmental potentials of pre-school and school aged children in endemic areas, in addition to increasing long-term risk of life-threatening pathology such as bladder cancer. We have developed a qPCR assay based on detection of the transcripts of the interleukin-4-inducing principle of Schistosoma mansoni eggs (IPSE), which will potentially surpass the present diagnostic gold standard, comprised of parasitological detection of parasite eggs in stool using the Kato-Katz method or in urine using the syringe filtration method. This molecule is the most abundant secreted protein from schistosome eggs, and we believe that its transcripts may be a suitable morbidity biomarker for disease pathogenesis, in addition to being potentially useful for disease diagnosis.
