How mixing between blood fluke species changes their genes
Official title: Genomic consequences of schistosome hybridization
Funded at Texas Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11159631 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether genes from cattle blood flukes have mixed into human blood flukes and how that might affect infections in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | September 27, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $613,689 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI166049-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159631 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be people (children or adults) living in schistosomiasis-endemic areas who have active S. haematobium infection and can provide parasite samples.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not live in endemic regions or who never have schistosomiasis are unlikely to get a direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
This project reads the genes of parasite larvae collected from people and animals in Africa to see if two schistosome species have interbred. Scientists sequence large portions of the parasites' genomes rather than relying on a few genetic markers, and they compare field samples with lab crosses to time any mixing events. Early results suggest small pieces of cattle-parasite DNA are present in human parasites and that mixing may have happened long ago rather than recently. The work focuses on samples from Niger and Tanzania and looks for changes that could alter host range or drug response.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help public health teams spot and respond to parasite changes that make infections harder to treat or control.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies using limited genetic markers suggested hybrid worms, but this more detailed genomic approach is newer and the preliminary data point to ancient, not widespread, recent mixing.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Biomedical Research Institute
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anderson, Tim J — Texas Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Anderson, Tim J
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.