Molecular Markers Associated with Resistance to Schistosoma mansoni Infection in the Biomphalaria glabrata Snails

Identification and characterization of molecular markers involved in parasite resistance in Biomphalaria glabrata snail is importance and constitutes a critical first step towards the understanding of, not just the interaction between snail and schistosome, but also more generally a variety of aspects of other host-parasite systems. Due to the high applicability of RAPD-PCR and the quality of the results obtained, we have used this technique to investigate the intra and interpopulational variability related to susceptibility and resistance to Egyptian strain of S. mansoni infection of Biomphalaria glabrata snail to detect genetic marker associated with resistant snails which may be responsible for schistosome resistance in Biomphalaria glabrata snails. The obtained results using primer OPA-06 in this field reported great genetic variations between the two strains susceptible and resistant in the genomic DNA of parent snails and these variations were heritable from parent to F1 and F2 progenies. The molecular biological techniques used in our studies are geared toward a better understanding of the molecular processes involved in influencing parasite development in the snail host and how this information eventually can apply in natural settings for an effective and potentially low-cost biological control strategy for human schistosomiasis.