Echinococcus multilocularisas an experimental model in stem cell research and molecular host-parasite interaction

Abstract

SUMMARYTotipotent somatic stem cells (neoblasts) are key players in the biology of flatworms and account for their amazing regenerative capability and developmental plasticity. During recent years, considerable progress has been made in elucidating molecular features of neoblasts from free-living flatworms, whereas their role in parasitic species has so far merely been addressed by descriptive studies. Very recently, however, significant advances have been made in thein vitroculture of neoblasts from the cestodeEchinococcus multilocularis. The isolated cells proved capable of generating mature metacestode vesicles under laboratory conditions in a manner that closely resembles the oncosphere-metacestode transition during natural infections. Using the established neoblast cultivation protocols, combined with targeted manipulation ofEchinococcusgenes by RNA-interference, several fundamental questions of host-dependent parasite development can now be addressed. Here, I give an overview of current cultivation techniques forE. multilocularisneoblasts and present experimental approaches to study their function. Furthermore, I introduce theE. multilocularisgenome sequencing project that is presently in an advanced stage. The combined input of data from theE. multilocularissequencing project, stem cell cultivation, and recently initiated attempts to genetically manipulateEchinococcuswill provide an ideal platform for hypothesis-driven research into cestode development in the next years.