COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: REVSYS: Revisionary systematics and evolutionary biology of an avian schistosome clade (Platyhelminthes: Schistosomatidae)

血吸虫是血吸虫寄生虫，是人类以及家养和野生脊椎动物宿主的重要病原体。在鸟类中出现的多角体占已知多角体物种多样性的65%以上，但它们仍然没有得到充分的研究。鸟类的寄生虫也会引起人类的游泳痒。在本项目中，将通过有针对性地收集采样不足和高多样性区域来研究物种多样性。将使用形态学和遗传学表征的现代方法进行鉴定。目标是建立一个单染色体物种的进化树，描述发现的许多新物种，并产生一个单染色体的专题治疗。此外，由此产生的进化树将用于研究该分支内的性状的进化，对血吸虫科内的进化具有广泛的意义。这项研究将大大增加我们对全球分布的寄生虫群体的了解，并为物种鉴定提供必要的工具。该项目涉及来自两个EPSCoR州的教师，并促进了阿根廷，法国，肯尼亚和中国的广泛国际合作。该研究将改进和建立在全球可访问的寄生虫自然历史博物馆收藏的基础上。最后，本科生和研究生将参与项目的各个方面并接受培训。该项目生成的信息将提供给科学家和医学界，并通过K-12教育进行推广，并提供给公众。

Schistosomes are blood fluke parasites that are significant pathogens of humans as well as domestic and wild vertebrate hosts. The schistosomes that occur in birds represent over 65% of known schistosome species diversity, yet they remain understudied. Bird schistosomes are also responsible for swimmer's itch in humans. In this project, schistosome diversity will be studied by targeted collecting of under sampled and high diversity areas. Identifications will be done using modern approaches to morphological and genetic characterization. The goal is to develop an evolutionary tree of schistosome species, describe the many new species discovered, and produce a monographic treatment for schistosomes. In addition, the resulting evolutionary tree will be used to study the evolution of traits within this clade, with broad implications for evolution within the family Schistosomatidae. This research will greatly increase our understanding of a globally distributed group of parasites and provide the tools necessary for species identification.The project involves faculty from two EPSCoR states and fosters broad international collaboration in Argentina, France, Kenya, and China. The study will improve and build on a natural history museum collection of parasites that is globally accessible. Finally undergraduates and graduate students will be involved with and trained in all aspects of the project. Information generated by this project will be made available to scientists and the medical community, with outreach through K-12 education, and to the general public.