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

合作研究：REVSYS：鸟类血吸虫进化枝的修订系统学和进化生物学（扁形动物：血吸虫科）

• 批准号: 1021431
• 负责人: Vasyl Tkach
• 金额: $ 16.14万
• 依托单位: University of North Dakota Main Campus
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-01 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1021431&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: COLLABORATIVE; RESEARCH; REVSYS; Revisionary; systematics

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.

血吸虫是一种血吸虫寄生虫，是人类以及家养和野生脊椎动物宿主的重要病原体。发生在鸟类身上的血吸虫占已知血吸虫物种多样性的65%以上，但它们仍未得到充分研究。鸟类血吸虫也会导致人类的游泳瘙痒。本项目将通过有针对性地采集样本不足区和高多样性区来研究血吸虫的多样性。鉴定将使用现代形态学和遗传学鉴定方法。目标是建立一个血吸虫物种的进化树，描述许多新发现的物种，并产生一个专门的治疗血吸虫。此外，由此产生的进化树将用于研究这一分支的特征进化，对血吸虫科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，并在阿根廷、法国、肯尼亚和中国促进广泛的国际合作。这项研究将改进并建立在全球可访问的自然历史博物馆寄生虫收藏的基础上。最后，本科生和研究生将参与并在项目的各个方面接受培训。该项目产生的信息将通过K-12教育向科学家和医学界以及公众提供。