UNM COBRE: DIVERSE RECOGNITION CAPABILITY: INVERTEBRATE MODEL

本子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的众多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能已经从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。列出的机构是中心的，不一定是研究者的机构。传统的先天免疫模式表明，非自我识别需要相对较少的模式识别受体（PRRs）。PRRs能够识别存在于病原体表面的高度保守的病原体相关分子模式（pathogen-associated molecular patterns, PAMPs），无论病原体之间的差异有多大。根据不同实验室的新研究，这种观点似乎是不完整的。我们最近对纤维蛋白原相关蛋白（FREP）基因多样化的研究为无脊椎动物先天防御分子通过一种新机制的多样化提供了第一个证据。本项目旨在研究免疫相关基因（FREP）家族在无脊椎动物宿主中的多样化机制，并从分子角度探讨该宿主与相关寄生虫之间的相互作用。该项目的具体目标是确定在我们之前的研究中观察到的产生FREP基因多样性的潜在机制，并开发RNA干扰（RNAi）来评估FREP功能。了解FREPs的多样化机制和功能将拓宽我们对无脊椎动物先天免疫特别是蜗牛内部防御的认识。最终，这项研究将有利于控制血吸虫病。血吸虫病是一种由蜗牛传播的疾病，影响着全世界2亿人。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The conventional paradigm of innate immunity suggests that relatively few pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) are needed for non-self recognition. PRRs are able to recognize highly conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) present on the surface of pathogens, no matter how great the differences among the pathogens. Based on the emerging studies from different labs, this view seems incomplete. Our recent work on the diversification of fibrinogen related protein (FREP) genes provides the first evidence in invertebrates for the diversification of innate defense molecules through a novel mechanism. The goal of this project is to study the mechanism of diversification of an immune-related gene (FREP) family in an invertebrate host and to investigate molecular aspects of the interaction between this host and relevant parasites. The specific goals of the project are to determine underlying mechanisms generating diversity of FREP genes observed in our previous investigations, and to develop RNA interference (RNAi) to assess FREP functions. Understanding the mechanism of diversification and function of FREPs will broaden our understanding of invertebrate innate immunity in general and snail internal defense in particular. Ultimately, the study will have benefits for the control of schistosomiasis, a snail-borne disease that affects 200 million people world wide.