血吸虫虫卵是致病和传播流行的最重要因素，对血吸虫生殖细胞及虫卵发生发育的研究是血吸虫病防治重要的方向之一。Vasa和Nanos蛋白是多种生物生殖细胞发育的功能蛋白，为生殖细胞包括生殖干细胞特化和存活所必须。本研究将首先应用各期整虫标本蛋白和基因的定位技术，明确Vasa和Nanos可做为血吸虫生殖细胞包括原始生殖细胞的分子标志物；应用RNA干扰技术揭示Vasa和Nanos蛋白在血吸虫虫卵发生、发育及活性维持中所具有的功能；再应用蛋白质相互作用技术了解Vasa与Nanos是否协同发挥功能，并试图发现新的与Vasa或Nanos相互作用蛋白；最后再利用RNA干扰技术，确定新发现的相互作用蛋白对二者的调节作用并追踪其主开关靶点所在。通过本研究期望发现可干预和抑制血吸虫虫卵发生发育关键靶标，为研发抑制血吸虫虫卵发育及活性的药物或制剂提供理论和实验依据，探索控制血吸虫病流行和减轻血吸虫对人体危害新途径。

Schistosoma egg is the most important factor which causes and spread the disease. Exploration of novel inhibition of parasite reproduction reagents and effective prevention measures rely on the deciphering of schistosoma development biology. How schistosome`s reproductive organ and egg development and mature is still basic research for control the disease. In many other organisms, such as Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans, Vasa and Nanos protein play a critical rule in their gametogenesis and reproduction, which maintain germ cell, including stem cell survival and specialization. In our program whole worm mount in situ hybridization methodology and protein immunostaining will be developed and applied to confirm Vasa and Nanos could be used as a marker for the verification in development of germ cell of Schistosoma japonicum. The functions of Vasa and Nanos protein in development and reproduction of egg in schistosoma will be unraveled by using RNA interfering technique. The new main point protein, which control expression and function of Vasa and Nanos, and we call it "master switch", will be traced by using protein-protein interaction methods and RNA interfering technique. When we finish our study we expect to find key protein(s) which play important turning point in governing reproductive organ and egg development of the parasite. As the egg stage is responsible for pathogenesis and transmission, understanding the molecular mechanisms of female reproductive development may identify novel targets for the control of transmission and morbidity of this major world public health problem.