Developmental genes in the life cycle of a parasitic flatworm

绦虫是由10,000多种已知物种组成的群体，对我们自己和我们驯养的动物的健康都有不利影响。它们复杂的生活史集中在维持一个萌发的“脖子”区域，该区域在它们的一生中产生一个连续的节段链，每个节段都充满了能够产生大量新感染的男性和女性生殖器官。支持它们发育的遗传机制尚不清楚，但对于理解治疗干预的新方法以及理解动物界的基本发育过程都有意义。这项研究将研究HOX和其他发育基因在整个动物界协调胚胎轴向模式和其他发育方面的作用(例如，确定哪一端将发育成‘头’，哪一端将发育成‘尾’)。通过了解这些基因的作用，这项研究将解决关于绦虫如何被分割以实现它们的寄生生活方式以及HOX基因如何在寄生动物的复杂发育中使用的基本问题。反过来，这将为未来研究其他寄生扁虫种群的发展提供一个平台。

Tapeworms are a group of more than 10,000 known species adversely affecting the health of both ourselves and our domesticated animals. Their complex life histories centre on the maintenance of a germinative 'neck' region that produces a continuous chain of segments throughout their lives, each replete with male and female reproductive organs capable of producing an enormous number of new infections. Genetic mechanisms underpinning their development are unknown, but have implications for both understanding novel means of therapeutic intervention as well as understanding basic developmental processes in the animal kingdom. This research will examine the roles of Hox and other developmental genes that act to coordinate embryonic axial patterning and other aspects of development throughout the animal kingdom (e.g. establishing which end will develop into the 'head' and which into the 'tail'). By understanding the actions of these genes, this research will resolve fundamental questions regarding how tapeworms became segmented to enable their parasitic lifestyle and how Hox genes are used in the complex development of a parasitic animal. In turn, this will provide a platform for future research on development in other parasitic flatworm groups.