Comparative and functional genomics to unveil liver fluke sexual development.

在这个项目中，我的目标是利用计算生物学的混合，包括使用大规模组学数据和幼年肝片吸虫的体外培养和操作，以帮助揭示未成熟吸虫的性发育。我还将利用单细胞组学来揭示存在于寄生虫单个细胞中的分子因子，这可能有助于揭示与肝原性发育有关的关键基因。该项目将使用各种各样的工具，从基因表达操作、寄生虫组织中蛋白质和转录本的定位到基因操纵寄生虫中不同表型效应的高通量分析。在这个项目中，我将使用和开发的技术有望回答关于片形吸虫幼虫性发育的一系列问题，进而帮助我们了解这种蠕虫的基因组学。利用新技术和跨学科研究也可能导致令人兴奋的前景，发现潜在的新靶点，以控制片形吸虫病。

In this project I aim to utilise a mixture of computational biology including using large scale omics data and in vitro culture and manipulation of juvenile Fasciola hepatica to help uncover the sexual development of immature fluke. I will also be utilising single cell omics to reveal molecular factors present in individual cells of the parasite that could help to uncover the key genes involved in the sexual development of F. hepatica. The project will use a diverse range of tools, from gene expression manipulation, localisation of proteins and transcripts in the parasite tissues to high-throughput analyses of different phenotypic effects in genetically manipulated parasites. The techniques I will use and develop during the project will hopefully aim to answer a wide range of questions surrounding the sexual development of juvenile Fasciola and in turn help aid our understanding of the helminth's genomics. Utilising novel technology and cross disciplinary research may also lead to exciting prospects for uncovering potential novel targets for the control of fascioliasis.