Contents -- Contributors -- Preface -- Access to Colour Illustrations -- PART I: PHYLOGENY, GENETICS AND TRANSCRIPTOMES -- 1 The Evolution of Parasitism in Flatworms -- Introduction -- The Origins of Obligate Parasitism - The Appearance of the Neodermata -- The Radiation of the Parasitic Flatworms -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 2 Genomes and Genomics of Parasitic Flatworms -- Introduction -- Genome Features -- Karyotype Features -- Mitochondrial Genomes -- Flatworm Genomics -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 3 Genetic Discrimination of Echinococcus Species and Strains -- Introduction -- Genetic Variation in Echinococcus -- Identification of Echinococcus Isolates Using Molecular Genetic Techniques -- Molecular Identification of E.granulosus Strains -- Detection of Echinococcus Nucleic Acids in Clinical Samples -- DNA Detection of Infection in Definitive and Intermediate Hosts -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 4 Ribosomal DNA Variation in Parasitic Flatworms -- Introduction -- Nuclear Ribosomal Operons -- Small and Large Subunit Genes -- Mitochondrial Ribosomal Genes -- Hybrids -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 5 Genetic Studies on Monogeneans with Emphasis on Gyrodactylus -- Introduction -- Difficulties in Molecular Studies of Monogenea -- Molecular Markers for Monogenean Species -- Other Regions of the Monogenean Genome -- Monogenean Species Concept and Species Complexes -- Molecular Analysis within Monogenean Species -- Other Genetic Studies in Monogenea -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 6 The Schistosome Transcriptome -- Introduction -- The Transcriptome Projects -- Transcriptome Comparisons -- Evolutionary Implications -- Novel Transcripts -- Receptors and Host-Parasite Interaction -- Immune Evasion -- Sex Differences -- Genome Data -- Novel Drug Targets.

Vaccines -- Trans-splicing -- Retrotransposable Elements -- Functional Genomics -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 7 Transgenic Flatworms -- Introduction -- The Planarian Model -- Trematodes and Cestodes -- Transformation Techniques for Schistosomes -- Cestodes, on the Way to Transgenesis -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- PART II: IMMUNOBIOLOGY, HOST-PARASITE INTERACTION AND CONTROL -- 8 Immunobiology of Schistosomes -- Introduction -- Host-Parasite Molecular Interactions -- How Schistosomes Evade the Host Immune System -- Host Immune Response to Schistosome Infection (Th1 versus Th2) -- Potential Players in Th2 Response Induction during a Schistosome Infection -- Chemotherapy - An Integral Role for the Immune Response -- Immunotherapy -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 9 Cestode Infection: Immunological Considerations from Host and Tapeworm Perspectives -- Introduction -- Cestode Parasites -- Immunology - The Basics -- The Intestine and Immune Responses -- Specifics of the Host Response to Cestode Infection -- Lumenal Infections: The Immune Response to Hymenolepidid Cestodes -- Cestode Infections and the Immune Response - Where Do We Go from Here? -- Evasion and Subversion of the Host Response -- The Beneficial Tapeworm -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 10 Signal Transduction at the Host-Parasite Interface -- Introduction -- Tegumental Involvement in Signal Transduction: Perception and Reality -- Elements of Platyhelminth Signal Transduction Systems -- Platyhelminth Signal Transduction Pathways: Tegument and Beyond -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 11 Parasite Effects on the Snail Host Transcriptome -- Introduction -- Effect of Parasite Infection on the Snail Host: Towards a Molecular Understanding -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements.

References -- 12 Developments in the Chemotherapy of Parasitic Flatworms -- Introduction -- Parasites of Animals -- Infections of Humans -- New Anti-parasitics: Nitazoxanide -- Mode of Action of Fasciolicides and Cestodicides -- Resistance -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 13 Drug Resistance in Schistosomes -- Introduction -- Schistosomiasis Chemotherapy -- Impact of Praziquantel -- Challenges to Detecting and Monitoring Anti-schistosomal Resistance -- Cases of Drug Resistance in Schistosomes -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 14 Praziquantel: Mechanism of Action -- Introduction -- Praziquantel Mode of Action -- Voltage-gated Ca[sup(2+)] Channels -- Schistosome and Flatworm Ca[sup(2+)] Currents -- Schistosome Ca[sup(2+)] Channel Subunits -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 15 Cestode Vaccine Development -- Introduction -- Immunity - Basic Principles -- Vaccination - Historical Perspectives -- Defined Vaccines -- Towards Practical Application of Cestode Vaccines -- Protective Immune Responses and Epitope Identification -- Predicted Protein Structure and Function of Oncosphere Antigens -- Structure of Genes Encoding Oncosphere Antigens -- Potential Practical Impact of Vaccination Against Cestode Parasites -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 16 The Development of a Schistosome Vaccine -- Introduction -- Approaches to Schistosomiasis Vaccine Development -- What Is Meant by Protective Immunity? -- Attenuated Parasites Can Induce Protective Immunity -- Routes to Antigen Identification -- An Antigen Cocktail Does Not Improve Vaccine Efficacy -- Antigen Formulation -- The WHO vaccine trials -- Clinical Trials -- Why Are High Levels of Protection Difficult to Achieve? -- Secreted and Tegument Antigens as Vaccine Targets -- Future Prospects -- Concluding Remarks -- References.

PART III: PROTEIN FUNCTION, METABOLISM AND PHYSIOLOGY -- 17 Flatworm Parasite Proteomics -- Introduction -- Parasitic Flatworm Sample Preparation -- Protein Separation before Two-dimensional Electrophoresis -- Separating Proteins by Two-dimensional Protein Electrophoresis -- Mass Spectrometry to Unravel the Flatworm Proteome -- Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI ToF) for parasite analysis -- Database Mining and Protein Identification -- Proteomics without Two-dimensional Electrophoresis -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 18 Proteases in Trematode Biology -- Introduction -- The Trematode Gut -- Blood as a Source of Amino Acids -- Prevention of Blood Clotting -- Lysis of Blood Cells -- Peptidases Involved in the Digestion of Blood and Tissue Proteins -- Regulation of the Digestive Process -- Non-feeding Functions Attributed to Peptidases -- Protease Phylogeny -- Gene Structure, Orthology and Molecular Evolution -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 19 Signalling Molecules and Nerve-Muscle Function -- Introduction -- Nervous System Structure -- Muscle Structure and Organization -- Neuronal Signalling Molecules -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgement -- References -- 20 Unusual Aspects of Metabolism in Flatworm Parasites -- Introduction -- Parasitic versus Free-living Stages -- Nutrition -- Energy Metabolism -- Biosynthetic Capacities -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 21 Glycoconjugate Structures -- Introduction -- Trematodes (Digenea) -- Cestodes -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 22 Gene Silencing in Flatworms Using RNA Interference -- Introduction -- Molecular Mechanisms of Silencing -- Biological Functions of Gene Silencing -- RNAi as a Molecular and Therapeutic Tool -- RNAi Protocols -- RNAi in Flatworms -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References.

Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- V -- X.