@article{fdi:010096359,
  title = {{T}ranscriptomic plasticity in hybrid schistosomes can contribute to their zoonotic potential},
  author = {{A}paricio, {N}. {L}. and {M}athieu-{B}{\'e}gn{\'e}, {E}. and {K}incaid-{S}mith, {J}ulien and {R}ey, {O}. and {P}icard, {M}. and {C}haparro, {C}. and {A}llienne, {J}. {F}. and {R}ognon, {A}. and {P}olack, {B}. and {V}all{\'e}e, {I}. and {T}homas, {M}. and {B}oissier, {J}. and {T}oulza, {E}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{H}ybrids between {S}chistosoma haematobium and {S}chistosoma bovis contribute to human and animal infections, highlighting complex interspecies interactions that facilitate schistosomiasis transmission. {S}chistosoma bovis infects multiple ruminant hosts, promoting cross-species transmission and increasing zoonotic risk. {T}his study explores transcriptomic plasticity as a mechanism enabling hybrid schistosomes to adapt to different definitive hosts. {W}e analysed two contexts: (1) introgressed {S}. haematobium x {S}. bovis hybrids, which exhibited higher virulence in sheep than parental {S}. bovis; and (2) {S}. bovis infecting different mammalian hosts. {I}ntrogression, the transfer of genetic material between species through hybridization and repeated backcrossing, was associated with 366 differentially expressed genes (4% of coding genes) between introgressed hybrids and {S}. bovis in sheep. {A}dditionally, {S}. bovis showed host-dependent transcriptomic changes, with 30% of genes differentially expressed between infections in hamsters and sheep. {E}nriched biological processes shared across introgression and host adaptation included nuclear m{RNA} catabolism and inner mitochondrial membrane organization, indicating increased gene expression plasticity and metabolic adaptation to environmental stress. {T}hese findings suggest that transcriptomic plasticity enhances the adaptability of {S}. bovis and hybrid worms, increasing their zoonotic potential. {T}his raises concerns for schistosomiasis control, as such plasticity could expand transmission capacity and complicate intervention strategies.{T}his article is part of the {S}cience+ meeting issue '{P}arasite evolution and impact in action: exploring the importance and control of hybrid schistosomes'.},
  keywords = {{S}chistosoma hybrids ; heterosis ; zoonotic risk ; transcriptomic plasticity ; host change},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}hilosophical {T}ransactions of the {R}oyal {S}ociety {B} : {B}iological {S}ciences},
  volume = {381},
  numero = {1941},
  pages = {20240534 [12 p.]},
  ISSN = {0962-8436},
  year = {2026},
  DOI = {10.1098/rstb.2024.0534},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010096359},
}