Schistosome and Snail Resource (SSR); supporting global schistosomiasis research

Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a parasitic disease affecting over 200 million people globally, most in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by schistosomes - flatworms - transmitted by freshwater snails. The disease, causing ill-health and death, is especially prevalent among children in rural communities. The lack of parasites and snail hosts maintained in labs causes two problems for research: - Many researchers do not have access to the parasites and snails - Very few species/strains are available to those that do Most biological research on schistosomiasis uses strains that have been maintained in the lab for decades, that do not originate from sub-Saharan Africa, and that do not represent the endemic natural diversity. Our proposal brings together two institutions with a long history of schistosomiasis research (Natural History Museum and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) providing access both to the "standard" strains and new strains/species to enable and enhance priority schistosomiasis research.