Flatworm Functional Genomics Initiative (FUGI)

A consortium funded by a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award to develop game-changing research tools for the study and manipulation of parasitic flatworm species responsible for the devastating diseases echinococcosis (hydatid disease) and schistosomiasis (bilharzia).

Aims

FUGI proposes three primary aims:

• ‘Poly-omics’ characterisation of stem cell systems in S. mansoni (neoblast-like somatic cells, S1 vitellocytes and oogonia) and E. multilocularis (germinative cells).
• Development of S. mansoni and E. multilocularis reverse genetic toolkits.
• Establishment of E. multilocularis and S. mansoni immortal cell lines.

Partners

Dr. Matt Berriman, Wellcome Sanger Institute

Prof. Klaus Brehm, University of Würzburg, Germany

Prof. Paul Brindley, The George Washington University, USA

Dr. James Collins, UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA

Prof. Christoph Grevelding, University of Giessen, Germany

Prof. Christoph Grunau, University Perpignan, France

Prof. Karl Hoffmann, University of Aberystwyth, Wales

Prof. Ludovic Vallier, Cambridge Stem Cell Institute

Consortium Administrator: Jessica Longworth, University of Aberystwyth, Wales