Species-specific detection of Schistosoma japonicum using the ‘SNAILS’ DNA-based biosensor

The neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis continues to be a global health concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries, with at least 250 million people infected worldwide and a further 779 million at risk of infection. Schistosoma japonicum, which is found in parts of South Asia, causes intestinal schistosomiasis in humans, as well as infecting up to forty other mammalian species. Therefore, novel diagnostics that can detect S. japonicum are desirable. In this study, we have further developed and refined the 'SNAILS' DNA-based biosensor technology for the detection of schistosomes and have applied this to the specific detection of S. japonicum. Of the four new 'SNAILS' probe pairs developed, one of our optimised designs successfully detected and differentiated between genomic DNA isolated from 16 S. japonicum cercariae isolated from sites in the People's Republic of China and laboratory-derived Schistosoma mansoni cercariae.