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Schistosomes are parasitic blood flukes that infect >200 million people around the world. Free-swimming larval stages penetrate the skin, invade a blood vessel, and migrate through the heart and lungs to the vasculature of the liver, where maturation and mating occurs. From here, the parasite couples migrate to their preferred egg laying sites. Here, we compare and contrast what is known about the migration patterns within the definitive host of the three major species of human schistosome: Schistosoma mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. haematobium. We conclude that intravascular schistosomes are inexorable colonizers whose migration and egg laying strategy is profligate; all three species (and their eggs) can be found throughout the mesenteric venules, the rectal venous plexus, and, to a greater or lesser extent, the urogenital venous plexuses. In addition, it is common for parasite eggs to be deposited in locations that lack easy access to the exterior, further demonstrating the relentless exploratory nature of these intravascular worms., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Schlemm's canal (SC) plays central roles in ocular physiology. These roles depend on the molecular phenotypes of SC endothelial cells (SECs). Both the specific phenotype of SECs and development of SC remain poorly defined. To allow a modern and extensive analysis of SC and its origins, we developed a new whole-mount procedure to visualize its development in the context of surrounding tissues. We then applied genetic lineage tracing, specific-fluorescent reporter genes, immunofluorescence, high-resolution confocal microscopy, and three-dimensional (3D) rendering to study SC. Using these techniques, we show that SECs have a unique phenotype that is a blend of both blood and lymphatic endothelial cell phenotypes. By analyzing whole mounts of postnatal mouse eyes progressively to adulthood, we show that SC develops from blood vessels through a newly discovered process that we name "canalogenesis." Functional inhibition of KDR (VEGFR2), a critical receptor in initiating angiogenesis, shows that this receptor is required during canalogenesis. Unlike angiogenesis and similar to stages of vasculogenesis, during canalogenesis tip cells divide and form branched chains prior to vessel formation. Differing from both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis, during canalogenesis SECs express Prox1, a master regulator of lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic phenotypes. Thus, SC development resembles a blend of vascular developmental programs. These advances define SC as a unique vessel with a combination of blood vascular and lymphatic phenotypes. They are important for dissecting its functions that are essential for ocular health and normal vision., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.