Coming out of the Shell: Building the Molecular Infrastructure for Research on Parasite-Harbouring Snails.

The article discusses the need for more research on the molecular biology of snails that harbor parasites, specifically focusing on the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini. The liver fluke is a leading cause of bile-duct cancer in Southeast Asia. The authors generated the first reference transcriptome of the Bithynia siamensis goniomphalos snail, which is an intermediate host for O. viverrini. The transcriptome provides valuable information for future studies on the biology of the liver fluke and the interactions between the parasite and the snail. The authors hope that this research will contribute to the development of new strategies to control snail-borne diseases. [Extracted from the article]