The Schistosomiasis Resource Center at the Biomedical Research Institute is a unique schistosomiasis research supply laboratory funded by the NIAID at the National Institutes of Health. The SRC provides Schistosoma life cycle reagents free of charge to scientists, students, biotech and independent investigators in the U.S. and around the world.
Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is an infectious disease caused by a parasitic worm. The disease is transmitted by snails living in freshwater rivers and ponds in the tropical areas of the world including Brazil, sub-Saharan Africa and the Philippines. Researchers investigating schistosomiasis come to the BRI website to request reagents that are shipped directly from our laboratory. The SRC provides snails and rodents harboring Schistosoma parasites as well as life cycle
Live animals shipped from BRI are listed below or on the BEI Resources website
A team of SRC technicians propagate and maintain several of the Schistosoma life cycles (as seen in the CDC image, right) so that we can supply you with reagents that will advance your project:
SNAILS
- Biomphalaria glabrata (NMRI, M-line and BS-90), unexposed
- Bulinus truncatus truncatus (Egyptian), unexposed
- Oncomelania hupensis subsp. hupensis (Chinese), unexposed
- Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi (Philippine strain), unexposed
PARASITES
- S. haematobium (Egyptian)-exposed Bulinus truncatus truncatus
- S. haematobium (Egyptian)-exposed male LVG Golden Syrian hamsters
- S. haematobium (Egyptian)-exposed Swiss-Webster female mice
- S. japonicum (Philippine)–exposed Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi
- S. japonicum (Chinese)– exposed Oncomelania hupensis subsp. hupensis
- S. japonicum (Philippine or Chinese strain)–exposed Swiss-Webster female mice
- S. japonicum (Philippine or Chinese strain)–exposed male LVG Golden Syrian hamsters
LIFE CYCLE STAGES of S. haematobium, S. japonicum and S. mansoni:
- ADULT SCHISTOSOMES
- EGGS
- MIRACIDIA
- CERCARIAE
- SCHISTOSOMULA
CELL LINE
- Biomphalaria glabrata embryonic cell line (M-line)
In addition to fostering the development of schistosomiasis research, the SRC offers technical assistance to other laboratories on snail propagation and maintenance, parasite collection and animal infection protocols.
Schistosomiasis Reagents
To order reagents from the Schistosomiasis Resource Center, please contact the SRC at mmentinkkane@afbr-bri.org or go to the “SR3” link on the BEI Resources website to view the catalog of reagents available for your projects: https://www.beiresources.org/SchistosomeRelatedResearchReagents.aspx