A comprehensive genetic breeding program for Biomphalaria glabrata started in 2001.
Snail 3G: genomics, genetics, and gene-editing of Biomphalaria glabrata
Paper
2026
Frontiers in Genetics |
DOI
Background
This review summarizes the development of two homozygous Biomphalaria glabrata snail lines (iM and iBS90) with contrasting susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni, their scaffold- and chromosome-level genome assemblies, and genetic mapping through F2, recombinant inbred, and advanced intercross populations. It also describes the first CRISPR/Cas9 germline editing in a schistosomiasis vector snail, creating inheritable FREP3.1 knockout lines and laying groundwork for genetic control strategies against this neglected tropical disease.
Key Findings
Key resources include two homozygous snail lines, iM (susceptible) and iBS90 (resistant), along with high-quality scaffold and chromosome-level genome assemblies. Genetic mapping of an F2 population identified two resistance/susceptibility QTLs (chromosomes 2 and 5) and a pigmentation QTL (chromosome 13). Recombinant inbred line mapping refined the major resistance locus (BgSRR1) on chromosome 5 to a 3 Mb interval. After unsuccessful germline delivery attempts using lentiviral and yolk-protein approaches, successful CRISPR/Cas9 microinjection into embryos produced germline-edited snails with inherited FREP3.1 knockouts, although loss of FREP3.1 did not abolish resistance, suggesting functional redundancy. This first genetically modified schistosomiasis vector snail establishes a breakthrough for functional genomics and potential gene-drive applications.
Contribution
Creative Biogene provided the pLVX-ZsGreen lentiviral vector used to construct recombinant viruses for germline delivery experiments, supporting the study's pioneering genetic modification efforts in Biomphalaria glabrata.
This review summarizes the development of two homozygous Biomphalaria glabrata snail lines (iM and iBS90) with contrasting susceptibility to Schistosoma mansoni, their scaffold- and chromosome-level genome assemblies, and genetic mapping through F2, recombinant inbred, and advanced intercross populations. It also describes the first CRISPR/Cas9 germline editing in a schistosomiasis vector snail, creating inheritable FREP3.1 knockout lines and laying groundwork for genetic control strategies against this neglected tropical disease.
Key Findings
Key resources include two homozygous snail lines, iM (susceptible) and iBS90 (resistant), along with high-quality scaffold and chromosome-level genome assemblies. Genetic mapping of an F2 population identified two resistance/susceptibility QTLs (chromosomes 2 and 5) and a pigmentation QTL (chromosome 13). Recombinant inbred line mapping refined the major resistance locus (BgSRR1) on chromosome 5 to a 3 Mb interval. After unsuccessful germline delivery attempts using lentiviral and yolk-protein approaches, successful CRISPR/Cas9 microinjection into embryos produced germline-edited snails with inherited FREP3.1 knockouts, although loss of FREP3.1 did not abolish resistance, suggesting functional redundancy. This first genetically modified schistosomiasis vector snail establishes a breakthrough for functional genomics and potential gene-drive applications.
Contribution
Creative Biogene provided the pLVX-ZsGreen lentiviral vector used to construct recombinant viruses for germline delivery experiments, supporting the study's pioneering genetic modification efforts in Biomphalaria glabrata.