The NIH-NIAID schistosomiasis resource center.
A bench scientist studying schistosomiasis must make a large commitment to maintain the parasite's life cycle, which necessarily involves a mammalian (definitive) host and the appropriate species of snail (intermediate host). This is often a difficult and expensive commitment to make, especiall...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2008-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2480520?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1828813243044331520 |
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| author | Fred A Lewis Yung-San Liang Nithya Raghavan Matty Knight |
| author_facet | Fred A Lewis Yung-San Liang Nithya Raghavan Matty Knight |
| author_sort | Fred A Lewis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A bench scientist studying schistosomiasis must make a large commitment to maintain the parasite's life cycle, which necessarily involves a mammalian (definitive) host and the appropriate species of snail (intermediate host). This is often a difficult and expensive commitment to make, especially in the face of ever-tightening funds for tropical disease research. In addition to funding concerns, investigators usually face additional problems in the allocation of sufficient lab space to this effort (especially for snail rearing) and the limited availability of personnel experienced with life cycle upkeep. These problems can be especially daunting for the new investigator entering the field. Over 40 years ago, the National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH-NIAID) had the foresight to establish a resource from which investigators could obtain various schistosome life stages without having to expend the effort and funds necessary to maintain the entire life cycle on their own. This centralized resource translated into cost savings to both NIH-NIAID and to principal investigators by freeing up personnel costs on grants and allowing investigators to divert more funds to targeted research goals. Many investigators, especially those new to the field of tropical medicine, are only vaguely, if at all, aware of the scope of materials and support provided by this resource. This review is intended to help remedy that situation. Following a short history of the contract, we will give a brief description of the schistosome species provided, provide an estimate of the impact the resource has had on the research community, and describe some new additions and potential benefits the resource center might have for the ever-changing research interests of investigators. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:57:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9975475712044209815e0687ffb5f71a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1935-2727 1935-2735 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:57:03Z |
| publishDate | 2008-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-9975475712044209815e0687ffb5f71a2022-12-22T00:28:06ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases1935-27271935-27352008-01-0127e26710.1371/journal.pntd.0000267The NIH-NIAID schistosomiasis resource center.Fred A LewisYung-San LiangNithya RaghavanMatty KnightA bench scientist studying schistosomiasis must make a large commitment to maintain the parasite's life cycle, which necessarily involves a mammalian (definitive) host and the appropriate species of snail (intermediate host). This is often a difficult and expensive commitment to make, especially in the face of ever-tightening funds for tropical disease research. In addition to funding concerns, investigators usually face additional problems in the allocation of sufficient lab space to this effort (especially for snail rearing) and the limited availability of personnel experienced with life cycle upkeep. These problems can be especially daunting for the new investigator entering the field. Over 40 years ago, the National Institutes of Health-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH-NIAID) had the foresight to establish a resource from which investigators could obtain various schistosome life stages without having to expend the effort and funds necessary to maintain the entire life cycle on their own. This centralized resource translated into cost savings to both NIH-NIAID and to principal investigators by freeing up personnel costs on grants and allowing investigators to divert more funds to targeted research goals. Many investigators, especially those new to the field of tropical medicine, are only vaguely, if at all, aware of the scope of materials and support provided by this resource. This review is intended to help remedy that situation. Following a short history of the contract, we will give a brief description of the schistosome species provided, provide an estimate of the impact the resource has had on the research community, and describe some new additions and potential benefits the resource center might have for the ever-changing research interests of investigators.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2480520?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Fred A Lewis Yung-San Liang Nithya Raghavan Matty Knight The NIH-NIAID schistosomiasis resource center. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
| title | The NIH-NIAID schistosomiasis resource center. |
| title_full | The NIH-NIAID schistosomiasis resource center. |
| title_fullStr | The NIH-NIAID schistosomiasis resource center. |
| title_full_unstemmed | The NIH-NIAID schistosomiasis resource center. |
| title_short | The NIH-NIAID schistosomiasis resource center. |
| title_sort | nih niaid schistosomiasis resource center |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2480520?pdf=render |
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