Towards tissue specific transcriptomics and expression pattern analysis in schistosomes using laser microdissection microscopy

One difficulty facing post-genomic analyses of schistosomes is the limited data on sites of expression of many gene products expressed by the parasites in their hosts. The potential for use of laser microdissection microscopy as a preparative technique for transcriptional and proteomic profiling is reviewed. This technique allows tissues to be dissected for subsequent molecular and protein analysis. The method is reviewed in the light of the acoelomate triploblastic nature of tissue organisation in the parasite.