Some of the more fascinating aspects of schistosomiasis biology that make this parasitic disease such a formidable challenge to control are explored. For instance, major environmental change can lead to outbreaks of disease. Research work applying genome analysis to schistosomiasis is described and improved knowledge of the molecular composition of the parasite should lead to the discovery of new targets for control strategies. The review demonstrates that research in tropical diseases requires an interdisciplinary input from diverse scientific professions.
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