Strongyloides stercoralis, the parasitic nematode responsible for the potentially fatal disease strongyloidiasis in both humans and dogs, undergoes a unique life cycle consisting of both parasitic and free-living generations. Two specific stages, the post-parasitic first-stage larvae (PP L1) that develop to free-living adults and the post-free-living first-stage larvae (PFL L1) that develop to infectious larvae, as well as the genes that regulate these divergent developmental outcomes remain unknown. Using RNA collected from both stages, we identified the most differentially expressed genes between the two stages and attempt to characterize them and their function(s) to allow us to better understand their life cycle and how transmission can ultimately be prevented.
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