Postdoctoral Researcher at the Natural History Museum, London, interested in African schistosomes, snail vectors & more... https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/people/tom-pennance.htmlhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3mpxzjwn3os2yRapid diagnostic assay distinguishing the snail vectors Bulinus globosus and Bulinus nasutus for urogenital schistosomiasis transmission risk mapping in East Africa, accepted paper available today: https://doi.org/10.1017/S003118202610241806 Jul 2026 11:50 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpxzjwn3os2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3mmte4m5ccc2rA protocol for performing whole genome sequencing of individual Schistosoma haematobium larva stored on FTA cards. Following this protocol (inc. diagnosis), with list price consumables, I currently estimate one can achieve a ~50x coverage of each genome for ~£104 https://www.protocols.io/view/schistosoma-haematobium-larva-fta-to-wgs-e6nvwwrp2vmk/v127 May 2026 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmte4m5ccc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3mjerlp5wqc22It was a huge honour to receive the @bspparasitology.bsky.social President's Medal last week in Glasgow. Thank you to my amazing colleagues, collaborators and friends, without whom this would not have been possible! [contains quote post or other embedded content]13 Apr 2026 11:36 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjerlp5wqc22https://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3mhvhhtyxwk2uAlso our Schistosome Snail Vectors Pocket Guide is online with the @gsa.bsky.social! Providing a simple, quick visual reference to support rapid field differentiation of Bulinus & Biomphalaria from similar freshwater snails across Africa, see: https://www.eliminateschisto.org/schistosome-snail-vectors-pocket-guide25 Mar 2026 15:59 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvhhtyxwk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3mhvgkgecss2unew awesome (open access) book available for advanced undergraduates to early postdoctoral researchers interested in learning more or using phylogenetic comparative methods!! [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Mar 2026 15:43 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvgkgecss2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3mhnycf7csc2aTRPtracker paper live: A community resource that catalogues variation within TRPMpzq - the praziquantel (preventative chemotherapeutic for schistosomiasis) target channel. Tracks sensitivity of TRPMpzq variants aiding surveillance of variants that may impact PZQ sensitivity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2026.10063922 Mar 2026 16:39 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhnycf7csc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3mgftzev5j22nTwo great postdoctoral opportunities available in Montpellier / Perpignan 🇫🇷 on the InvaSnail project that focus directly on Fasciola snail vectors, host–parasite interactions, environmental change: Genome sequencing/GWAS: https://ihpe.fr/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-Postdoctorat-Genome-sequencing.pdf Ecological niche modelling: https://ihpe.fr/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-Postdoctora-Ecological-Niche.pdf06 Mar 2026 17:36 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgftzev5j22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3mf2xyioq3s2xSome snaps from some great fieldwork in Pemba TZ last week.17 Feb 2026 16:23 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf2xyioq3s2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3mdnn2jumqs2gJust thoroughly enjoyed chairing meeting with the @gsa.bsky.social Snail Vectors working group on germline gene editing in Biomphalaria. Thanks Drs. Zhang and Kuroda for presenting. You can find their two recent papers here: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx5889 and: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2026.1721789/full30 Jan 2026 15:37 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdnn2jumqs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3m7zcmqtgmc2zGreat to see @wheelerlab.bio paper out, using a custom imaging and computational system for tracking and screening schistosome miracidia, helping to elucidate how the larvae respond to chemical signals from snails: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.101376615 Dec 2025 09:22 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7zcmqtgmc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3m23bmzb3bc25Our paper measuring gene expression of Biomphalaria sudanica candidate immune genes across snails of different susceptibilities and in response to schistosome exposure and diet published in Journal of Helminthology this past week: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-helminthology/article/schistosome-exposure-and-diet-induced-effects-on-candidate-immune-gene-expression-in-an-african-snail-vector/71B81BBE7186E001E89FA208DEDFC39330 Sep 2025 19:38 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3m23bmzb3bc25https://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3lwy3wvgans2hRecommended reading @wheelerlab.bio! Experimental work using schistosomes is challenging, and therefore procedures simplifying and maximising parasite yield is vital and often used. However, we must acknowledge and accommodate for how these processes impact worm biology, as detailed here!🪱 [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Aug 2025 09:03 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwy3wvgans2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3lwdtmsvmts2sJob opportunity for a Research Fellow at LSHTM in the Schistosomiasis Research Group: https://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=ITD-CRD-2025-0414 Aug 2025 07:41 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwdtmsvmts2shttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3lvuxee6q6c2jGreat to see my friend/colleague Hugh Carter's work given the spotlight here! I wish I could test some tests, just to say I'v done that... https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/07/crumbling-shells-melting-ice-and-a-wildlife-boom-what-recreating-scotts-antarctic-trip-reveals-about-our-seas-today08 Aug 2025 09:38 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvuxee6q6c2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3luwrz6afbc2aNew research w/ @jacobphd.bsky.social et al. published today in Nature Communications: Genes linked to schistosome resistance identified in a genome-wide association study of African snail vectors https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61760-8 🐌🪱🧬27 Jul 2025 09:42 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3luwrz6afbc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3lk4cjdj3cs2qAll talks recorded from @royalsociety.org meeting on hybrid schistosomes now available online. "Parasite evolution and impact in action: assessing the importance of hybrid schistosomes in Africa": https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2025/02/parasite-evolution/11 Mar 2025 14:44 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk4cjdj3cs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3lfpr7ttwmc2bNew paper investigating the mating system of Biomphalaria sudanica, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni that seems to preferentially outcross given the option. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.10024114 Jan 2025 17:21 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfpr7ttwmc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3ldz2drnevc2hDetermining accurate intramolluscan schistosome infections is complicated, and can impact downstream analysis. In our paper just published, we have tried to lay out some of the possible outcomes of snail-parasite exposure with a diagnostic PCR assay https://meridian.allenpress.com/journal-of-parasitology/article/110/6/684/50463523 Dec 2024 23:08 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldz2drnevc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3ldg2fzzxqk2vNew samples and data point towards imported Schistosoma bovis infections in cattle on Unguja Island, Zanzibar, in the preprint from @russstothard.bsky.social and colleagues: https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-5407458/v116 Dec 2024 09:49 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldg2fzzxqk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3lcncajsfk22qJob opportunity: Assistant or Associate Professor of Parasitology at @unm.bsky.social - fantastic opportunity for those interested in parasite natural history collections, ecology, evolution, systematics and teaching and training - and surrounded by a greta group! https://unm.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/18/home/requisition/31287?c=unm&sq=biology&referralToken=d5EFuqUeSE6kXs8qWZX1Kw06 Dec 2024 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcncajsfk22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/schistosoma.bsky.social/post/3lbkky6dk7d25Looking forward to using blue sky! Happy to see many friends and colleagues already here! I will probably regret not chosing my name for my handle, but the temptation, and then the hard decision to make between, choosing either schistosoma, bulinus and biomphalaria was too much.22 Nov 2024 18:06 +0000at://did:plc:kmuffssxuvze7pge3lmo55nf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbkky6dk7d25