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Background  Schistosomiasis is a prevalent but neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic trematodes of the genus  Schistosoma , with the primary disease-causing species being  S. haematobium ,  S. mansoni  and  S. japonicum . Male–female pairing of schistosomes is necessary for sexual maturity and the production of a large number of eggs, which are primarily responsible for schistosomiasis dissemination and pathology.    Methods  Here, we used microarray hybridization, bioinformatics, quantitative PCR,  in situ  hybridization and gene silencing assays to identify genes that play critical roles in  S. japonicum  reproduction biology, particularly in vitellarium development, a process that affects male–female pairing, sexual maturation and subsequent egg production.    Results  Microarray hybridization analyses generated a comprehensive set of genes differentially transcribed before and after male–female pairing. Although the transcript profiles of females were similar 16 and 18 days after host infection, marked gene expression changes were observed at 24 days. The 30 most abundantly transcribed genes on day 24 included those associated with vitellarium development. Among these, the gene for female-specific 800 ( fs800 ) was substantially upregulated. Our  in situ  hybridization results in female  S. japonicum  indicated that  Sjfs800  mRNA was observed only in the vitellarium, localized in mature vitelline cells. Knocking down the  Sjfs800  gene in female  S. japonicum  by approximately 60% reduced the number of mature vitelline cells, decreased rates of pairing and oviposition, and decreased the number of eggs produced in each male–female pairing by about 50%.    Conclusions  These results indicate that  Sj fs800 may play a role in vitellarium development and egg production in  S. japonicum  and suggest that  Sj fs800 regulation may provide a novel approach for the prevention or treatment of schistosomiasis.

Differential gene expression, including Sjfs800, in Schistosoma japonicum females at pre-pairing, initial pairing and oviposition