Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) neural differentiation models have tremendous potential for evaluating environmental compounds in terms of their ability to induce neurodevelopmental toxicity. Genomic based-approaches are being applied to identify changes underlying normal human development (in vitro and in vivo) and the effects of environmental exposures. Here, we investigated whether mechanisms that are shared between hESC neural differentiation model systems and human embryos are candidate biomarkers of developmental toxicities for neurogenesis. We conducted a meta-analysis of transcriptomic datasets with the goal of identifying differentially expressed genes that were common to the hESC-model and human embryos. The overlapping NeuroDevelopmental Biomarker (NDB) gene set contained 304 genes which were enriched for their roles in neurogenesis. These genes were investigated for their utility as candidate biomarkers in the context of toxicogenomic studies focused on the effects of retinoic acid, valproic acid, or carbamazepine in hESC models of neurodifferentiation. The results revealed genes, including 13 common targets of the 3 compounds, that were candidate biomarkers of neurotoxicity in hESC-based studies of environmental toxicants.

Despite decades of control efforts, the prevalence of schistosomiasis remains high in many endemic regions, posing significant challenges to global health. One of the key factors contributing to the persistence of the disease is the complex life cycle of the Schistosoma parasite, the causative agent, which involves multiple stages of development and intricate interactions with its mammalian hosts and snails. Among the various stages of the parasite lifecycle, the deposition of eggs and their migration through host tissues is significant, as they initiate the onset of the disease pathology by inducing inflammatory reactions and tissue damage. However, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying Schistosoma egg extravasation remains limited, hindering efforts to develop effective interventions. Microphysiological systems, particularly organ-on-a-chip systems, offer a promising approach to study this phenomenon in a controlled experimental setting because they allow the replication of physiological microenvironments in vitro. This review provides an overview of schistosomiasis, introduces the concept of organ-on-a-chip technology, and discusses its potential applications in the field of schistosomiasis research.