A new whole-genome study identified early genomic indicators that Schistosoma mansoni may be developing reduced sensitivity to praziquantel, the sole widely used drug for schistosomiasis control. Published in Science Advances, the research analyzed 570 parasites collected across Africa and the Caribbean, led by investigators at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Royal Veterinary College, and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The team focused on variation in Sm.TRPM.pzQ, a transient receptor potential (TRP) melastatin ion channel recently linked to praziquantel’s molecular target. They found four naturally occurring receptor variants associated with reduced drug sensitivity and reported evidence of treatment failure via parasite infrapopulations sampled before and after praziquantel exposure. The authors framed the work as a shift from reactive to proactive monitoring, leveraging large-scale whole-genome sequencing to map how parasite populations are structured and evolving under mass drug administration (MDA).