Carbohydrate/lectin interactions between the nematophagous fungus, Arthrobotrys oligospora, and the infective juveniles of Trichostrongylus colubriformis (Nematoda).
Removal of the sheath of the ensheathed infective juvenile of Trichostrongylus colubriformis prevents capture by the nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora. Exposure of the trap hyphae to a variety of saccharides, which may block a recognition system based on lectin/carbohydrate binding, failed to prevent capture but some saccharides did inhibit penetration and invasion by the fungus. Capture and penetration thus appear to be two distinct processes with capture being less specific than penetration. Carbohydrate residues were absent from the outer surface of the cuticle and the sheath but were present on the inner surface of the sheath. The limited accessibility of these lectin-binding sites may explain the slow process of infection of the infective juvenile by the fungus. The sheath does not protect the infective juvenile against attack by this nematophagous fungus.
Wharton
D A
DA
Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Murray
D S
DS
D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D013861:Thiocyanates; D014254:Trichostrongylus / Q000502:physiology*
D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D037102:Lectins; D013861:Thiocyanates; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate