Thermoregulation in the life cycle of nematodes.
An unanswered question in the biology of many parasites is the mechanism by which environmental (or external) and intrinsic signals are integrated to determine the switch from one developmental stage to the next. This is particularly pertinent for nematode parasites, many of which have a free-living stage in the environment prior to infection of the mammalian host, or for parasites such as filarial nematodes, which utilise an insect vector for transmission. The environmental changes experienced by a parasite upon infection of a mammalian host are extremely complex and poorly understood. However, the ability of a parasite to sense its new environment must be intrinsically linked to its developmental programme, as progression of the life cycle is dependent upon the infection event. In this review, the relationship between temperature and development in filarial nematodes and in the free-living species Caenorhabditis elegans is summarised, with a focus on the role of heat shock factor and heat shock protein 90 in the nematode life cycle.
Devaney
Eileen
E
Parasitology Group, Division of Veterinary Infection and Immunity, Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK. e.devaney@vet.gla.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D009348:Nematoda / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D000076249:Heat Shock Transcription Factors; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors