title: Genome analysis and polar tube firing dynamics of mosquito-infecting microsporidia.
abstract: Microsporidia are highly divergent fungi that are obligate intracellular pathogens of a wide range of host organisms. Here we review recent findings from the genome sequences of mosquito-infecting microsporidian species Edhazardia aedis and Vavraia culicis, which show large differences in genome size, although similar numbers of predicted genes. We also show a video of E. aedis polar tube firing, which is the dramatic mechanism used by microsporidia to deliver the germ cell (sporoplasm) into the host cell to initiate intracellular infection.
authors: Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States. Electronic address: etroemel@ucsd.edu.
authors: Emily R
authors: ER
authors: Troemel
authors: USDA, ARS, CMAVE, 1600 S.W. 23rd Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States. Electronic address: James.Becnel@ars.usda.gov.
authors: James J
authors: JJ
authors: Becnel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D059646:Genome Size; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D016814:Microsporidia / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity
keywords: Aedes aegypti; Edhazardia aedis; Genome sequence; Microsporidia; Mosquito; Polar tube; Vavraia culicis