Genome analysis and polar tube firing dynamics of mosquito-infecting microsporidia

Authors: TROEMEL, EMILY - University Of California; Becnel, James

Submitted to: Fungal Genetics and Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/17/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Naturally occurring protist parasites (Microsporidia) of mosquitoes are under study to evaluate and develop these pathogens as biological control agents and to understand host-pathogen relationships. Microsporidian parasites are known to infect many mosquitoes worldwide, but fundamental knowledge on the genomes of mosquito microsporidia and host-pathogen interactions are poorly known. This paper discusses the genomic and deep sequencing investigation on the genomes of the microsporidia Edhazardia aedis and Vavraia culicis and the mosquito immune response to infection. In addition, a video of spore germination is presented. The new information obtained here contributes to our basic understanding on the organization of the genomes of these parasites and demonstrates the mechanisms of spore germination.

Technical 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.