Infection of C. elegans by Haptoglossa Species Reveals Shared Features in the Host Response to Oomycete Detection

• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.733094
• Publication Date: 2021-10-14T15:41:37Z
• Authors: Manish Grover; Michael K. Fasseas; Clara Essmann; Kenneth Liu; Christian Braendle; Marie-Anne Félix; Sally L. Glockling; Michalis Barkoulas
• Keywords: Oomycete; Host response

Oomycetes are a group of eukaryotic organisms that includes many important pathogens animals and plants. Within this group, the Haptoglossa genus is characterised by presence specialised gun cells carrying harpoon-like infection apparatus. While several have been morphologically described, there currently no host systems developed to study process or responses in lab. In study, we report species potent natural Caenorhabditis nematodes. Using electron microscopy, characterise C. elegans demonstrate oomycete causes excessive tissue degradation upon entry body cavity, whilst leaving cuticle intact. We also transcriptional response shares similarities with against Myzocytiopsis humicola , key example which induction chitinase-like (chil) genes hypodermis. shared feature can be mounted pathogen detection without any infection, as previously shown for M. . These results highlight nematode immune phylogenetically distinct oomycetes.