Lipid Metabolism in the Oyster Protozoan Parasite, PERKINSUS MARINUS

[9728284]原动物寄生虫Perkinsus marinus （Dermo）是自20世纪50年代以来在美国东部和墨西哥湾沿岸造成美洲（东部）牡蛎（Crassostrea virginica）严重死亡的两种重要寄生虫之一。尽管其寄主是生态和经济上重要的水生物种，但目前尚无关于其脂质代谢和生物合成的信息。使用放射性标记或“荧光标记”前体，研究者将表征这种寄生虫的脂质代谢和生物合成与其生长阶段和生命阶段的关系。她还将确定温度和盐度是否会影响寄生虫的脂质代谢和生物合成，此外，她还将研究P. marinus寄生对宿主脂质代谢的影响。她将使用气相液相色谱（GLC），薄层色谱/火焰电离检测器（TLC/FID）脂质分析仪（Iatroscan MK-3），高效薄层色谱，稀释薄层色谱和高压液相色谱（HPLC）配备流动闪烁分析仪来分析寄生虫体内脂质，特别是磷脂和脂肪酸的摄取/合并，分布，代谢和合成。采用ELQ400-2气相色谱/质谱系统对脂肪酸进行鉴定。“荧光标记”的形态分布将通过荧光显微镜和电子显微镜进行检查。寄生虫是美国东部和墨西哥湾沿岸牡蛎患病的主要原因。这些寄生虫从牡蛎中获取食物，主要是脂质和蛋白质。这是对水生无脊椎动物体内寄生虫脂质代谢的首次研究。本研究的结果将有助于从根本上理解宿主-寄生虫关系中的脂质代谢，特别是在盐水系统中。该研究将为建立脊椎动物宿主-寄生虫模型来阐明寄生虫脂质获取机制提供重要信息。这些信息也可以作为今后发展控制牡蛎寄生虫程序的基础。

9728284 Chu The protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) is one of the two important parasites that have been causing severe mortality in the American (eastern) oyster, Crassostrea virginica, on the eastern and Gulf coasts of the United States since the 1950's. Presently, no information exists on lipid metabolism and biosynthesis in this parasite, although its host is an ecologically and economically important aquatic species. Using radiolabeled or "fluorescent-labeled" precursors, the investigator will characterize lipid metabolism and biosynthesis in this parasite in relation to its growth phases and life stages. She will also determine if temperature and salinity affect the parasite's lipid metabolism and biosynthesis and, in addition, will investigate the effect of P. marinus parasitism on the lipid metabolism of the host. She will use gas liquid chromatography (GLC), thin layer chromatography/flame ionization detector (TLC/FID) lipid analyzer (Iatroscan MK-3), high performance TLC, argentation TLC, and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a flow scintillation analyzer to analyze the uptake/incorporation, distribution, metabolism and synthesis of lipids, particularly phospholipids, and fatty acids in the parasite. The identification of fatty acids will be confirmed with an ELQ400-2 GC/MS system. The morphological distribution of "fluorescent labels" will be examined by epifluorescent and electron microscopy. Parasites are the major cause of disease in oysters on the eastern and Gulf coasts of the United States. These parasites derive their food, mainly in the form of lipids and protein, from the oyster. This is the first study of lipid metabolism of an internal parasite of an aquatic invertebrate species. The results from this research will contribute to the fundamental understanding of lipid metabolism in host-parasite relationships, especially in saltwater systems. The study will provide important information for the establishment of a host-parasite in vertebrate model to elucidate mechanisms involved in lipid acquisition in parasites. This information may also serve as the basis for the future development of a procedure to control oyster parasites.