Lipid Metabolism in the Oyster Protozoan Parasite, PERKINSUS MARINUS

9728284楚原生寄生虫Perkinsus marinus(DERMO)是自20世纪50年代S以来在美国东部和墨西哥湾沿岸造成严重死亡的两种重要寄生虫之一。目前，尽管其宿主是一种重要的生态和经济物种，但对这种寄生虫的脂代谢和生物合成的研究尚不清楚。使用放射性标记或“荧光标记”的前体，研究人员将描述这种寄生虫的脂肪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肪代谢和生物合成，此外，她还将调查海洋拟青霉寄生对宿主脂肪代谢的影响。她将使用气相色谱(GLC)、薄层色谱/火焰离子化检测器(TLC/FID)脂类分析仪(IATROSCAN MK-3)、高效TLC、银化TLC和配备流动闪烁分析仪的高压液相色谱(HPLC)来分析寄生虫中脂类，特别是磷脂和脂肪酸的摄取/并入、分布、代谢和合成。脂肪酸的鉴定将用ELQ400-2 GC/MS系统进行确认。“荧光标记”的形态分布将通过荧光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。这些寄生虫的食物主要以脂肪和蛋白质的形式来自牡蛎。这是第一次对水生无脊椎动物体内寄生虫的脂肪代谢进行研究。这项研究的结果将有助于从根本上理解宿主-寄生虫关系中的脂代谢，特别是在咸水系统中。这项研究将为建立脊椎动物宿主-寄生虫模型，阐明寄生虫获取脂质的机制提供重要信息。这些信息也可以作为未来开发控制牡蛎寄生虫的程序的基础。

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.