Lipid Metabolism in the Oyster Protozoan Parasite, Perkinsus Marinus

双壳类软体动物寄生性疾病是一个世界性的问题。 自20世纪50年代以来，寄生虫Perkinsus marinus（Dermo）一直是导致美国东部和海湾沿岸的美洲牡蛎Crassostrea virginica严重死亡的两种最重要的原生动物寄生虫之一。 虽然这种寄生虫的宿主是生态和经济上重要的水生物种，但以前没有关于其脂质代谢和生物合成的信息。之前的NSF奖，揭示了重要的信息，有关脂质代谢的P. marinus与其主机。一些重要的发现是，这种寄生虫具有类似于疟原虫的磷脂合成能力。引起疟疾疾病和大多数其他寄生原生动物一样，可以获得和代谢外源脂质。然而，与其他寄生原生动物不同，它们依赖于宿主的必需脂质，P. marinus能够合成一系列饱和和不饱和脂肪酸，包括必需脂肪酸花生四烯酸。没有其他寄生原生动物被报道有这样的能力。有趣的是，这种寄生虫似乎有不同的代谢阶段，这取决于它是否与宿主有关。为了进一步阐明这种寄生虫的脂质代谢及其与寄生虫的发育，生命周期完成，疾病传播，以及宿主的毒力和发病机制的关系，本项目采用先进的分析技术和分子和基因组方法来测试建立在以前的研究结果的关键假设。该研究不仅解决了基本的脂质代谢问题与潜在的应用疾病控制牡蛎acquiryproduction，但其他帕金虫属引起的疾病。在其他的双壳类物种中，比如蛤。深入了解P. marinus中从头脂质和脂肪酸合成的意义可能会导致开发杀寄生虫药物来控制这种寄生虫和其他寄生原生动物，包括影响人类的那些物种。脂质生物合成途径目前正在研究作为潜在的药物靶标在几个原生动物寄生虫的人，包括疟原虫和锥虫物种。 重要的是，该项目将为研究生，研究生，本科生和高中生提供机会，以获得海洋科学的实践研究经验和培训，特别是脂质生物化学，分子遗传学和寄生虫学。

Diseases caused by parasitic species of the genus, Perkinsus, in bivalve mollusks are a worldwide problem. The parasite, Perkinsus marinus (Dermo) has been one of the two most important protozoan parasites causing severe mortality in the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, on the east and Gulf coasts since the 1950s. Although this parasite's host is an ecologically and economically important aquatic species, previously no information existed on its lipid metabolism and biosynthesis. A previous NSF award, revealed important information concerning lipid metabolism in P. marinus in relation to its host. Some of the important findings are that this parasite has a capability for phospholipid synthesis similar to the Plasmodium spp. that cause malarial disease and as most other parasitic protozoans, can acquire and metabolize exogenous lipids. However, unlike other parasitic protozoans, which rely on their host for essential lipids, P. marinus is able to synthesize a range of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, including the essential fatty acid, arachidonic acid. No other parasitic protozoans have been reported to have such a capability. Interestingly, this parasite appears to have different metabolic phases depending upon whether or not it is associated with its host or not. To further elucidate the lipid metabolism in this parasite and its relation to the parasite's development, life cycle completion, disease transmission, and virulence and pathogenesis of the host, the present project employs advanced analytical technology and molecular and genomic approaches to test the key hypotheses built on the previous findings. The study addresses not only basic lipid metabolism questions with potential application to disease control for oyster acquaculture production, but to diseases caused by other Perkinsus spp. in other bivalve species such as clams. An in-depth understanding of the significance of de novo lipid and fatty acid synthesis in P. marinus may lead to the development of parasiticidal drugs to control this parasite and other parasitic protozoans, including those species affecting humans. Lipid biosynthetic pathways are currently being investigated as potential drug targets in several protozoan parasites of humans including Plasmodium and Trypanosoma species. Importantly, this project will provide opportunities to post-graduate, graduate, undergraduate, and high school students to receive hands-on research experience and training in marine science in general and lipid biochemistry, molecular genetics, and parasitology in particular.