A novel Galectin type as a Surface Receptor for Intracellular Parasites

牡蛎具有有效的免疫机制，可以成功地对抗大多数传染病。然而，原生动物寄生虫Perkinsus marinus引起牡蛎的皮肤病，并导致牡蛎种群的灾难性下降和对北美大西洋和海湾沿岸沿着河口生态系统的破坏。在无脊椎动物和脊椎动物物种中，微生物病原体的识别部分是通过称为凝集素的碳水化合物结合蛋白实现的。最近发现的凝集素（CvGal），结合病原菌，微藻，和寄生虫P. marinus，导致的假设，CvGal代表的病原体和藻类食物的识别机制，这种防御和进食机制被破坏的P. marinus获得进入宿主。该项目将通过表征牡蛎中的CvGal和其他相关蛋白质并研究CvGal在免疫防御，摄食和宿主-寄生虫相互作用中的生物学作用来验证这一假设。通过深入研究牡蛎中的CvGal和其他半乳糖凝集素，将获得新的见解，但未描述的凝集素在免疫和摄食功能中的生物学功能，以及更深入地了解医学和兽医相关的细胞内寄生虫的进入机制。鉴于牡蛎疾病的区域相关性，该项目可能有助于新的干预策略，以恢复自然和养殖牡蛎种群。牡蛎也非常适合课堂整合免疫识别和宿主-寄生虫生物学的基本科学原理。该项目将涉及大部分来自巴尔的摩地区代表性不足的少数民族的本科生、高中生和教师的参与，无论是作为板凳上的实习生还是课堂上的实习生，通过与位于海洋生物技术中心的附属教育项目SciTech的合作，以及诸如ExPERT（NSF）、切萨皮克教师研究奖学金（NOAA）、生活教室、Incidity、巴尔的摩社区学院，以及霍华德和巴尔的摩县的导师项目。

The oyster is endowed with efficient immune mechanisms that are successful in fighting most infectious diseases. The protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus, however, causes Dermo disease in oysters and is responsible for the catastrophic decline of oyster populations and damage to the estuarine ecosystem along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America. In invertebrate and vertebrate species, recognition of microbial pathogens is achieved in part by carbohydrate-binding proteins named lectins. The recent discovery of a lectin (CvGal) that binds to pathogenic bacteria, microalgae, and the parasite P. marinus, has led to the hypothesis that CvGal represent a mechanism for recognition of pathogens and algal food, and that this defense and feeding mechanism is subverted by P. marinus to gain entry into the host. This project will test this hypothesis by characterizing CvGal and other related proteins in the oyster and investigating the biological role(s) of CvGal within the context of immune defense, feeding, and host-parasite interactions. By thoroughly investigating CvGal and other galectins in the oyster, novel insight will be gained into yet undescribed biological functions of lectins in immune and feeding functions, and a more thorough understanding of entry mechanisms of intracellular parasites of medical and veterinary relevance. Given the regional relevance of oyster disease, this project may contribute to novel intervention strategies to restore natural and farmed oyster populations. The oyster is also well suited for classroom integration of fundamental scientific principles of immune recognition and host-parasite biology. This project will involve the participation of undergraduates and high school students and teachers mostly from underrepresented minorities from the Baltimore area, both as interns at the bench and in the classroom, through partnerships with SciTech, an affiliated educational program located at the Center of Marine Biotechnology, and training programs such as ExPERT (NSF), Chesapeake Teacher Research Fellowship (NOAA), Living Classrooms, Ingenuity, Baltimore Community College, and mentorship programs from Howard and Baltimore Counties.