Molecular mechanisms of host recognition of Heterobothrium okamotoi

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Heterobothrium okamotoi, a parasite specific to Takifugu rubripes, does not parasitize to relative species T. niphobles. The aim of this study is to identify the molecule underlying this phenomenon. At first we established the technique, which enable insect cells to display T. rubripes membrane proteins at the cell surface. By using this technique, we tried to identify the molecule(s), which is a receptor(s) for ligand(s) localizing at the surface of H. okamotoi, but it was not successful. At the same time, we searched genes expressed at different level in gills of T. rubripes and T. niphobles, and found a couple of candidates. One of the candidates is pufflectin, which is an immune related factor we originally found in the skin mucus of T. rubripes. H. okamotoi might use this molecule to recognize its host.