Characterisation of the processes of nutrient flow from a host plant to a parasitic nematode

囊线虫很小，只有0.5毫米长，但在一公顷的农田土壤中可以有成千上万的线虫。每一种线虫都从土壤中进入寄主作物的根部。一旦进入植物，它就失去了移动的能力，只能在一个地方进食。大约75%的线虫变成雌性。雌性进食约8周，长到原来的1000倍大小，产蛋多达700个。它们修饰一个植物细胞。这为线虫提供了数周的食物。这个细胞是高度专门化的结构，将植物的营养物质通过这个细胞输送到取食的线虫。我们已经确定了植物分子，这些植物分子可以运输取食线虫所需的基本营养物质。这个项目将定义这些分子是如何分布在专门的植物细胞周围的，这些植物细胞收集营养物质供应给线虫寄生虫。我们将确定这个细胞的壁是如何改变的，以允许它与其他细胞融合，在尺寸上增长，并支持营养物质通过它流向进食的线虫。我们将使用抗体来识别细胞壁的成分，以了解该细胞壁的结构。线虫必须确保它的取食不会杀死它所取食的植物细胞。如果发生这种情况，线虫就会死亡。线虫制造了一个喂食管，它的长度上到处都有洞，而不仅仅是在末端。我们将发现这是否允许线虫在不破坏植物细胞内部结构的情况下进食。如果线虫只通过喂食管上的一个孔（像吸管一样）摄取细胞内的物质，细胞可能会严重受损。我们想了解这些植物寄生虫是如何以植物细胞为食的。没有其他动物以这种方式进食。线虫危害世界各地的许多农作物。囊肿线虫每年仅对英国马铃薯作物就造成约4300万英镑的损失。这一新发现可能有助于找到阻止线虫进食的方法。这将保护植物免受它们造成的损害。目前，农民经常使用危害环境和损害农场工人健康的农药。我们之前已经证明，新的知识可以帮助开发更好的方法来控制线虫在未来。

Cyst nematodes are small with a length of only 0.5mm but there can be thousands of millions in one hectare of field soil. Each nematodes moves from the soil into the roots of its host crop plant. Once inside the plant it loses the ability to move and feeds at just one place. Approximately 75 % of the nematode population becomes female. Females feed for about 8 weeks growing to about 1000 times their original size and laying up to 700 eggs. They modify one plant cell. This provides all the nematode's food for several weeks. This cell is highly specialised structure and transport nutrients from the plant flow though this cell to the feeding nematode. We have identified the plant molecules that transport the essential nutrients the feeding nematode needs. This project will define how these molecules are distributed around the specialsed plant cell that gathers nutrients to supply to the nematode parasite. We will determine how the walls of this cell are changed to allow it to merge with other cells, grow in size and also support the flow of nutrients through it to the feeding nematode. We will use antibodies designed to recognise components of the cell wall to understand the structure of the wall of this cell. The nematode must ensure its feeding does not kill the plant cell from which it feeds. If that happened the nematode would die. The nematode makes a feeding tube that has holes all the way along its length, not just at the end. We will find out if this allows the nematode to feed by without damaging the internal structure of the plant cell. If the nematode took the contents of the cell through just a single hole in the feeding tube (like a straw) the cell might be badly damaged. We want to understand how these plant parasites feed from plant cells. No other animals feed in this way. Nematodes damage many crop plants throughout the world. Cyst nematodes cause losses of approximately £43 million each year just to UK potato crops. This new knowledge may help to find a way to stop the nematodes from feeding. This would protect plants from the damage they cause. Currently farmers often use pesticides that harm the environment and can damage the health of farm workers. We have shown before that new knowledge can help develop better ways of controlling nematodes in the future.