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Growth-phase dependent substrate adhesion in Crithidia fasciculata
Eric J Scolaro1, Ryan P Ames, Andrew Brittingham
1Department of Biology, Drake University, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA.
The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
|February 11, 2005
Summary
Crithidia fasciculata parasites exhibit growth-phase-dependent adherence, with logarithmic-phase organisms attaching to substrates. This adherence is lost in the stationary phase, impacting parasite transmission.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Crithidia fasciculata is a trypanosomatid flagellate that infects mosquitoes.
- In the mosquito gut, C. fasciculata exists as attached, non-motile clusters or free-swimming elongated forms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an in vitro system to study C. fasciculata morphology.
- To investigate the factors regulating C. fasciculata adherence phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- Developed an in vitro culture system mimicking C. fasciculata's in vivo forms.
- Utilized shaking and stationary incubation methods.
- Assessed adherence phenotypes across different growth phases.
Main Results:
- Adherence phenotypes are dependent on the growth phase of C. fasciculata.
- Logarithmic-phase organisms adhere to substrates, while stationary-phase organisms lose this ability.
- Adherence was independent of cultivation method or substrate and retained after removal.
Conclusions:
- Cell attachment in C. fasciculata is a growth-phase-regulated process.
- This regulated attachment may play a role in parasite transmission and dissemination.