Lipids in digestive gland of Littorina saxatilis rudis (Maton) and in daughter sporocysts of Microphallus similis (Jäg. 1900)

Sterol profile of Neobenedenia melleni, a marine ectoparasite fish

Neobenedenia melleni, a marine fish ectoparasite, is responsible for considerable losses in the mariculture industry. In maintaining the parasite's homeostasis, sterols are structural and functional lipids that perform vital functions. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of biosynthesis and the uptake of sterols can reveal potential pharmacological targets. The objective of this work was thereby to characterize the N. melleni sterols. The most abundant sterol found was cholesterol in either its free (47.48 ± 15.93 %) or esterified form. However, its precursors, squalene (3.53 ± 0.92 %) and desmosterol (0.25 ± 0.03 %), were also found, suggesting the uptake of these intermediates from hosts or an unusual active pathway of sterol biosynthesis, which can be further explored as pharmacological targets.

The ultrastructure of the tegument of the daughter sporocyst of Microphallus similis (Jäg., 1900) (Digenea: Microphallidae)

In the fully formed daughter sporocyst of Microphallus similis (Jäg.) the tegument is divided into a wide, outer cellular epithelium and a narrow, inner electron-dense anucleated microvillous syncytium. The narrow subtegument consists of circular and longitudinal muscle, nervous, synthesizing and germinal cells. It is suggested that during development of the tegument, an undifferentiated nucleated syncytium becomes divided by the formation of membranes between the nuclei and between the narrow, inner electron-dense microvillous and the outer cellular regions. The outer nucleated region of the tegument is homologous to the nucleated investing syncytium which surrounds redial and cercarial embryos and which is shed later in development. The retention of the nucleated region in some daughter sporocysts is, therefore, an example of paedogenesis.

Lipids in the broodsac of Leucochloridium variae (Digenea, Leucochloridiidae) and its snail host Succinea ovalis

Thin-layer chromatographic analysis was used to examine lipophilic pigments and neutral lipids in the broodsac of Leucochloridium variae and in the tissues of its snail host, Succinea ovalis. Beta-carotene and lutein were not detected in either the parasite or the host on a C-18 reversed phase layer developed in a solvent system of petroleum ether-acetonitrile-methanol (2:4:4). This chromatographic system was able to detect 10 ng of a beta-carotene standard and 100 ng of a lutein standard. The Mangold solvent system on a silica gel plate showed the presence of triacylglycerols, free sterols, and sterol esters as the major neutral lipids in both snail and parasite tissues. As seen in a previous sporocyst-snail relationship, the qualitative neutral lipid profiles of both host and parasite are similar.

Physiologic studies of snail-schistosome interactions and potential for improvement of in vitro culture of schistosomes

Despite extensive efforts to develop suitable media for rearing the intramolluscan stages of schistosomes, successful in vitro culture of these parasites remains elusive. Recent 31P NMR studies demonstrated that the levels of free phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylcholine, in the digestive gland of the snail, Biomphalaria glabrata, were dramatically reduced when the host was infected with Schistosoma mansoni. It was speculated that absorption of host phosphatides may be an important source of membrane phospholipid precursors and fatty acids for developing sporocysts and cercariae. During the present investigations, B. glabrata was maintained on a high fat diet of egg yolk, and the lipid composition of control uninfected and infected snails examined by 31P and 13C NMR. In addition, the levels of host hemolymph metabolites, including glucose and urea, considered as indicators of parasite nutrient uptake, were monitored. The lipid level of snails fed egg yolk was greatly increased, and hosts developed patient infections in approximately half the time of infected snails maintained on lettuce. The composition of the free phospholipids accumulated in the tissues of B. glabrata fed egg yolk were the same as those previously reported in the cercarial stage of S. mansoni. Moreover, the fatty acids of S. mansoni and those reported here in the neutral lipids and free phosphatides in the host tissues were similar. Uninfected snails maintained on lettuce had higher hemolymph levels of glucose than those reared on egg yolk, and infected hosts on egg yolk had significantly lower levels of hemolymph urea. Beta-hydroxybutyrate was the principal hemolymph metabolite in snails fed egg yolk, but was not detected in snails maintained on lettuce.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in mice infected with the tapeworm Hymenolepis microstoma

Infection with Hymenolepis microstoma significantly affected the lipid metabolism of young male Balb/C mice. Infection increased the rates of hepatic fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and cholesterol synthesis by the gut. Decreases were recorded in testicular fatty acid synthesis and in the weights of testes and white epididymal adipose tissue. Plasma glucose decreased rapidly during infection. The observed changes in lipogenesis could not be attributed to changes in food intake or body temperature. The changes are discussed in relation to nutritional interactions between host and parasite and the possible effects on host hormone levels. The presence of newly synthesized fatty acid in H. microstoma is also reported.

Effect of Schistosoma mansoni on the gross lipid composition of its vector Biomphalaria glabrata

1. The total lipid level of the digestive gland-gonad complex of Biomphalaria glabrata was reduced by starvation and elevated following infection with Schistosoma mansoni. 2. The lipid classes of B. glabrata were phospholipid, monoglyceride, free fatty acid, triglyceride, sterol ester and wax and a single unidentified lipid. The major lipid present in control, starved and infected tissue was sterol. Triglyceride was a minor component of control tissue. 3. Starvation reduced the relative level of the unidentified lipid but had little effect on triglyceride. 4. Infection also caused a decrease in the unidentified component but the triglyceride level was sharply elevated. 5. The phospholipid fraction of tissue from all groups was composed of phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl serine. Infection and starvation had little effect on the composition.

Sphingomyelin synthesis in Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda)

Adult Hymenolepis diminuta incorporated label from L[U-14C]serine, [1-14C]palmitic acid, [1-14C]palmitoyl-CoA and cytidine-5'-diphospho[methyl-14C]choline into the various intermediates of sphingomyelin synthesis (ketosphingosine, dihydrosphingosine, sphingosine, ceramide and sphingomyelin). From the results it was concluded that H. diminuta possessed the five enzymes involved in sphingomyelin synthesis, namely serine palmitoyl-transferase, 3-oxosphinganine reductase, flavoprotein dihydrosphingosine reductase, sphingosine acyltransferase and ceramide choline-phosphotransferase.

Biochemical and physiological effects of metazoan endoparasites on their host species

1. The integrative nature of the parasite-host association was discussed, specifically with regard to the metabolic effects of parasitization as well as the physiological manifestation of infection in relation to the host's nutritional physiology. Endocrine interactions were also considered. 2. Relationships involving parasitic insects, including members of the orders Diptera, Hymenoptera and Strepsiptera, parasitic helminths, including members of the phyla Acanthocephala and Nematoda and the classes Cestoidea and Trematoda of the Platyhelminthes, as well as parasitic crustaceans in association with their invertebrate and/or vertebrate, intermediate, paratenic as well as definitive hosts were considered. 3. A broad conceptual or "topic" approach to understanding symbiotic relationships was emphasized. De-emphasis of descriptive categorization and the use of benefit/harm as criteria characterizing parasitic relationships was suggested. 4. The hypothetical concept of host regulation was briefly examined and the use of anthropometric descriptors such as "beneficial" and "harmonious" in parasitology discussed.