Shared antigenicity between the polar filaments of myxosporeans and other Cnidaria

J Parasitol. 2011 Feb;97(1):163-6. doi: 10.1645/GE-2574.1. Epub 2010 Sep 22.

Abstract

Nematocysts containing coiled polar filaments are a distinguishing feature of members of the phylum Cnidaria. As a first step to characterizing the molecular structure of polar filaments, a polyclonal antiserum was raised in rabbits against a cyanogen bromide-resistant protein extract of mature cysts containing spores of Myxobolus pendula. The antiserum reacted only with proteins associated with extruded polar filaments. Western blot and whole-mount immunohistochemical analyses indicated a conservation of polar filament epitopes between M. pendula and 2 related cnidarians, i.e., the anthozoan, Nematostella vectensis, and the hydrozoan, Hydra vulgaris. This conservation of polar filament epitopes lends further support to a shared affinity between Myxozoa and cnidarians.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Antigens / immunology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cnidaria / immunology*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Cryoultramicrotomy
  • Cyprinidae / parasitology
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • Fish Diseases / parasitology
  • Gills / parasitology
  • Hydra / immunology
  • Immune Sera / biosynthesis
  • Immune Sera / immunology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Myxobolus / immunology*
  • Nematocyst / immunology
  • Parasitic Diseases, Animal / parasitology
  • Proteins / immunology
  • Rabbits
  • Sea Anemones / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens
  • Epitopes
  • Immune Sera
  • Proteins