Tricks of the puppet masters: morphological adaptations to the interaction with nervous system underlying host manipulation by rhizocephalan barnacle Polyascus polygeneus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rhizocephalan interaction with their decapod hosts is a superb example of host manipulation. These parasites are able to alter the host's physiology and behavior. Host-parasite interaction is performed, presumably, via special modified rootlets invading the ventral ganglions.

Methods

In this study, we focus on the morphology and ultrastructure of these special rootlets in Polyascus polygeneus (Lützen & Takahashi, 1997), family Polyascidae, invading the neuropil of the host's nervous tissue. The ventral ganglionic mass of the infected crabs were fixed, and the observed sites of the host-parasite interplay were studied using transmission electron microscopy, immunolabeling and confocal microscopy.

Results

The goblet-shaped organs present in the

SUBMITTER: Lianguzova A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10655712 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature