Carbohydrate/Protein Interactions Between the Cuticle of Infective Juveniles of Meloidogyne Incognita and Spores of the Obligate Hyperparasite Pasteuria Penetrans

Standard assays were done to test the effects of various preincubation treatments on the attachment of spores of Pasteuria penetrans to the cuticles of second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne incognita. Either J2s or spores were preincubated in a series of proteolytic, lipolytic and glycolytic enzymes, carbohydrates, detergents and solubilising agents and attachment assays performed. J2 and spores were also incubated in a series of fluorescent labelled lectins and examined using a fluorescence microscope. The surface of the J2 appears to contain carbohydrate recognition domains which are probably not collagen and these interact with N-acetylglucosamine moeities on the spore surface which are linked to either glycoproteins or peptidoglycans. As exposing the spores to lysozyme (muramidase) weakens attachment the spores also contain N-acetylmuraminic acid.