Laser-based selective killing of a manipulative parasite reveals partial reversibility of phenotypic alterations in its intermediate host
Various parasites alter their intermediate hostʼs phenotype in ways that increase parasite transmission to definitive hosts. To what extent infected intermediate hosts can recover from such “manipulation” is poorly documented, thus limiting our understanding of its proximate and ultimate causes. Her...
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000529 |
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| author | Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot Frank Cézilly Olivier Musset |
| author_facet | Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot Frank Cézilly Olivier Musset |
| author_sort | Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Various parasites alter their intermediate hostʼs phenotype in ways that increase parasite transmission to definitive hosts. To what extent infected intermediate hosts can recover from such “manipulation” is poorly documented, thus limiting our understanding of its proximate and ultimate causes. Here, we address the reversibility of several phenotypic alterations induced by the acanthocephalan Polymorphus minutus, a trophically-transmitted bird parasite, in its amphipod intermediate host. Using a recently developed laser-based technology, we selectively killed parasite larvae inside the body cavity of Gammarus fossarum, while preserving host viability. Following behavioral tests, parasite death was confirmed using DNA integrity assays. Alterations of geotaxis, locomotor activity and resting metabolic rate in infected gammarids remained unchanged one month after parasiteʼs death. In contrast, elevated brain lactate concentration and hemolymph total phenoloxidase activity of treated gammarids hosting a dead cystacanth returned to control (uninfected) levels. Interestingly, melanotic encapsulation response to dead cystacanths was rare up to two months after treatment, with only 5.6% of cystacanths being fully or partially melanized, thus suggesting long-lasting protection from the acellular outer envelope. Irreversible behavioral but reversible physiological alterations appear to be a cost-effective strategy of host manipulation, and point to a putative role of epigenetic alterations in parasite manipulation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e5858fe4f8c34e26aed2a366adfa8b9f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2667-114X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-e5858fe4f8c34e26aed2a366adfa8b9f2025-08-20T02:07:31ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases2667-114X2024-01-01610022110.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100221Laser-based selective killing of a manipulative parasite reveals partial reversibility of phenotypic alterations in its intermediate hostMarie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot0Frank Cézilly1Olivier Musset2Biogéosciences, UMR 6282 CNRS Université de Bourgogne, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France; Corresponding author.Université de Bourgogne, 6 Boulevard Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, FranceLaboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne, UMR 6303 CNRS, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 9 Avenue Alain Savary, 21078, Dijon, FranceVarious parasites alter their intermediate hostʼs phenotype in ways that increase parasite transmission to definitive hosts. To what extent infected intermediate hosts can recover from such “manipulation” is poorly documented, thus limiting our understanding of its proximate and ultimate causes. Here, we address the reversibility of several phenotypic alterations induced by the acanthocephalan Polymorphus minutus, a trophically-transmitted bird parasite, in its amphipod intermediate host. Using a recently developed laser-based technology, we selectively killed parasite larvae inside the body cavity of Gammarus fossarum, while preserving host viability. Following behavioral tests, parasite death was confirmed using DNA integrity assays. Alterations of geotaxis, locomotor activity and resting metabolic rate in infected gammarids remained unchanged one month after parasiteʼs death. In contrast, elevated brain lactate concentration and hemolymph total phenoloxidase activity of treated gammarids hosting a dead cystacanth returned to control (uninfected) levels. Interestingly, melanotic encapsulation response to dead cystacanths was rare up to two months after treatment, with only 5.6% of cystacanths being fully or partially melanized, thus suggesting long-lasting protection from the acellular outer envelope. Irreversible behavioral but reversible physiological alterations appear to be a cost-effective strategy of host manipulation, and point to a putative role of epigenetic alterations in parasite manipulation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000529Complex life-cycleCostsCrustaceaImmunityRecovery |
| spellingShingle | Marie-Jeanne Perrot-Minnot Frank Cézilly Olivier Musset Laser-based selective killing of a manipulative parasite reveals partial reversibility of phenotypic alterations in its intermediate host Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases Complex life-cycle Costs Crustacea Immunity Recovery |
| title | Laser-based selective killing of a manipulative parasite reveals partial reversibility of phenotypic alterations in its intermediate host |
| title_full | Laser-based selective killing of a manipulative parasite reveals partial reversibility of phenotypic alterations in its intermediate host |
| title_fullStr | Laser-based selective killing of a manipulative parasite reveals partial reversibility of phenotypic alterations in its intermediate host |
| title_full_unstemmed | Laser-based selective killing of a manipulative parasite reveals partial reversibility of phenotypic alterations in its intermediate host |
| title_short | Laser-based selective killing of a manipulative parasite reveals partial reversibility of phenotypic alterations in its intermediate host |
| title_sort | laser based selective killing of a manipulative parasite reveals partial reversibility of phenotypic alterations in its intermediate host |
| topic | Complex life-cycle Costs Crustacea Immunity Recovery |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000529 |
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