Autophagy as the cell survival in response to a microsporidian infection of the midgut epithelium of Isohypsibius granulifer granulifer (Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae). (19th December 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rost‐Roszkowska, Magdalena M.; Poprawa, Izabela; Kaczmarek, Łukasz
• Is Part Of: Acta zoologica. Volume 94:Number 3(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 273
• Page End: 279
• Publication Date: 2011-12-19
• Subjects: Zoology -- Periodicals; 590
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2011.00552.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-7272

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The midgut epithelial cells of many invertebrates may possess microorganisms which act as symbionts or pathogens (bacteria, microsporidia, viruses). During our previous studies on <italic>Isohypsibius granulifer granulifer</italic> Thulin, 1928 (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada), which examined alterations of the midgut epithelium during oogenesis, we found that some of the specimens were infected with microsporidia. All stages of pathogens occurred in the cytoplasm of the digestive cells in the midgut epithelium of <italic>I. g. granulifer</italic> that were infected with microsporidia: meronts, sporonts, sporoblasts, and spores. The cytoplasm of the digestive cells was rich in mitochondria, cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and Golgi complexes. Autophagy in the digestive cells of the dorsal midgut was much more intensive in comparison with noninfected specimens. Membranes of phagophores surrounded the pathogens forming autophagosomes. These latter structures fused with lysosomes forming autolysosomes and residual bodies appeared. Neither glycogen granules nor droplets of varying electron density, which accumulated in digestive cells during vitellogenesis and choriogenesis, appeared in individuals with microsporidia. While the midgut epithelium in noninfected specimens takes part in vitellogenesis and choriogenesis, in infected specimens, midgut cells are involved in the process of autophagy as a survival strategy.</p> </abstract>