Metschnikowia bicuspidata was first described infecting Daphnia magna by Metscnikoff in 1884. Since then, similar parasites have been described infecting a number of different ecologically and economically important species in both freshwater and marine environments. Previous work has found that these parasites use a fungal cannon mechanism that is common in Ascomycetes to penetrate host epithelial tissue. However, little work has been done to examine the triggers and acceleration of ascospore release in aquatic environments. We examine the morphology of the ascospores, where they are penetrating in Daphnia gut epithelium, and potential cannon trigger mechanisms. To do this, we utilize SEM and TEM imaging of the spores penetrating the single cell thick gut epithelium of the host and test a range of different trigger mechanisms on Metschnikowia bicuspidata asci.

Primary Presenter: Patrick Wilson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (pwilson5@illinois.edu)

Authors:

Carla Caćeres, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign  (cecacere@illinois.edu)

Philip Anderson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign  (andersps@illinois.edu)