Interspecific differences in the nematode surface coat betweenMeloidogyne incognitaandM. arenariarelated to the adhesion of the bacteriumPasteuria penetrans

Abstract

SUMMARYSpores of the bacteriumPasteuria penetransadhered to second-stage juveniles of bothMeloidogyne incognitaandM. arenaria, but in standard attachment assays far fewer adhered to the latter species. Similarly, a polyclonal antibody was shown not to recognize the surface coat ofM. arenariabut did recognize the surface coat ofM. incognita. Although the incubation of whole, intact 2nd-stage juveniles ofM. incognitain a series of detergents and protein-denaturing agents at room temperature did not reduce the number of spores adhering after exposure to the bacterium, incubation in buffer (PBS) alone at 100 °C for 2 min did. Immunoblotting of cuticle extracts onto nitrocellulose and probing the blots with antibody showed that the antibody recognized a large protein ofMr80 kDa and a series of smaller proteins of approximately 43 kDa onM. incognitawhich were not recognized in extracts fromM. arenaria. As incubation of the 2nd-stage juveniles in antibody prohibited spore attachment it is suggested that these proteins may be involved in spore adhesion. Large differences exist betweenM. incognitaandM. arenariain the amounts of surface-associated proteins on the 2nd-stage juvenile cuticle.