Carbohydrate protein interactions between the cuticle of infective juveniles 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.