Single-cell Raman spectroscopy reveals microsporidia spore heterogeneity in various insect hosts.

Single-cell Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the spore heterogeneity of 16 microsporidia strains from various insect hosts in order to better understand the basic biology of microsporidia. The Raman spectrum of a single spore revealed basic spore composition, and microsporidia spores in various hosts were found to be rich in trehalose. Principal component analysis and Raman intensity showed obvious heterogeneity in the trehalose, nucleic acid, and protein content of various spores; however, there was no correlation between various spore groups and host type. Trehalose content correlated with spore infectivity on Bombyx mori. Raman spectroscopy is an excellent tool for label-free investigation of intercellular molecular constituents, providing insight into the heterogeneity of microsporidia spores.