Washburn J O, Gross M E, Mercer D R, Anderson J R
Department of Entomological Sciences, University of California, Berkely 94720.
Science. 1988 May 27;240(4856):1193-5. doi: 10.1126/science.3131877.
Larvae of the treehole mosquito, Aedes sierrensis, release a waterborne factor that induces morphogenesis of one of their prey, the tetrahymenid ciliate Lambornella clarki. Induced free-living trophonts of L. clarki undergo a synchronous response in which cells divide and transform into parasitic cells (theronts) that encyst on larval predators. Parasitic ciliates penetrate the cuticle, enter the hemocoel, and ultimately kill their predator-host. In nature, this trophic shift can lead to predator extinction and dramatic changes in microbial populations. Facultative parasitism by this polymorphic ciliate may have evolved as an antipredator strategy. The experimentally inducible parasitic response of L. clarki provides a novel model for studying cellular morphogenesis of ciliated protozoa.
树洞蚊（Aedes sierrensis）的幼虫会释放一种水溶性因子，这种因子能诱导其猎物之一——四膜虫纲纤毛虫Lambornella clarki发生形态变化。被诱导的自由生活的L. clarki营养体经历同步反应，细胞进行分裂并转化为寄生细胞（游动孢子），这些寄生细胞会在幼虫捕食者身上形成包囊。寄生性纤毛虫穿透表皮，进入血腔，并最终杀死其捕食者宿主。在自然界中，这种营养转变可能导致捕食者灭绝以及微生物种群的巨大变化。这种多态性纤毛虫的兼性寄生可能是作为一种反捕食策略进化而来的。L. clarki的实验诱导寄生反应为研究纤毛原生动物的细胞形态发生提供了一个新模型。
