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<p>Microbial host–parasite interactions shape global biogeochemical cycles, yet their cellular and evolutionary mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we developed a model pathosystem to explore the interaction between the eukaryotic microparasite, <i>Pirsonia diadema</i>, and its host, the bloom-forming diatom, <i>Coscinodiscus</i>. Culture conditions recapitulated <i>Pirsonia</i>’s rapid life cycle in vitro, and live-cell imaging enabled the quantitative analysis of infection dynamics and host mortality. Genome sequencing and time-resolved dual RNA sequencing of <i>Pirsonia</i> revealed unique genetic innovations relative to their oomycete relatives and an upregulation of an expanded multi-gene family of integrin-like proteins in <i>Pirsonia</i> zoospores during infection. Targeted drug perturbations combined with ultrastructure expansion microscopy confirm stage specific roles for <i>Pirsonia</i>’s cytoskeleton, including actin-dependent host attachment and formation of intracellular parasite-induced feeding structures and microtubule-associated processes in zoospore differentiation. Together, these findings reveal mechanisms underpinning <i>Pirsonia</i> infection and provide insights into the evolution of strategies that underpin parasitic shunts in marine trophic networks.</p>

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Molecular and cellular insights into the parasitic infection of bloom-forming marine diatoms by Pirsonia diadema

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月21日

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  • Varsha Mathur,
  • Nicholas A. T. Irwin,
  • Luis Javier Galindo,
  • Elisabet Alacid,
  • Kevin Moog,
  • Elliot Flaum,
  • Gautam Dey,
  • Flora Vincent,
  • Michael Cunliffe,
  • Sunju Kim,
  • Ulrich Technau,
  • Thomas A. Richards

摘要

Microbial host–parasite interactions shape global biogeochemical cycles, yet their cellular and evolutionary mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we developed a model pathosystem to explore the interaction between the eukaryotic microparasite, Pirsonia diadema, and its host, the bloom-forming diatom, Coscinodiscus. Culture conditions recapitulated Pirsonia’s rapid life cycle in vitro, and live-cell imaging enabled the quantitative analysis of infection dynamics and host mortality. Genome sequencing and time-resolved dual RNA sequencing of Pirsonia revealed unique genetic innovations relative to their oomycete relatives and an upregulation of an expanded multi-gene family of integrin-like proteins in Pirsonia zoospores during infection. Targeted drug perturbations combined with ultrastructure expansion microscopy confirm stage specific roles for Pirsonia’s cytoskeleton, including actin-dependent host attachment and formation of intracellular parasite-induced feeding structures and microtubule-associated processes in zoospore differentiation. Together, these findings reveal mechanisms underpinning Pirsonia infection and provide insights into the evolution of strategies that underpin parasitic shunts in marine trophic networks.