Phagocytosis of lectin-opsonized fungal cells and endocytosis of the ligand by insect Spodoptera exigua granular hemocytes: an ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study

Abstract.

Phagocytosis of blastospores of the fungal entomopathogen Paecilomyces farinosus by granular hemocytes from larvae of Spodoptera exigua (beet armyworm) was studied. Blastospores were opsonized with a galactose-specific lectin purified from S. exigua hemolymph or with peanut agglutinin prior to incubation with hemocytes. Observations of thin sections revealed that pseudopodia extending from granulocytes attached to ligands (lectins, lectin conjugates) on the blastospores, and that the ligands became detached from the fungal surfaces and were endocytosed by granulocytes via coated pits on the plasma membrane. Coated vesicles bearing the endocytosed molecules appeared to be transported to the hemocytic granules. In other cases, ligand still coated the blastospores after phagocytosis and may have later concentrated within the phagosome along with digested fungal cell wall components. Phagocytosis of blastospores and clustering of a biotinylated lectin conjugate on or within the granulocytes were inhibited by drugs targeting cytoskeletal elements. Actin was concentrated in the pseudopodia of phagocytic granulocytes and may be directly associated with lectin receptor(s). Microtubules were abundant in the granulocytes, sometimes in specific regions.