Abstract：
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an invaluable host model for studying infections caused by various pathogens, including microsporidia. Microsporidia represent the first natural pathogens identified in C. elegans, revealing the previously unknown Nematocida genus of microsporidia. Following this discovery, the utilization of nematodes as a model host has rapidly expanded our understanding of microsporidia biology and has provided key insights into the cell and molecular mechanisms of antimicrosporidia defenses. Here, we first review the isolation history, morphological characteristics, life cycles, tissue tropism, genetics, and host immune responses for the four most well-characterized Nematocida species that infect C. elegans. We then highlight additional examples of microsporidia that infect related terrestrial and aquatic nematodes, including parasitic nematodes. To conclude, we assess exciting potential applications of the nematode-microsporidia system while addressing the technical advances necessary to facilitate future growth in this field.
摘要：
线虫秀丽隐杆线虫是研究由各种病原体引起的感染的宝贵宿主模型，包括微孢子虫.微孢子虫是秀丽隐杆线虫中发现的第一个天然病原体，揭示了以前未知的小孢子虫线虫属。在这一发现之后,线虫作为模型宿主的利用迅速扩展了我们对微孢子虫生物学的理解，并为抗微孢子虫防御的细胞和分子机制提供了关键见解。这里,我们首先回顾一下隔离的历史，形态特征，生命周期,组织嗜性,遗传学,以及感染秀丽隐杆线虫的四种特征最充分的线虫物种的宿主免疫反应。然后，我们重点介绍了感染相关陆地和水生线虫的微孢子虫的其他例子，包括寄生线虫.最后，我们评估了线虫-微孢子虫系统令人兴奋的潜在应用，同时解决了促进该领域未来发展所需的技术进步。
