GOLD-CONJUGATED REAGENTS FOR THE LABELING OF CARBOHYDRATE-RECOGNITIONDOMAINS AND GLYCOCONJUGATES ON NEMATODE SURFACES

Various fluorescent conjugated lectins have been used For the detectio n of glycoconjugates on nematode surfaces under light microscopy. Seve ral problems have been experienced with these reagents including penet ration of the cuticle by fluorescent lectins, non-glycoconjugate speci ficity, strong nematode autofluorescence at the emission wavelength of the fluorescent dye, and prevention of persistent visualization due t o rapid quenching of the fluorescent components. Gold-conjugated reage nts combined with silver enhancement alleviated these difficulties whe n working with three phytonematode species (Heterodera avenae, H. lati pons, and Meloidogyne javanica) and two entomopathogenic species (Stei nernema carpocapsae and S. glaseri) under light-microscopy visualizati on of binding by fluorescent lectins and neoglycoproteins. Moreover, g old-conjugated reagents resulted in stable bindings that enabled long- term observations.