Endogenous cellulases in stylet secretions of cyst nematodes.

This thesis describes the identification ofβ-1,4-endoglucanases (cellulases) in stylet secretions of the two cyst nematodes species, Globodera rostochiensis and Heterodera glycines . A novel method was developed to raise monoclonal antibodies that were directed to subventral oesophageal gland secretions. These monoclonal antibodies were used to characterise and to immunopurify two secretory proteins. Partial sequence data from these proteins enabled the cloning of two homologous genes from each of the two cyst nematode species.The predicted amino acid sequences revealed a high similarity with bacterial cellulases, whereas no homology was found with eukaryotic cellulases. Evidence is provided for the endogenous origin the nematode cellulases that may have been acquired from bacteria by horizontal gene transfer