P. ramosa is an obligate pathogen and it can only grow inside its host.
Transmission between hosts takes place through the endospore stage, and is strictly horizontal.
These endospores are highly resistant to different environmental stresses and can remain in the environment for decades without any deleterious effects.
The infection starts when a Daphnia has ingested a spore of P. ramosa during filter feeding.
The spore activates and attaches to the host esophagus.
The pathogen then enters the body cavity of the host by penetrating the esophagus wall.
Once inside the body cavity, the bacterium begins to propagate in cauliflower like colonies.
After the infection has spread throughout the host, the bacterium begins to sporulate.
The spores are shed into the environment from the dead host and can remain in the sediment for decades while maintaining their infectivity.
P. ramosa is an obligate pathogen and it can only grow inside its host. Transmission between hosts takes place through the endospore stage, and is strictly horizontal. These endospores are highly resistant to different environmental stresses and can remain in the environment for decades without any deleterious effects. The infection starts when a Daphnia has ingested a spore of P. ramosa during filter feeding. The spore activates and attaches to the host esophagus. The pathogen then enters the body cavity of the host by penetrating the esophagus wall. Once inside the body cavity, the bacterium begins to propagate in cauliflower like colonies. After the infection has spread throughout the host, the bacterium begins to sporulate. The spores are shed into the environment from the dead host and can remain in the sediment for decades while maintaining their infectivity.
Pasteuria ramosa