Selective recovery of the virus-vector trichodorid nematode Paratrichodorus anemones from soil samples by immunomagnetic capture

Lectins and polyclonal antiserum that bind specifically and reproducibly to the overall surface of Paratrichodorus anemones were identified and bound to monodisperse superparamagnetic particles (Dynabeads) to assess their efficiency as probes for capturing target nematodes from test suspensions. In recovery experiments, while both types of probe isolated nematodes, antibody-coated beads recovered them more efficiently than beads coated with lectins. When immunomagnetic capture was used to isolate P. anemones from mixtures of naturally occurring populations of nematodes extracted in bulk, from soil samples, 80% of the target nematodes were recovered.