Strongyloides spp. eliminate male-determining sperm post-meiotically

If normal male meiosis occurs, it would be expected that 50 % of sperm lack an X chromosome (nullo X) and hence upon fertilisation, result in male progeny. However, for sexual reproduction within the free-living stages of Strongyloides spp. male offspring are absent. We had shown earlier by quantitative whole genome sequencing that within Strongyloides spp., nullo-X sperm are either absent (S. papillosus) or underrepresented (S. ratti) among mature sperm. To investigate how and when this elimination of male-determining sperm occurs, we characterised spermatogenesis and the dynamic localisation of important molecular players such as tubulin, actin and major sperm protein by DIC microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in S. ratti, S. papillosus and Parastrongyloides trichosuri. We found that meiotic divisions in these parasites proceeded as expected for organisms with XO males, resulting in four equally sized spermatocytes, two with and two without an X chromosome. However, mature sperm were found to almost always contain an X chromosome. We also observed structures that contained protein constituents of sperm, such as actin and major sperm protein (MSP) but no DNA. These structures resemble C. elegans residual bodies in appearance and may assume their function. We hypothesize that spermatocytes without an X-chromosome undergo some form of programmed cell death and transform into these residual body-like structures. As in C. elegans, MSP is found in fibrous body-membranous organelles (FB-MOs). Knocking down MSP by RNAi showed that MSP is essential for fertility in S. ratti, as it is in C. elegans.