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Lian C, Zhao Y, Li P, Zhang T, Al-Rasheid KAS, Stover NA, Wang Y, Shao C. Three closely-related subclasses Phacodiniidia Small & Lynn, 1985, Protohypotrichia Shi et al., 1999, and Euplotia Jankowski, 1979 (Protista, Ciliophora): A new contribution to their phylogeny with reconsiderations on the evolutionary hypotheses. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 189:107936. [PMID: 37778530 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
The huge variety of species and worldwide distribution of ciliated protists in class Spirotrichea continue to make it one of the most complicated and confused groups in Ciliophora, despite significant research interest in the unique molecular genetics of these organisms. In this study, the morphological and molecular information were integrated, and it is inferred from a new perspective for the evolutionary relationship among Phacodiniidia, Protohypotrichia, Hypotrichia and Euplotia. Our results indicate that Kiitricha and Caryotricha, two members in Protohypotrichia, may represent two parallel branches of evolution; Euplotidae and Aspidiscidae represent the most recently diverged taxa within Euplotida, followed by Certesiidae, Gastrocirrhidae, and Uronychidae. Further, representative morphological characters (e.g. fronto-ventral-transverse cirral anlagen, undulating membranes, marginal cirri and caudal cirri) were stochastically mapped on phylogenies to speculate evolutionary path and morphological characters of the evolutionary transition node groups were assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Lian
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Ping Li
- Powerchina Northwest Engineering Corporation Limited, Xi'an 710065, China
| | - Tengteng Zhang
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Khaled A S Al-Rasheid
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naomi A Stover
- Department of Biology, Bradley University, Peoria 61625, USA
| | - Yurui Wang
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
| | - Chen Shao
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
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Jin D, Li C, Chen X, Byerly A, Stover NA, Zhang T, Shao C, Wang Y. Comparative genome analysis of three euplotid protists provides insights into the evolution of nanochromosomes in unicellular eukaryotic organisms. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 5:300-315. [PMID: 37637252 PMCID: PMC10449743 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-023-00175-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
One of the most diverse clades of ciliated protozoa, the class Spirotrichea, displays a series of unique characters in terms of eukaryotic macronuclear (MAC) genome, including high fragmentation that produces nanochromosomes. However, the genomic diversity and evolution of nanochromosomes and gene families for spirotrich MAC genomes are poorly understood. In this study, we assemble the MAC genome of a representative euplotid (a new model organism in Spirotrichea) species, Euplotes aediculatus. Our results indicate that: (a) the MAC genome includes 35,465 contigs with a total length of 97.3 Mb and a contig N50 of 3.4 kb, and contains 13,145 complete nanochromosomes and 43,194 predicted genes, with the majority of these nanochromosomes containing tiny introns and harboring only one gene; (b) genomic comparisons between E. aediculatus and other reported spirotrichs indicate that average GC content and genome fragmentation levels exhibit interspecific variation, and chromosome breaking sites (CBSs) might be lost during evolution, resulting in the increase of multi-gene nanochromosome; (c) gene families associated with chitin metabolism and FoxO signaling pathway are expanded in E. aediculatus, suggesting their potential roles in environment adaptation and survival strategies of E. aediculatus; and (d) a programmed ribosomal frameshift (PRF) with a conservative motif 5'-AAATAR-3' tends to occur in longer genes with more exons, and PRF genes play an important role in many cellular regulation processes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-023-00175-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didi Jin
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710119 China
| | - Chao Li
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Laboratory of Marine Protozoan Biodiversity and Evolution, Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209 China
| | - Adam Byerly
- Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, Bradley University, Peoria, 61625 USA
| | - Naomi A. Stover
- Department of Biology, Bradley University, Peoria, 61625 USA
| | - Tengteng Zhang
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710119 China
| | - Chen Shao
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710119 China
| | - Yurui Wang
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710119 China
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Zhao X, Fan X, Gong Z, Gao X, Wang Y, Ni B. The Toxic Effects of Cu and CuO Nanoparticles on Euplotes aediculatus. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:544-556. [PMID: 35316342 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-01972-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The single-celled eukaryote Euplotes aediculatus was chosen to test and compare the toxic effects of Cu and CuO nanoparticles (NPs). The antioxidant enzymatic activity, morphological changes, and functional groups on the membrane were determined using spectrophotometry, microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy after NPs treatment. The toxicity of the NPs to cells was dose-dependent, and the 24 h-LC50 values of the CuNPs and CuONPs were 0.46 µg/L and 1.24 × 103 µg/L, respectively. These NPs increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase and destroyed the cell structure; moreover, the CuNPs were more toxic than the CuONPs. In addition to the higher enzymatic activity, CuNPs also caused nucleoli disappearance, chromatin condensation, and mitochondrial and pellicle damage. The oxidization of the functional groups of the membrane (PO2 - , C-O-C, and δ(COH) of carbohydrates) also confirmed the severe damage caused by CuNPs. Our study showed that oxidative stress and organelle destruction played important roles in the toxic effects of these NPs on this protozoan. Compared with other aquatic organisms, E. aediculatus can be considered a potential indicator at the preliminary stage of environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohuan Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xinpeng Fan
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zhiwei Gong
- School of Physics and Electronic Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xilei Gao
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yiwen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Bing Ni
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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Wang Z, Chi Y, Li T, Song W, Wang Y, Wu T, Zhang G, Liu Y, Ma H, Song W, Al-Rasheid KAS, Warren A, Lu B. Biodiversity of freshwater ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora) in the Lake Weishan Wetland, China: the state of the art. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:429-451. [PMID: 37078082 PMCID: PMC10077249 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-022-00154-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Ciliates are core components of the structure of and function of aquatic microbial food webs. They play an essential role in the energy flow and material circulation within aquatic ecosystems. However, studies on the taxonomy and biodiversity of freshwater ciliates, especially those in wetlands in China are limited. To address this issue, a project to investigate the freshwater ciliates of the Lake Weishan Wetland, Shandong Province, commenced in 2019. Here, we summarize our findings to date on the diversity of ciliates. A total of 187 ciliate species have been found, 94 of which are identified to species-level, 87 to genus-level, and six to family-level. These species show a high morphological diversity and represent five classes, i.e., Heterotrichea, Litostomatea, Prostomatea, Oligohymenophorea, and Spirotrichea. The largest number of species documented are oligohymenophoreans. A comprehensive database of these ciliates, including morphological data, gene sequences, microscope slide specimens and a DNA bank, has been established. In the present study, we provide an annotated checklist of retrieved ciliates as well as information on the sequences of published species. Most of these species are recorded in China for the first time and more than 20% are tentatively identified as new to science. Additionally, an investigation of environmental DNA revealed that the ciliate species diversity in Lake Weishan Wetland is higher than previously supposed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-022-00154-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209 China
| | - Yong Chi
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Tao Li
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Wenya Song
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Yunfeng Wang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Tong Wu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Gongaote Zhang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Yujie Liu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Honggang Ma
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Weibo Song
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209 China
- Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237 China
| | | | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD UK
| | - Borong Lu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
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Han K, Pan H, Jiang J. Taxonomy and SSU rRNA gene-based phylogeny of two new Euplotes species from China: E. chongmingensis n. sp. and E. paramieti n. sp. (Protista, Ciliophora). BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:133. [PMID: 35578180 PMCID: PMC9109319 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02543-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The genus Euplotes Ehrenberg, 1830, one of the most complicated and confused taxa, contains about 160 nominal species. It was once proposed to be divided into four genera, two of which were proved to be non-monophyletic. At least 19 new species have been discovered in the past decade, implying that there is a large undiscovered diversity of this genus. Results The morphology of two new freshwater euplotid ciliates, Euplotes chongmingensis n. sp. and E. paramieti n. sp., isolated from Shanghai, China, were investigated using live observations, protargol staining, and Chatton-Lwoff silver staining method. Euplotes chongmingensis is characterized by its small size (40–50 × 25–35 μm), about 24 adoral membranelles, 10 frontoventral cirri, two marginal and two caudal cirri, eight dorsolateral kineties with 11–16 dikinetids in the mid-dorsolateral kinety and a double type of silverline system. Euplotes paramieti n. sp. is 180–220 × 110–155 μm in vivo and strongly resembles E. amieti but having a difference of 57 bp in their SSU rRNA gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data were used to determine the systematic positions of these new taxa. Conclusions The description of two new freshwater taxa and their SSU rRNA gene sequences improve knowledge of biodiversity and enrich the database of euplotids. Furthermore, it offers a reliable reference for environmental monitoring and resource investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Han
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Hongbo Pan
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Jiamei Jiang
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China. .,Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China.
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Somasundaram S, Abraham JS, Maurya S, Toteja R, Gupta R, Makhija S. Molecular characterization and transcriptional modulation of stress-responsive genes under heavy metal stress in freshwater ciliate, Euplotes aediculatus. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 31:271-288. [PMID: 34982303 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-021-02518-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollutants in the environment are increasing exponentially due to various anthropogenic factors including mining, industrial and agricultural wastes. Living organisms exposed to heavy metals above a certain threshold level induces deleterious effects in these organisms. To live in such severe environments, microbes have developed a range of tolerance mechanisms which include upregulation of stress-responsive genes and/or antioxidant enzymes to detoxify the metal stress. Single cell eukaryotic microorganisms, i.e., ciliates, are highly sensitive to environmental pollutants mainly due to the absence of cell wall, which make them suitable candidates for conducting ecotoxicological studies. Therefore, the present investigation describes the effects of heavy metals (cadmium and copper) on freshwater ciliate, Euplotes aediculatus. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, i.e., catalase and glutathione peroxidase in E. aediculatus were determined under heavy metal exposure. Besides, the expression of stress-responsive genes, namely, heat-shock protein 70 (hsp70) and catalase (cat), has also been determined in this freshwater ciliate species under metal stress. The present study showed that the enzyme activity and the expression of these genes increased with an increase in the heavy metal concentration and with the duration of metal exposure. Also, these stress-responsive genes were sequenced and characterized to comprehend their role in cell rescue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sripoorna Somasundaram
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Jeeva Susan Abraham
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Swati Maurya
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Ravi Toteja
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Renu Gupta
- Zoology Department, Maitreyi College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Seema Makhija
- Ciliate Biology Laboratory, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
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Molecular signature characters complement taxonomic diagnoses: a bioinformatic approach exemplified by ciliated protists (Ciliophora, Oligotrichea). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2022; 170:107433. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Wang C, Hu Y, Warren A, Hu X. Genetic Diversity and Phylogeny of the Genus Euplotes (Protozoa, Ciliophora) Revealed by the Mitochondrial CO1 and Nuclear Ribosomal Genes. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112204. [PMID: 34835330 PMCID: PMC8624429 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear ribosomal and mitochondrial genes have been utilized individually or in combination to identify known species and discriminate closely related species. However, compared with metazoans, genetic diversity within the ciliate order Euplotida is poorly known. The aim of this study is to investigate how much nucleotide sequence divergence occurs within Euplotes. A total of 14 new gene sequences, comprising four SSU rDNA and 10 CO1 (including three species for the first time) were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out based on sequences of two DNA fragments from the same 27 isolates. We found that CO1 revealed a larger interspecific divergence than the SSU rRNA gene, thus demonstrating a higher resolution for separating congeners. Genetic distances differ significantly at the species level. Euplotes balteatus was revealed to have a large intraspecific variation at two loci, while E. vannus showed different levels of haplotype variability, which appeared as a polyphyletic cluster on the CO1 tree. These high genetic divergences suggest the presence of more cryptic species. By contrast, the CO1 gene showed low variability within E. raikovi, appearing as monophyletic clusters, which indicates that this species could be identified based on this gene. Conclusively, CO1 is a suitable marker for the study of genetic diversity within Euplotes, and increased taxon sampling gives an opportunity to screen relationships among members of this genus. Additionally, current data present no clear biogeographical pattern for Euplotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China;
| | - Yue Hu
- Oxford Sixth Form College, Oxford OX1 4HT, UK;
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK;
| | - Xiaozhong Hu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-532-8203-1610
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