1
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Gastineau R, Lemieux C, Turmel M, Otis C, Boyle B, Coulis M, Gouraud C, Boag B, Murchie AK, Winsor L, Justine JL. The invasive land flatworm Arthurdendyus triangulatus has repeated sequences in the mitogenome, extra-long cox2 gene and paralogous nuclear rRNA clusters. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7840. [PMID: 38570596 PMCID: PMC10991399 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58600-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Using a combination of short- and long-reads sequencing, we were able to sequence the complete mitochondrial genome of the invasive 'New Zealand flatworm' Arthurdendyus triangulatus (Geoplanidae, Rhynchodeminae, Caenoplanini) and its two complete paralogous nuclear rRNA gene clusters. The mitogenome has a total length of 20,309 bp and contains repetitions that includes two types of tandem-repeats that could not be solved by short-reads sequencing. We also sequenced for the first time the mitogenomes of four species of Caenoplana (Caenoplanini). A maximum likelihood phylogeny associated A. triangulatus with the other Caenoplanini but Parakontikia ventrolineata and Australopacifica atrata were rejected from the Caenoplanini and associated instead with the Rhynchodemini, with Platydemus manokwari. It was found that the mitogenomes of all species of the subfamily Rhynchodeminae share several unusual structural features, including a very long cox2 gene. This is the first time that the complete paralogous rRNA clusters, which differ in length, sequence and seemingly number of copies, were obtained for a Geoplanidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Gastineau
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Claude Lemieux
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Monique Turmel
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Christian Otis
- Plateforme d'Analyse Génomique, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Brian Boyle
- Plateforme d'Analyse Génomique, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Mathieu Coulis
- CIRAD, UPR GECO, 97285, Le Lamentin, Martinique, France
- GECO, CIRAD, University Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Clément Gouraud
- UMR CNRS 6553 Ecobio, Université de Rennes, 263 Avenue du Gal Leclerc, CS 74205, CEDEX, 35042, Rennes, France
| | - Brian Boag
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, DD2 5DA, Scotland
| | - Archie K Murchie
- Sustainable Agri-Food Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, BT9 5PX, Northern Ireland
| | - Leigh Winsor
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Jean-Lou Justine
- ISYEB, Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (UMR7205 CNRS, EPHE, MNHN, UPMC, Université des Antilles), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CP 51, 55 Rue Buffon, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France
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2
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Woodcock MR, Powers K, Snead K, Pellettieri J. Flatworm Transcriptomes Reveal Widespread Parasitism by Histophagous Ciliates. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae007. [PMID: 38242711 PMCID: PMC10837001 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Unicellular ciliates like Tetrahymena are best known as free-living bacteriovores, but many species are facultative or obligate parasites. These "histophages" feed on the tissues of hosts ranging from planarian flatworms to commercially important fish and the larvae of imperiled freshwater mussels. Here, we developed a novel bioinformatics pipeline incorporating the nonstandard ciliate genetic code and used it to search for Ciliophora sequences in 34 publicly available Platyhelminthes EST libraries. From 2,615,036 screened ESTs, we identified nearly 6,000 high-confidence ciliate transcripts, supporting parasitism of seven additional flatworm species. We also cultured and identified Tetrahymena from nine terrestrial and freshwater planarians, including invasive earthworm predators from the genus Bipalium and the widely studied regeneration models Dugesia japonica and Schmidtea mediterranea. A co-phylogenetic reconstruction provides strong evidence for the coevolution of histophagous Ciliophora with their Platyhelminthes hosts. We further report the antiprotozoal aminoglycoside paromomycin expels Tetrahymena from S. mediterranea, providing new opportunities to investigate the effects of this relationship on planarian biology. Together, our findings raise the possibility that invasive flatworms constitute a novel dispersal mechanism for Tetrahymena parasites and position the Platyhelminthes as an ideal model phylum for studying the ecology and evolution of histophagous ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ryan Woodcock
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
- Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Natural Science, Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kaleigh Powers
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
| | - Kirsten Snead
- Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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3
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Laznyi E, Boll PK, Pll-Gergely B, Simon J, Szeder KH, Turci G, Katona G. First records of alien land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) in Hungary. Zootaxa 2024; 5403:592-596. [PMID: 38480414 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5403.5.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Laznyi
- Soil Zoological Collection Group; Department of Zoology; Hungarian Natural History Museum; Baross u. 13; H-1088 Budapest; Hungary.
| | | | - Barna Pll-Gergely
- Plant Protection Institute; HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research; Herman Ott t 15; Budapest; H-1022; Hungary.
| | - Janka Simon
- National Laboratory for Health Security; Plant Protection Institute; HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research; Herman Ott t 15; Budapest; H-1022; Hungary.
| | | | - Gnes Turci
- Plant Protection Institute; HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research; Herman Ott t 15; Budapest; H-1022; Hungary.
| | - Gergely Katona
- Lepidoptera Collection; Department of Zoology; Hungarian Natural History Museum; Baross u. 13; H-1088 Budapest; Hungary.
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4
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Kakui K, Tsuyuki A. Flatworm cocoons in the abyss: same plan under pressure. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20230506. [PMID: 38263880 PMCID: PMC10806396 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
While knowledge of early ontogeny in abyssal animals is highly limited in general, it was completely lacking for abyssal, free-living platyhelminths. We discovered flatworm egg capsules (or 'cocoons') on rocks collected at depths of 6176-6200 m on the abyssal slope of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, northwestern Pacific. The egg capsules were black and spherical, around 3 mm in diameter, and contained three to seven individuals (n = 4) at the same developmental stage, either the spherical (putative early embryo) or vermiform (putative late embryo) stages. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 18S and 28S rRNA sequences revealed that the flatworms belong in suborder Maricola in Tricladida and suggested that they may have colonized from shallow to deep waters. This study provides the deepest record for free-living flatworms and the first information on their early life stages in the abyssal zone, which were very similar to those in shallow-water forms. This similarity in development between the relatively benign shallow-water and the extreme abyssal environments suggests that triclads adapting to the latter faced primarily physiological and/or ecological adaptive challenges rather than developmental ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichi Kakui
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
| | - Aoi Tsuyuki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
- Creative Research Institution, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0021, Japan
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5
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Vila-Farré M, Rozanski A, Ivanković M, Cleland J, Brand JN, Thalen F, Grohme MA, von Kannen S, Grosbusch AL, Vu HTK, Prieto CE, Carbayo F, Egger B, Bleidorn C, Rasko JEJ, Rink JC. Evolutionary dynamics of whole-body regeneration across planarian flatworms. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:2108-2124. [PMID: 37857891 PMCID: PMC10697840 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02221-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Regenerative abilities vary dramatically across animals. Even amongst planarian flatworms, well-known for complete regeneration from tiny body fragments, some species have restricted regeneration abilities while others are almost entirely regeneration incompetent. Here, we assemble a diverse live collection of 40 planarian species to probe the evolution of head regeneration in the group. Combining quantification of species-specific head-regeneration abilities with a comprehensive transcriptome-based phylogeny reconstruction, we show multiple independent transitions between robust whole-body regeneration and restricted regeneration in freshwater species. RNA-mediated genetic interference inhibition of canonical Wnt signalling in RNA-mediated genetic interference-sensitive species bypassed all head-regeneration defects, suggesting that the Wnt pathway is linked to the emergence of planarian regeneration defects. Our finding that Wnt signalling has multiple roles in the reproductive system of the model species Schmidtea mediterranea raises the possibility that a trade-off between egg-laying, asexual reproduction by fission/regeneration and Wnt signalling drives regenerative trait evolution. Although quantitative comparisons of Wnt signalling levels, yolk content and reproductive strategy across our species collection remained inconclusive, they revealed divergent Wnt signalling roles in the reproductive system of planarians. Altogether, our study establishes planarians as a model taxon for comparative regeneration research and presents a framework for the mechanistic evolution of regenerative abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Vila-Farré
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Andrei Rozanski
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Mario Ivanković
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - James Cleland
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jeremias N Brand
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Felix Thalen
- Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Cardio-CARE, Medizincampus Davos, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Markus A Grohme
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | - Hanh T-K Vu
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carlos E Prieto
- Department of Zoology & Animal Cell Biology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Fernando Carbayo
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução. Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bernhard Egger
- Department of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christoph Bleidorn
- Animal Evolution and Biodiversity, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - John E J Rasko
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Cell & Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jochen C Rink
- Department of Tissue Dynamics and Regeneration, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.
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6
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Woodcock MR, Powers K, Snead K, Pellettieri J. FLATWORM TRANSCRIPTOMES REVEAL WIDESPREAD PARASITISM BY HISTOPHAGOUS CILIATES. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.17.558123. [PMID: 37745455 PMCID: PMC10516030 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.17.558123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Unicellular ciliates like Tetrahymena are best known as free-living bacteriovores, but many species are facultative or obligate parasites. These 'histophages' feed on the tissues of hosts ranging from planarian flatworms to commercially important fish and the larvae of imperiled freshwater mussels. Here, we developed a novel bioinformatics pipeline incorporating the nonstandard ciliate genetic code and used it to search for Ciliophora sequences in 34 publicly available Platyhelminthes EST libraries. From 2,615,036 screened ESTs, we identified nearly 6,000 high-confidence ciliate transcripts, supporting parasitism of seven additional flatworm species. We also cultured and identified Tetrahymena from nine terrestrial and freshwater planarians, including invasive earthworm predators from the genus Bipalium and the widely studied regeneration models Dugesia japonica and Schmidtea mediterranea. A cophylogenetic reconstruction provides strong evidence for coevolution of histophagous Ciliophora with their Platyhelminthes hosts. We further report the antiprotozoal aminoglycoside paromomycin expels Tetrahymena from S. mediterranea, providing new opportunities to investigate the effects of this relationship on planarian biology. Together, our findings raise the possibility that invasive flatworms constitute a novel dispersal mechanism for Tetrahymena parasites and position the Platyhelminthes as an ideal model phylum for studying the ecology and evolution of histophagous ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Ryan Woodcock
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
- Department of Science, Mathematics & Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Natural Science, Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kaleigh Powers
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
| | - Kirsten Snead
- Department of Science, Mathematics & Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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7
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Sol E, Sluys R, Riutort M, Kawakatsu M. Molecular phylogenetics facilitates the first historical biogeographic analysis of the hammerhead worms (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Bipaliinae), with the description of twelve new species and two new genera. Zootaxa 2023; 5335:1-77. [PMID: 38221113 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5335.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The hammerhead worms constitute a land planarian subfamily (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Bipaliinae) that is popular among natural historians as well as citizen scientists due to their characteristic semi-lunar-shaped head, the striking colours of many species, and the worldwide presence of introduced species, which has raised much concern about their putative impact on the receiving ecosystems. Despite such current awareness, the majority of Bipaliinae species was described before the second half of the 20th century. Over the past few decades, description of new species has been rather scarce. In the present paper, we describe twelve new species and two new genera from Madagascar, Borneo, and Japan, mainly using specimens that form part of the collections of Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden. Species identification has been based on morphology, inner anatomy, and, when available, molecular information. Our molecular phylogenetic tree suggests that either Malagasy or Bornean representatives form the sister-group to the rest of Bipaliinae. The phylogeny suggests also that the Bipaliinae comprises several new and, as yet, undescribed genera. Although the geographical origin of the subfamily is uncertain and may involve either Madagascar or the Bornean region, a molecular time-calibration of the phylogenetic tree indicated that the origin of the Bipaliinae may date back to about 253 Mya, placing its origin near the Permian-Triassic transition and, thus, on Pangea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Sol
- Departament de Gentica; Facultat de Biologia and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio); Universitat de Barcelona; Barcelona; Catalonia; Spain; Present address: Institut de Biologia Evolutiva; CSIC; Universitat Pompeu Fabra; Barcelona; Catalonia; Spain.
| | - Ronald Sluys
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center; P.O. Box 9517; 2300 RA Leiden; The Netherlands.
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Gentica; Facultat de Biologia and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio); Universitat de Barcelona; Barcelona; Catalonia; Spain.
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8
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Phylogenetic relationships of the Geoplaninae land planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) assessed with a total evidence approach, with the description of a new species of Gigantea. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 184:107750. [PMID: 36921695 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have focused on the phylogenetic relationships within the Geoplaninae land planarians (Tricladida). In those studies, ancient phylogenetic relationships remained obscure. In this work, the phylogeny of Geoplaninae is assessed through three different datasets, namely morphological, molecular, and both datasets combined, i.e, a total evidence approach (TE). The data matrix consisted of six DNA regions, including a newly developed marker (DOM5), and a morphological matrix with 37 characters. The study produced the best-resolved hypothesis so far for the phylogeny of Geoplaninae, although ancient clades still remain elusive. The effect of the morphological data on the TE tree topology and clade support is seemingly negligible. The phylogenetic tree also suggests that most of the diagnostic morphological characters of the genera are homoplastic, while unambiguous unique synapomorphies can characterize some supra-generic informal groupings.
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9
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Almeida AL, Álvarez-Presas M, Carbayo F. The discovery of new Chilean taxa revolutionizes the systematics of Geoplaninae Neotropical land planarians (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida). Zool J Linn Soc 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Two subfamilies of land planarians (Geoplanidae) are endemic to the Neotropical region, namely Geoplaninae (with 29 genera and 346 nominal species, most of which are from Brazil) and its sister-group Timyminae, with only two Chilean species. The systematics of these groups through morphology and molecular data (COI and 28S rDNA genes), including nine new Chilean species, is re-assessed in this study. The great morphological diversity of the Chilean species is congruent with the molecular trees and, accordingly, five new genera (Adinoplana, Harana, Myoplana, Sarcoplana and Transandiplana) are proposed, each characterized by putative synapomorphies. Seven new tribes are also erected (Adinoplanini, Gusanini, Haranini, Inakayaliini, Myoplanini, Polycladini and Sarcoplanini), each one monogeneric, except Geoplanini (which includes all genera under the current concept of Geoplaninae plus the Chilean Transandiplana) and Sarcoplanini (with Sarcoplana and the already known Mapuplana, Pichidamas and Wallamapuplana). Re-diagnoses of Geoplaninae, Timymini, Gusana, Inakayalia, Polycladus and Pichidamas are proposed and biogeographic remarks on Transandiplana are provided
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura Almeida
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Nazaré, 481, CEP 04263-000, Ipiranga, São Paulo, SP , Brazil
| | - Marta Álvarez-Presas
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol , 24 Tyndall Avenue, BS8 1TQ, Bristol , UK
| | - Fernando Carbayo
- Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo , Avenida Nazaré, 481, CEP 04263-000, Ipiranga, São Paulo, SP , Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo – USP , Av. Arlindo Bettio, 1000, CEP 03828-000, São Paulo, SP , Brazil
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10
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Vásquez-Doorman C, Escobedo J, Allende ML. Current state of knowledge on freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from Chile. NEOTROPICAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/neotropical.17.e82779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique geography of Chile encompasses a wide diversity of ecosystems and a rich biodiversity. However, the platyhelminth fauna has been poorly studied. The aim of this work is to compile the historical record of freshwater planarians described for this country. We accessed worldwide databases and published articles to provide a comprehensive review of their discovery history, morphological characteristics and their localities. Freshwater planarians have been collected mainly in central and southern Chile, while in the northern region a single species has been described. The discovery of new species of freshwater triclads has the potential to reveal novel animal models to study regeneration and/or biological adaptations, as some species are suitable for culture in the laboratory. We discuss the many reasons why further research is needed for this animal group, which should include genomic and molecular genetic studies.
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11
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12
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Wang L, Wang Y, Dong Z, Chen G, Sluys R, Liu D. Integrative taxonomy unveils a new species of Dugesia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from the southern portion of the Taihang Mountains in northern China, with the description of its complete mitogenome and an exploratory analysis of mitochondrial gene order as a taxonomic character. Integr Zool 2021; 17:1193-1214. [PMID: 34783153 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
A new species of Dugesia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from northern China is described on the basis of an integrative approach, involving morphology, karyology, histology, molecular distance, molecular phylogeny, and mitochondrial gene order. Here, we present the complete mitogenome of the new species Dugesia constrictiva Chen & Dong, sp. nov. This new species is mainly characterized by the presence of the following features: asymmetrical openings of the oviducts; large, cuboidal copulatory bursa; vasa deferentia opening through the ventro-lateral wall of the seminal vesicle; laterally compressed seminal vesicle; ventrally displaced ejaculatory duct, opening at the blunt tip of the penis papilla; long duct intercalated between seminal vesicle and diaphragm; chromosome complement diploid, with 16 metacentric chromosomes; mitochondrial gene order as follows: cox1-E-nad6-nad5-S2-D-R-cox3-I-Q-K-atp6-V-nad1-W-cox2-P-nad3-A-nad2-M-H-F-rrnS-L1-Y-G-S1-rrnL-L2-T-atp8-C-N-cob-nad4l-nad4. In triclads, mitochondrial gene order is considerably conserved between freshwater planarians and land flatworms, whereas it is variable between marine planarians and both freshwater and land flatworms. The secondary structures of tRNAs are all equipped with 4 arms, excepting tRNA S1 and tRNA S2, which lack the D arm and have excessively enlarged loops. Numerous transpositions of tRNA are present between D. constrictiva and its congeners. Mitochondrial gene arrangements may form a new, additional tool for taxonomic studies. The phylogenetic tree based on analysis of the mitochondrial genome basically corroborates current classification of the higher taxa of planarian flatworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China.,Medical College, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Yixuan Wang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Zimei Dong
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Guangwen Chen
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Ronald Sluys
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dezeng Liu
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
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13
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Almeida AL, Francoy TM, Álvarez‐Presas M, Carbayo F. Convergent evolution: A new subfamily for bipaliin‐like Chilean land planarians (platyhelminthes). ZOOL SCR 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marta Álvarez‐Presas
- School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol 24 Tyndall Avenue BristolBS8 1TQUK
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14
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Rataj M, Vd'ačný P. Cryptic host-driven speciation of mobilid ciliates epibiotic on freshwater planarians. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 161:107174. [PMID: 33831547 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Mobilids are among the most taxonomically diverse but morphologically uniform groups of epibiotic ciliates. They attach to their hosts by means of an adhesive disc as harmless commensals such as Urceolaria, or as parasites causing significant economic loss such as some Trichodina species. We investigated the diversity, species boundaries, and phylogenetic relationships of mobilids associated with freshwater planarians, using 114 new sequences of two mitochondrial (16S rRNA gene and cytochrome c oxidase gene) and five nuclear (18S rRNA gene, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region, D1/D2 domains of 28S rRNA gene) markers. Although the morphological disparity of the isolated trichodinids and urceolariids was low, Bayesian coalescent analyses revealed the existence of five distinct evolutionary lineages/species given the seven molecular markers. The occurrence of mobilids perfectly correlated with their planarian hosts: Trichodina steinii and two Urceolaria mitra-like taxa were associated exclusively with the planarian Dugesia gonocephala, Trichodina polycelis sp. n. with the planarian Polycelis felina, and Trichodina schmidtea sp. n. with the planarian Schmidtea polychroa. Host organisms thus very likely constitute sharply isolated niches that might permit speciation of their epibiotic ciliates, even though no distinct morphological features appear to be recognizable among ciliates originating from different hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matej Rataj
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Peter Vd'ačný
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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15
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Wang L, Dong ZM, Chen GW, Sluys R, Liu DZ. Integrative descriptions of two new species of Dugesia from Hainan Island, China (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae). Zookeys 2021; 1028:1-28. [PMID: 33883965 PMCID: PMC8041735 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1028.60838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Two new species of the genus Dugesia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae) from Hainan Island of China are described on the basis of morphological, karyological and molecular data. Dugesiasemiglobosa Chen & Dong, sp. nov. is mainly characterized by a hemispherical, asymmetrical penis papilla with ventrally displaced ejaculatory duct opening terminally at tip of penis papilla; vasa deferentia separately opening into mid-dorsal portion of intrabulbar seminal vesicle; two diaphragms in the ejaculatory duct; copulatory bursa formed by expansion of bursal canal, lined with complex stratified epithelium, which projects through opening in bursa towards intestine, without having open communication with the gut; mixoploid chromosome complement diploid (2n = 16) and triploid (3n = 24), with metacentric chromosomes. Dugesiamajuscula Chen & Dong, sp. nov. is mainly characterized by oviducts opening asymmetrically into female reproductive system; hyperplasic ovaries; expanded posterior section of bursal canal; vasa deferentia separately opening into mid-dorsal portion of seminal vesicle; asymmetrical penis papilla due to ventral course of ejaculatory duct, which has subterminal and dorsal opening at tip papilla; mixoploid chromosome complement diploid (2n = 16) and triploid (3n = 24); chromosomes metacentric. Apart from their anatomy, separate species status of the two new species is supported also by their genetic distances and by their positions in the phylogenetic tree. The sexualization process may have been induced by the lower temperatures, in comparison with their natural habitat, under which the worms were cultured in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007 Henan, China Henan Normal University Xinxiang China.,Medical College, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang 453003, China Naturalis Biodiversity Center Leiden Netherlands
| | - Zi-Mei Dong
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007 Henan, China Henan Normal University Xinxiang China
| | - Guang-Wen Chen
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007 Henan, China Henan Normal University Xinxiang China
| | - Ronald Sluys
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands Xinxiang University Xinxiang China
| | - De-Zeng Liu
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007 Henan, China Henan Normal University Xinxiang China
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16
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Ficetola GF, Boyer F, Valentini A, Bonin A, Meyer A, Dejean T, Gaboriaud C, Usseglio-Polatera P, Taberlet P. Comparison of markers for the monitoring of freshwater benthic biodiversity through DNA metabarcoding. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:3189-3202. [PMID: 32920861 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Metabarcoding of bulk or environmental DNA has great potential for biomonitoring of freshwater environments. However, successful application of metabarcoding to biodiversity monitoring requires universal primers with high taxonomic coverage that amplify highly variable, short metabarcodes with high taxonomic resolution. Moreover, reliable and extensive reference databases are essential to match the outcome of metabarcoding analyses with available taxonomy and biomonitoring indices. Benthic invertebrates, particularly insects, are key taxa for freshwater bioassessment. Nevertheless, few studies have so far assessed markers for metabarcoding of freshwater macrobenthos. Here we combined in silico and laboratory analyses to test the performance of different markers amplifying regions in the 18S rDNA (Euka02), 16S rDNA (Inse01) and COI (BF1_BR2-COI) genes, and developed an extensive database of benthic macroinvertebrates of France and Europe, with a particular focus on key insect orders (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera). Analyses on 1,514 individuals representing different taxa of benthic macroinvertebrates showed very different amplification success across primer combinations. The Euka02 marker showed the highest universality, while the Inse01 marker showed excellent performance for the amplification of insects. BF1_BR2-COI showed the highest resolution, while the resolution of Euka02 was often limited. By combining our data with GenBank information, we developed a curated database including sequences representing 822 genera. The heterogeneous performance of the different primers highlights the complexity in identifying the best markers, and advocates for the integration of multiple metabarcodes for a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of ecological impacts on freshwater biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gentile Francesco Ficetola
- LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, Grenoble, France.,Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Frédéric Boyer
- LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Aurélie Bonin
- LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, Grenoble, France.,Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Albin Meyer
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LIEC, Metz, France
| | | | | | | | - Pierre Taberlet
- LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, Grenoble, France.,UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø Museum, Tromsø, Norway
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17
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Martínez-Aquino A, García-Teh JG, Ceccarelli FS, Aguilar-Aguilar R, Vidal-Martinez VM, Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo M. New morphological and molecular data for Xystretrum solidum (Gorgoderidae, Gorgoderinae) from Sphoeroides testudineus (Tetraodontiformes, Tetraodontidae) in Mexican waters. Zookeys 2020; 925:141-161. [PMID: 32317854 PMCID: PMC7160187 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.925.49503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adults of trematodes in the genus Xystretrum Linton, 1910 (Gorgoderidae, Gorgoderinae) are parasites found exclusively in the urinary bladders of tetraodontiform fishes. However, limited and unclear morphological data were used to describe the type species, X. solidum Linton, 1910. Here, we present the first detailed morphological information for a member of Xystretrum. Morphological characters were described using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of Xystretrum specimens from Sphoeroides testudineus (Linnaeus) (Tetraodontiformes, Tetraodontidae), collected at six localities off the northern Yucatan Peninsula coast of the Gulf of Mexico. We also compared sequence fragments of the 28S (region D1–D3) ribosomal DNA and mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene with those available for other gorgoderine taxa. We assigned these Xystretrum specimens to X. solidum, despite the incompleteness of published descriptions. The data provide a foundation for future work to validate the identities of X. solidum, X. papillosum Linton, 1910 and X. pulchrum (Travassos, 1920) with new collections from the type localities and hosts. Comparisons of 28S and COI regions described here also provide an opportunity to evaluate the monophyletic status of Xystretrum.
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18
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Leria L, Vila-Farré M, Álvarez-Presas M, Sánchez-Gracia A, Rozas J, Sluys R, Riutort M. Cryptic species delineation in freshwater planarians of the genus Dugesia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida): Extreme intraindividual genetic diversity, morphological stasis, and karyological variability. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 143:106496. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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19
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Benítez-Álvarez L, Maria Leal-Zanchet A, Oceguera-Figueroa A, Lopes Ferreira R, de Medeiros Bento D, Braccini J, Sluys R, Riutort M. Phylogeny and biogeography of the Cavernicola (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida): Relicts of an epigean group sheltering in caves? Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 145:106709. [PMID: 31862459 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The planarian suborder Cavernicola Sluys, 1990 was originally created to house five species of triclad flatworms with special morphological features and a surprisingly discontinuous and broad geographic distribution. These five species could not be accommodated with any degree of certainty in any of the three taxonomic groups existing at that moment, viz., Paludicola Hallez, 1892, Terricola Hallez, 1892, and Maricola Hallez, 1892. The scarce representation of the group and the peculiarities of the morphological features of the species, including several described more recently, have complicated new tests of the monophyly of the Cavernicola, the assessment of its taxonomic status, as well as the resolution of its internal relationships. Here we present the first molecular study including all genera currently known for the group, excepting one. We analysed newly generated 18S and 28S rDNA data for these species, together with a broad representation of other triclad flatworms. The resulting phylogenetic trees supported the monophyly of the Cavernicola, as well as its sister-group relationship to the Maricola. The sister-group relationship to the Maricola and affinities within the Cavernicola falsify the morphology-based phylogeny of the latter that was proposed previously. The relatively high diversity of some cavernicolan genera suggests that the presumed rarity of the group actually may in part be due to a collecting artefact. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses suggest that the ancestral habitat of the group concerned epigean freshwater conditions. Our results point to an evolutionary scenario in which the Cavernicola (a) originated in a freshwater habitat, (b) as the sister clade of the marine triclads, and (c) subsequently radiated and colonized both epigean and hypogean environments. Competition with other planarians, notably members of the Continenticola, or changes in epigean habitat conditions are two possible explanations -still to be tested- for the loss of most epigean diversity of the Cavernicola, which is currently reflected in their highly disjunct distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisandra Benítez-Álvarez
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ana Maria Leal-Zanchet
- Instituto de Pesquisas de Planárias and Programa de Pós-Graduacão em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), 93022-750 São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa
- Laboratorio de Helmintología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tercer Circuito s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Copilco, Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, A.P. 70-153, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira
- Centro de Estudos em Biologia Subterrânea, Setor de Biodiversidade Subterrânea, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Campus Universitário, Caixa Postal 3037, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Diego de Medeiros Bento
- ICMBio/CECAV-RN - Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cavernas, 59015-350 Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - João Braccini
- Instituto de Pesquisas de Planárias and Programa de Pós-Graduacão em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS), 93022-750 São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ronald Sluys
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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20
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Negrete L, Do Amaral SV, Ribeiro GG, Wolmann Gonçalves J, Valiati VH, Damborenea C, Brusa F, Leal-Zanchet AM. Far away, so close! Integrative taxonomy reveals a new genus and species of land flatworm (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) from southern South America. Zool J Linn Soc 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Land flatworms usually show low ability to disperse and high endemicity, displaying many singletons in studies on land planarian assemblages. Thus, many species have been described based on specimens sampled in a single locality and/or on a few specimens. Based on phylogenetic analyses of concatenated COI and 18S rRNA genes and morphological analyses, a new genus and species of geoplaninid land planarian is described from central–east Argentina and southern Brazil. Winsoria gen. nov. shows, among its most outstanding features, a ventral cephalic retractor muscle and a subneural muscle layer that extends throughout the anterior region of the body. In addition, characters of the reproductive system and the phylogenetic analyses support the erection of this new genus. According to molecular phylogenies,Winsoria bipatria sp. nov. is closely related to species of Luteostriata, Supramontana and Issoca, taxa that also possess a cephalic retractor muscle. Despite its disjunct distribution, phylogenetic analyses, genetic divergence and morphological features show that the allopatric populations studied herein belong to a single species. We argue that the occurrence of W. bipatria in localities separated by hundreds of kilometres and a geographical barrier should be explained by passive dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisandro Negrete
- División Zoología Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo (UNLP), Boulevard 120 & 61, B1900CHX, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvana Vargas Do Amaral
- Instituto de Pesquisas de Planárias and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS, 93022-750, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Giovana Gamino Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Genética e Biologia Molecular and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS, 93022-750, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Juliana Wolmann Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Genética e Biologia Molecular and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS, 93022-750, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Victor Hugo Valiati
- Laboratório de Genética e Biologia Molecular and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS, 93022-750, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cristina Damborenea
- División Zoología Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo (UNLP), Boulevard 120 & 61, B1900CHX, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco Brusa
- División Zoología Invertebrados, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo (UNLP), Boulevard 120 & 61, B1900CHX, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana Maria Leal-Zanchet
- Instituto de Pesquisas de Planárias and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos – UNISINOS, 93022-750, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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21
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Meddeb E, Charni M, Ben Abdallah R, Raboudi F, Fattouch S. A molecular study of Tunisian populations of Dugesia sicula (Plathelminthes, Tricladida) through an identification of a set of genes. C R Biol 2019; 342:291-298. [PMID: 31786144 DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Cell regeneration is a natural repair of different types of tissue after an injury or a lesion, and is associated with asexual reproduction in some animals such as planarians. Its understanding and improvement could have repercussions for tissue repair and regeneration as far as humans are concerned. In this context, we have proceeded to an essential step, which is the identification of the genes involved in planarian regeneration in the model species. Dugesia sicula Lepori (D. sicula) is distributed around the Mediterranean Sea, and this population is found in most of Tunisian dams. The collection of identified genes is already known in other species. DjFoxG, DjPC2, DjotxA, and Cathepsin-D were identified by the PCR technique and their expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. DjFoxG gene, the FoxG1 homolog, is expressed throughout the planarian body, abundantly on stem cells. Consecutively, we choose a central nervous system (CNS) marker; the prohormone convertase 2 (DjPC2) gene. DjotxA was observed in the brain and especially in the region surrounding the eyes (visual cells). The regenerative cells of the gut of D. sicula were scored by the Cathepsin-D gene expression, which belongs to the aspartyl protease family. We found significant results through RT-PCR and In Situ Hybridization (ISH) techniques, confirming the expression of DjFoxG, DjPC2, DjotxA and Cathepsin-D genes in our specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emna Meddeb
- Laboratory of Food and Molecular Biochemistry, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), University of Carthage, Zone Urbaine Nord, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia; Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Mohamed Charni
- Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; College of Sciences and Humanities of Dawadmi, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rim Ben Abdallah
- Laboratory of Food and Molecular Biochemistry, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), University of Carthage, Zone Urbaine Nord, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia; Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Faten Raboudi
- ISAJC, Bir El Bey, University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sami Fattouch
- Laboratory of Food and Molecular Biochemistry, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (INSAT), University of Carthage, Zone Urbaine Nord, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia
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Sluys R. The evolutionary terrestrialization of planarian flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplanidae): a review and research programme. ZOOSYST EVOL 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/zse.95.38727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The terrestrialization of animal life from aquatic ancestors is a key transition during the history of life. Planarian flatworms form an ideal group of model organisms to study this colonization of the land because they have freshwater, marine, and terrestrial representatives. The widespread occurrence of terrestrial flatworms is a testament to their remarkable success occupying a new niche on land. This lineage of terrestrial worms provides a unique glimpse of an evolutionary pathway by which a group of early divergent aquatic, invertebrate metazoans has moved onto land. Land flatworms are among the first groups of animals to have evolved terrestrial adaptations and to have extensively radiated. Study of this terrestrialization process and the anatomical key innovations facilitating their colonization of the land will contribute greatly to our understanding of this important step in Metazoan history. The context and scientific background are reviewed regarding the evolutionary terrestrialization of land flatworms. Furthermore, a framework of a research programme is sketched, which has as its main objective to test hypotheses on the evolution of land planarians, specifically whether particular anatomical and physiological key innovations have contributed to their evolutionary successful terrestrial colonization and radiation. In this context special attention is paid to the respiration in aquatic and terrestrial planarians. The research programme depends on a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of all major taxa of the land flatworms on the basis of both molecular and anatomical data. The data sets should be analyzed phylogenetically with a suite of phylogenetic inference methods. Building on such robust reconstructions, it will be possible to study associations between key innovations and the evolutionary terrestrialization process.
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23
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Dittmann IL, Cuadrado D, Aguado MT, Noreña C, Egger B. Polyclad phylogeny persists to be problematic. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-019-00415-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Two conflicting morphological approaches to polyclad systematics highlight the relevance of molecular data for resolving the interrelationships of Polycladida. In the present study, phylogenetic trees were reconstructed based on a short alignment of the 28S rDNA marker gene with 118 polyclad terminals (24 new) including 100 different polyclad species from 44 genera and 22 families, as well as on a combined dataset using 18S and 28S rDNA genes with 27 polyclad terminals (19 new) covering 26 different polyclad species. In both approaches, Theamatidae and Cestoplanidae were included, two families that have previously been shown to switch from Acotylea to Cotylea. Three different alignment methods were used, both with and without alignment curation by Gblocks, and all alignments were subjected to Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood tree calculations. Over all trees of the combined dataset, an extended majority-rule consensus tree had weak support for Theamatidae and Cestoplanidae as acotyleans, and also the cotylean genera Boninia, Chromyella and Pericelis appeared as acotyleans. With the most inclusive short 28S dataset, on the other hand, there is good support for the aforementioned taxa as cotyleans. Especially with the short 28S matrix, taxon sampling, outgroup selection, alignment method and curation, as well as model choice were all decisive for tree topology. Well-supported parts of the phylogeny over all trees include Pseudocerotoidea, Prosthiostomoidea, Stylochoidea, Leptoplanoidea and Cryptoceloidea, the latter three with new definitions. Unstable positions in the tree were found not only for Theamatidae, Cestoplanidae, Boninia, Chromyella and Pericelis, but also for Anonymus, Chromoplana and Cycloporus.
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24
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Hu J, Yang M, Ye ER, Ye Y, Niu Y. First record of the New Guinea flatworm Platydemus manokwari (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) as an alien species in Hong Kong Island, China. Zookeys 2019; 873:1-7. [PMID: 31534381 PMCID: PMC6728364 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.873.36458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The New Guinea flatworm (Platydemus manokwari) caused extinction of the native land snails on several Pacific island in past decades, and therefore it has been listed among the top 100 of the world's worst invasive alien species. Using morphological and molecular methods, New Guinea flatworms were discovered and identified for the first time in Hong Kong Island during a field investigation in July and August 2018. The flatworms were 32-60 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, and 1-2 mm thick. The dorsal side of the flatworm was dark brown with a thin yellow central line, and its ventral side appeared pale grey. To further verify this species, both 18S rDNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COX1) obtained from three specimens of P. manokwari were sequenced and analysed. While comparing these sequences with those previously deposited in GenBank, these 18S rDNA sequences shared 100% identity with the single available 18S rDNA sequence of P. manokwari; and the obtained COX1 sequences were identical to those of P. manokwari world genotype. Two native snails, Criptosoma imperator and Bradybaena similaris, have been found to be the prey of this predator during this investigation. Therefore, the invasive New Guinea flatworm certainly will cause a serious impact on the biodiversity of native snail populations, and an economic and environmental risk assessment for P. manokwari need to be completed in the near future in Hong Kong.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Hu
- School of Biological Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China Yunnan University Kunming China.,Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 05282, Myanmar Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar
| | - Muhua Yang
- St Joseph's College, Hong Kong 999077, China St Joseph's College Hong Kong China.,Hong Kong Youth Science Academy, Hong Kong 999077, China Chinese International School Hong Kong China
| | - Elysia Ruoyan Ye
- Chinese International School, Hong Kong 999077, China Hong Kong Youth Science Academy Hong Kong China.,Hong Kong Youth Science Academy, Hong Kong 999077, China Chinese International School Hong Kong China
| | - Yulong Ye
- School of Biological Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China Yunnan University Kunming China
| | - Yao Niu
- School of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China Henan Normal University Xinxiang China
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25
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Li WX, Sluys R, Vila-Farré M, Chen JJ, Yang Y, Li SF, Wang AT. A new continent in the geographic distribution of the genus Oregoniplana (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida: Maricola), its rediscovery in South Africa and its molecular phylogenetic position. Zool J Linn Soc 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Here we describe a new species for the genus Oregoniplana from the coast of China, representing the third species for the genus and the first record of this genus for Asia. The other species are known from Oregon, USA, and from South Africa. Specimens of the South African species, Oregoniplana pantherina, were recently rediscovered, forming the second record for the species, which provided the basis for a necessary re-description. Molecular data (18S rDNA and 28S rDNA) obtained for the new Chinese species facilitated determination of the position of the genus Oregoniplana in the phylogenetic tree of the marine triclads. We report molecular data also for species previously discovered in China, viz. Miroplana shenzhensis and Pentacoelum sinensis, thus enabling us to determine for the first time the phylogenetic position of the genus Miroplana. These new molecular data revealed that Pentacoleum sinensis occupies an unexpected position in the phylogenetic tree. Laboratory cultures of the new Chinese species provided information on food preferences and reproduction. Oregoniplana pantherina exhibits a peculiar kind of locomotion and an unusual resting position in which the animal has three points of contact on either side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Xuan Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-environmental Science, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Marine Algal Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Ronald Sluys
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Miquel Vila-Farré
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jia-Jia Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-environmental Science, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Marine Algal Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Ying Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-environmental Science, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Marine Algal Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Shuang-Fei Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-environmental Science, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Marine Algal Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - An-Tai Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-environmental Science, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Marine Algal Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, PR China
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Rataj M, Vdacny P. Living morphology and molecular phylogeny of oligohymenophorean ciliates associated with freshwater turbellarians. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2019; 134:147-166. [PMID: 31120041 DOI: 10.3354/dao03366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Three freshwater turbellarian species (Dugesia gonocephala, Girardia tigrina, and Polycelis felina), belonging to the order Tricladida, were examined for the presence of ciliates. Living morphology and phylogenetic position of the isolated ciliates were studied using light microscopy and molecular phylogenetic methods. Three ciliate species, all from the highly diverse class Oligohymenophorea, were detected: Haptophrya planariarum from the subclass Astomatia, Urceolaria mitra from the subclass Peritrichia, and Tetrahymena sp. from the subclass Hymenostomatia. Each of these ciliates is specialized for different parts of the turbellarian bodies: H. planariarum lives in the pharynx and rami of the intestine, U. mitra colonizes the body surface, and Tetrahymena sp. attacks open wounds and feeds on the mesenchyme. Astomes and peritrichs isolated from turbellarians are placed deeper in 18S rRNA gene phylogenies than their relatives isolated from annelids and mollusks. On the other hand, Tetrahymena sp. isolated from turbellarians is classified comparatively deeply within the family Tetrahymenidae, suggesting that the phylogeny of tetrahymenids does not correlate with that of their obligate/facultative host groups. Nevertheless, the reconstruction of ancestral traits corroborated the hypothesis that histophagy was already a life history trait of the progenitor of the subclass Hymenostomatia to which Tetrahymena belongs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Rataj
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Lee FJ, Williams KB, Levin M, Wolfe BE. The Bacterial Metabolite Indole Inhibits Regeneration of the Planarian Flatworm Dugesia japonica. iScience 2018; 10:135-148. [PMID: 30521984 PMCID: PMC6280633 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Planarian flatworms have been used for over a century as models for regeneration. Planarians live in aquatic environments with constant exposure to microbes, but the mechanisms by which bacteria may mediate planarian regeneration are largely unknown. We characterized the microbiome of laboratory populations of the planarian Dugesia japonica and determined how individual bacteria impact D. japonica regeneration. Eight to ten taxa in the phyla Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria consistently occur across planarian colonies housed in different research laboratories. Individual members of the D. japonica microbiome can delay regeneration including the development of eye spots and blastema formation. The microbial metabolite indole is produced in significant quantities by two bacteria that are consistently found in the D. japonica microbiome and contributes to delays in regeneration. Collectively, these results provide a baseline understanding of the bacteria associated with the planarian D. japonica and demonstrate how metabolite production by host-associated microbes can affect regeneration. The planarian worm Dugesia japonica is colonized by Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria Many of these bacteria can be cultured and experimentally manipulated Some bacteria can inhibit regeneration, including eye and blastema formation Indole produced by planarian-associated bacteria contributes to regeneration delays
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrick J Lee
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
| | | | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Benjamin E Wolfe
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
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Álvarez‐Presas M, Mateos E, Riutort M. Hidden diversity in forest soils: Characterization and comparison of terrestrial flatworm's communities in two national parks in Spain. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:7386-7400. [PMID: 30151158 PMCID: PMC6106173 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, and Geoplanidae) belong to what is known as cryptic soil fauna of humid forests and are animals not easily found or captured in traps. Nonetheless, they have been demonstrated to be good indicators of the conservation status of their habitat as well as a good model to reconstruct the recent and old events affecting biodiversity. This is mainly due to their delicate constitution, their dependence on the integrity of their habitat, and their very low dispersal capacity. At present, little is known about their communities, except for some studies performed in Brazil. In this work, we analyze for the first time in Europe terrestrial flatworm communities. We have selected two protected areas belonging to the Red Española de Parques Nacionales. Our aims include performing a first study of the species richness and community structure for European terrestrial planarian species at regional and local scale. We evaluate the effect of type of forests in the community composition and flatworms' abundance, but also have into account the phylogenetic framework (never considered in previous studies) analyzed based on molecular data. We find differences in the species composition among parks, with an astonishingly high diversity of endemic species in the Parque Nacional de Picos de Europa and an extremely low diversity of species in the Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido. These divergent patterns cannot be attributed to differences in physical variables, and in addition, the analyses of their phylogenetic relationships and, for a few species, their genetic structure, point to a more probable historical explanation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Álvarez‐Presas
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i EstadísticaInstitut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Eduardo Mateos
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències AmbientalsUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i EstadísticaInstitut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio)Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
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Winsor L, Sluys R. Basic Histological Techniques for Planarians. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2018; 1774:285-351. [PMID: 29916162 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7802-1_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
The chapter provides a concise account of collecting techniques, and basic histological techniques for investigating planarians, intended for use by practicing scientists and postgraduate students new to the field. Selected hands-on methods are described that will lead to well-stained preparations suitable for light microscopic examination for subsequent taxonomic identification or general investigations into planarian functional cytology and histology. Major equipment items that are minimal essential requirements of a functional histological laboratory are indicated. The chapter includes sectioning and staining troubleshooting guides that will be very helpful for those who must work in the laboratory without the opportunity to consult qualified and experienced technicians or microscopists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Winsor
- Zoology & Ecology, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Ronald Sluys
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Nakagawa H, Sekii K, Maezawa T, Kitamura M, Miyashita S, Abukawa M, Matsumoto M, Kobayashi K. A comprehensive comparison of sex-inducing activity in asexual worms of the planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis: the crucial sex-inducing substance appears to be present in yolk glands in Tricladida. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2018; 4:14. [PMID: 29942643 PMCID: PMC5996458 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-018-0096-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Turbellarian species can post-embryonically produce germ line cells from pluripotent stem cells called neoblasts, which enables some of them to switch between an asexual and a sexual state in response to environmental changes. Certain low-molecular-weight compounds contained in sexually mature animals act as sex-inducing substances that trigger post-embryonic germ cell development in asexual worms of the freshwater planarian Dugesia ryukyuensis (Tricladida). These sex-inducing substances may provide clues to the molecular mechanism of this reproductive switch. However, limited information about these sex-inducing substances is available. RESULTS Our assay system based on feeding sex-inducing substances to asexual worms of D. ryukyuensis is useful for evaluating sex-inducing activity. We used the freshwater planarians D. ryukyuensis and Bdellocephala brunnea (Tricladida), land planarian Bipalium nobile (Tricladida), and marine flatworm Thysanozoon brocchii (Polycladida) as sources of the sex-inducing substances. Using an assay system, we showed that the three Tricladida species had sufficient sex-inducing activity to fully induce hermaphroditic reproductive organs in asexual worms of D. ryukyuensis. However, the sex-inducing activity of T. brocchii was sufficient only to induce a pair of ovaries. We found that yolk glands, which are found in Tricladida but not Polycladida, may contain the sex-inducing substance that can fully sexualize asexual worms of D. ryukyuensis. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that within Tricladida, there are one or more common compounds or functional analogs capable of fully sexualizing asexual worms of D. ryukyuensis; namely, the crucial sex-inducing substance (hydrophilic and heat-stable, but not a peptide) produced in yolk glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Nakagawa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8561 Japan
| | - Kiyono Sekii
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8561 Japan
| | - Takanobu Maezawa
- Advanced Science Course, Department of Integrated Science and Technology, National Institute of Technology, Tsuyama College, 624-1 Numa, Tsuyama, Okayama, 708-8509 Japan
| | - Makoto Kitamura
- Center for Integrated Medical Research, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582 Japan
| | - Soichiro Miyashita
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8561 Japan
| | - Marina Abukawa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8561 Japan
| | - Midori Matsumoto
- Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kouhoku-ku, Yokohama, 223-8522 Japan
| | - Kazuya Kobayashi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8561 Japan
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de Oliveira MS, Lopes KAR, Leite PMSCM, Morais FV, de Campos Velho NMR. Physiological evaluation of the behavior and epidermis of freshwater planarians ( Girardia tigrina and Girardia sp.) exposed to stressors. Biol Open 2018; 7:bio029595. [PMID: 29871871 PMCID: PMC6031348 DOI: 10.1242/bio.029595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Planarians are metazoan freshwater flatworms which are free-living organisms. Their body has pluripotent stem cell promoters of tissue regeneration capacity. The water temperature and the potential of hydrogen (pH) of lentic ecosystems are important factors involved in the distribution and abundance of these animals. Although the pH factor is directly related to the physiology and behavior of planarians, their adaptive and regenerating capacities still remain unknown. The Critical Thermal Maximum (CTM) is a very widespread method used in the evaluation of thermal tolerance. In this study, Girardia tigrina (Girard, 1850) and Girardia sp., a species found in Brazil, which is under study as a new species, had their epidermis assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze their physiological structures before and after exposure to different stressors. SEM was used as a method to evaluate the planarians' epidermis as a result of the increasing temperature (CTM) and pH alterations, the latter with the use of a new methodology defined as Critical Hydrogen ion concentration Maximum (CHM). In increasing temperatures from 20°C to 37°C, both Girardia tigrina and Girardia sp. proved to be adaptable to thermal stress. Girardia sp. was shown to be more resistant to higher temperatures. However, Girardia tigrina was more resistant to extreme pH conditions (4.0 to 10.0). SEM analysis showed morphological differences among planarian species, such as the arrangement of the structures and cell types of the dorsal epidermis. Moreover, planarians demonstrated the ability to change the surrounding pH of their external environment in order to maintain the function of their physiological mechanisms, suggesting that these animals have a complex survival system, possibly related to protonephridia, flame cells and excretory pores.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Salgado de Oliveira
- Planarian Laboratory, Nature Research Center, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Vale do Paraíba, São José dos Campos, São Paulo 12244-000, Brazil
| | - Karla Andressa Ruiz Lopes
- Planarian Laboratory, Nature Research Center, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Vale do Paraíba, São José dos Campos, São Paulo 12244-000, Brazil
| | | | - Flavia Villaça Morais
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology of Fungi, Research and Development Institute, University of Vale do Paraíba, São José dos Campos, São Paulo 12244-000, Brazil
| | - Nádia Maria Rodrigues de Campos Velho
- Planarian Laboratory, Nature Research Center, Faculty of Education and Arts, University of Vale do Paraíba, São José dos Campos, São Paulo 12244-000, Brazil
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Leria L, Sluys R, Riutort M. Diversification and biogeographic history of the Western Palearctic freshwater flatworm genusSchmidtea(Tricladida: Dugesiidae), with a redescription ofSchmidtea nova. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laia Leria
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística; Facultat de Biologia; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio); Universitat de Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
| | - Ronald Sluys
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística; Facultat de Biologia; Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio); Universitat de Barcelona; Barcelona Spain
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Souza S, Riutort M, Ferreira RL, Leal-Zanchet A. An integrative taxonomic approach reveals the first marine triclad (Platyhelminthes) trapped in a cave from a semiarid Neotropical environment. INVERTEBR SYST 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/is17062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A new genus and species of the suborder Maricola, representing the first marine triclad living in freshwater within a cave, is described. These flatworms show specialised features, such as a lack of pigmentation and eyes, indicating their troglobitic condition. Until now, cave-dwelling triclads have only been found as representatives of the other two triclad lineages. The phylogenetic trees based on 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes showed their sequences to form a clade situated in a rather derived position within the Maricola. Combining maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses along with morphological studies, we undertake the first integrative description of a marine triclad. The new genus is characterised by a secondary copulatory bursa and ovaries located behind the root of the pharynx. Nevertheless, its assignment to a family of Maricola was a difficult task especially due to the paucity of unique defining morphological features of their families. The new species is found in a semiarid environment that suffered marine transgressions and regressions during the Cretaceous, which may explain the presence of this originally marine species in a freshwater cave. The restricted distribution of the new species and recent environmental conditions detected at its type locality raise major concern for its conservation.
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Abstract
Hundreds of planarian species exist worldwide, representing a rich phenotypic diversity. This chapter presents an overview of the morphology and anatomy of various taxonomic groups of planarian flatworms, focusing on features enabling recognition and identification of the animals. The most recent view on the phylogenetic relationships of the planarians is presented, together with geographic distribution patterns of major groups of triclads. The chapter concludes with a brief methodological section outlining species identification on basis of anatomical features. In conjunction with the established laboratory model species, the phenotypic diversity of planarians provides rich opportunities for comparative studies, which this chapter aims to inspire.
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Carbayo F, Silva MS, Riutort M, Álvarez-Presas M. Rolling into the deep of the land planarian genus Choeradoplana (Tricladida, Continenticola, Geoplanidae) taxonomy. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-017-0352-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Van Huizen AV, Tseng AS, Beane WS. Methylisothiazolinone toxicity and inhibition of wound healing and regeneration in planaria. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2017; 191:226-235. [PMID: 28869924 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) is a common biocide used in cosmetic and industrial settings. Studies have demonstrated that MIT is a human sensitizer, to the extent that in 2013 MIT was named allergen of the year. Recently, we showed that MIT exposure in Xenopus laevis (the African clawed frog) inhibits wound healing and tail regeneration. However, it is unknown whether MIT affects these processes in other animals. Here, we investigated the effects of MIT exposure in planaria-non-parasitic freshwater flatworms able to regenerate all tissues after injury. Using a common research strain of Dugesia japonica, we determined that intact planarians exposed to 15μM MIT displayed both neuromuscular and epithelial-integrity defects. Furthermore, regenerating (head and tail) fragments exposed to 15μM MIT failed to close wounds or had significantly delayed wound healing. Planarian wounds normally close within 1h after injury. However, most MIT-exposed animals retained open wounds at 24h and subsequently died, and those few animals that were able to undergo delayed wound healing without dying exhibited abnormal regeneration. For instance, head regeneration was severely delayed or inhibited, with anterior structures such as eyes failing to form in newly produced tissues. These data suggest that MIT directly affects both wound healing and regeneration in planarians. Next, we investigated the ability of thiol-containing antioxidants to rescue planarian wound closure during MIT exposure. The data reveal both n-acetyl cysteine and glutathione were each able to fully rescue MIT inhibition of wound healing. Lastly, we established MIT toxicity levels by determining the LC50 of 5 different planarian species: D. japonica, Schmidtea mediterranea, Girardia tigrina, Girardia dorotocephala, and Phagocata gracilis. Our LC50 data revealed that concentrations as low as 39μM (4.5ppm) are lethal to planarians, with concentrations of just 5μM inhibiting wound healing, and suggest that phylogeny is predictive of species toxicity levels. Together these results indicate MIT may have broad wound healing effects on aquatic species in general and are not limited to X. laevis alone. Future studies should investigate the impact of MIT on wound healing in other organisms, including non-aquatic organisms and mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alanna V Van Huizen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Box 5410, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, United States
| | - Ai-Sun Tseng
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154, United States
| | - Wendy S Beane
- Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Box 5410, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, United States.
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Almazan EMP, Lesko SL, Markey MP, Rouhana L. Girardia dorotocephala transcriptome sequence, assembly, and validation through characterization of piwi homologs and stem cell progeny markers. Dev Biol 2017; 433:433-447. [PMID: 28774726 PMCID: PMC5750089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Planarian flatworms are popular models for the study of regeneration and stem cell biology in vivo. Technical advances and increased availability of genetic information have fueled the discovery of molecules responsible for stem cell pluripotency and regeneration in flatworms. Unfortunately, most of the planarian research performed worldwide utilizes species that are not natural habitants of North America, which limits their availability to newcomer laboratories and impedes their distribution for educational activities. In order to circumvent these limitations and increase the genetic information available for comparative studies, we sequenced the transcriptome of Girardia dorotocephala, a planarian species pandemic and commercially available in North America. A total of 254,802,670 paired sequence reads were obtained from RNA extracted from intact individuals, regenerating fragments, as well as freshly excised auricles of a clonal line of G. dorotocephala (MA-C2), and used for de novo assembly of its transcriptome. The resulting transcriptome draft was validated through functional analysis of genetic markers of stem cells and their progeny in G. dorotocephala. Akin to orthologs in other planarian species, G. dorotocephala Piwi1 (GdPiwi1) was found to be a robust marker of the planarian stem cell population and GdPiwi2 an essential component for stem cell-driven regeneration. Identification of G. dorotocephala homologs of the early stem cell descendent marker PROG-1 revealed a family of lysine-rich proteins expressed during epithelial cell differentiation. Sequences from the MA-C2 transcriptome were found to be 98-99% identical to nucleotide sequences from G. dorotocephala populations with different chromosomal number, demonstrating strong conservation regardless of karyotype evolution. Altogether, this work establishes G. dorotocephala as a viable and accessible option for analysis of gene function in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Matthew P Almazan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, United States
| | - Sydney L Lesko
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, United States
| | - Michael P Markey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, United States
| | - Labib Rouhana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, United States.
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Lai AG, Pouchkina-Stantcheva N, Di Donfrancesco A, Kildisiute G, Sahu S, Aboobaker AA. The protein subunit of telomerase displays patterns of dynamic evolution and conservation across different metazoan taxa. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:107. [PMID: 28441946 PMCID: PMC5405514 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0949-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most animals employ telomerase, which consists of a catalytic subunit known as the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and an RNA template, to maintain telomere ends. Given the importance of TERT and telomere biology in core metazoan life history traits, like ageing and the control of somatic cell proliferation, we hypothesised that TERT would have patterns of sequence and regulatory evolution reflecting the diverse life histories across the Animal Kingdom. RESULTS We performed a complete investigation of the evolutionary history of TERT across animals. We show that although TERT is almost ubiquitous across Metazoa, it has undergone substantial sequence evolution within canonical motifs. Beyond the known canonical motifs, we also identify and compare regions that are highly variable between lineages, but show conservation within phyla. Recent data have highlighted the importance of alternative splice forms of TERT in non-canonical functions and although animals may share some conserved introns, we find that the selection of exons for alternative splicing appears to be highly variable, and regulation by alternative splicing appears to be a very dynamic feature of TERT evolution. We show that even within a closely related group of triclad flatworms, where alternative splicing of TERT was previously correlated with reproductive strategy, we observe highly diverse splicing patterns. CONCLUSIONS Our work establishes that the evolutionary history and structural evolution of TERT involves previously unappreciated levels of change and the emergence of lineage specific motifs. The sequence conservation we describe within phyla suggests that these new motifs likely serve essential biological functions of TERT, which along with changes in splicing, underpin diverse functions of TERT important for animal life histories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvina G Lai
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
| | | | | | - Gerda Kildisiute
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Sounak Sahu
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - A Aziz Aboobaker
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
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Mateos E, Sluys R, Riutort M, Álvarez-Presas M. Species richness in the genus Microplana (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Microplaninae) in Europe: as yet no asymptote in sight. INVERTEBR SYST 2017. [DOI: 10.1071/is16038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This study forms a major step towards a comprehensive morphological and molecular analysis of the species diversity of European microplanid land planarians. It presents a molecular phylogenetic tree on the basis of information from the genes Cox1, 18S, 28S and elongation factor 1-α, and applies molecular and morphological species delimitation methodologies for Microplana specimens sampled over a wide geographic range within Europe. The study suggests that as yet there is no plateau or asymptote in the accumulation curve for European Microplana species, as our results facilitated an integrative delimitation of seven new species as well as the diagnosis of new populations of three already known species and one doubtful or problematic species. In some cases, the new records considerably enlarged the known range of a species. An integrative account is provided of each of these species. Molecular sequence information on newly collected land flatworms may quickly point the planarian systematist to taxa that need to be examined morphologically and thus may considerably reduce laborious and time-consuming histological analyses.
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Sureda-Gómez M, Martín-Durán JM, Adell T. Localization of planarian β-CATENIN-1 reveals multiple roles during anterior-posterior regeneration and organogenesis. Development 2016; 143:4149-4160. [PMID: 27737903 DOI: 10.1242/dev.135152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The β-catenin-dependent Wnt pathway exerts multiple context-dependent roles in embryonic and adult tissues. In planarians, β-catenin-1 is thought to specify posterior identities through the generation of an anteroposterior gradient. However, the existence of such a gradient has not been directly demonstrated. Here, we use a specific polyclonal antibody to demonstrate that nuclear β-CATENIN-1 exists as an anteroposterior gradient from the pre-pharyngeal region to the tail of the planarian Schmidtea polychroa High levels in the posterior region steadily decrease towards the pre-pharyngeal region but then increase again in the head region. During regeneration, β-CATENIN-1 is nuclearized in both anterior and posterior blastemas, but the canonical WNT1 ligand only influences posterior nuclearization. Additionally, β-catenin-1 is required for proper anterior morphogenesis, consistent with the high levels of nuclear β-CATENIN-1 observed in this region. We further demonstrate that β-CATENIN-1 is abundant in developing and differentiated organs, and is particularly required for the specification of the germline. Altogether, our findings provide the first direct evidence of an anteroposterior nuclear β-CATENIN-1 gradient in adult planarians and uncover novel, context-dependent roles for β-catenin-1 during anterior regeneration and organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Sureda-Gómez
- Department of Genetics and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia E-08028, Spain
| | - José M Martín-Durán
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Thørmohlensgate 55, Bergen 5008, Norway
| | - Teresa Adell
- Department of Genetics and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia E-08028, Spain
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Comparative and Transcriptome Analyses Uncover Key Aspects of Coding- and Long Noncoding RNAs in Flatworm Mitochondrial Genomes. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2016; 6:1191-200. [PMID: 26921295 PMCID: PMC4856072 DOI: 10.1534/g3.116.028175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Exploiting the conservation of various features of mitochondrial genomes has been instrumental in resolving phylogenetic relationships. Despite extensive sequence evidence, it has not previously been possible to conclusively resolve some key aspects of flatworm mitochondrial genomes, including generally conserved traits, such as start codons, noncoding regions, the full complement of tRNAs, and whether ATP8 is, or is not, encoded by this extranuclear genome. In an effort to address these difficulties, we sought to determine the mitochondrial transcriptomes and genomes of sexual and asexual taxa of freshwater triclads, a group previously poorly represented in flatworm mitogenomic studies. We have discovered evidence for an alternative start codon, an extended cox1 gene, a previously undescribed conserved open reading frame, long noncoding RNAs, and a highly conserved gene order across the large evolutionary distances represented within the triclads. Our findings contribute to the expansion and refinement of mitogenomics to address evolutionary issues in this diverse group of animals.
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Carbayo F, Álvarez-Presas M, Jones HD, Riutort M. The true identity ofObama(Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) flatworm spreading across Europe. Zool J Linn Soc 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Carbayo
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução; Escola de Artes; Ciências e Humanidades; Universidade de São Paulo; Av. Arlindo Bettio, 1000 São Paulo SP 03828-000 Brazil
- Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São Paulo; Rua do Matão, Travessa 14, Cidade Universitária São Paulo SP 05508-900 Brazil
| | - Marta Álvarez-Presas
- Departament de Genètica; Facultat de Biologia and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio); Universitat de Barcelona; Avinguda Diagonal, 643 Barcelona E-08028 Spain
| | - Hugh D. Jones
- Life Sciences; Natural History Museum; Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD UK
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica; Facultat de Biologia and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio); Universitat de Barcelona; Avinguda Diagonal, 643 Barcelona E-08028 Spain
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Focus on the details: morphological evidence supports new cryptic land flatworm (Platyhelminthes) species revealed with molecules. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-014-0197-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Lago-Barcia D, Fernández-Álvarez FA, Negrete L, Brusa F, Damborenea C, Grande C, Noreña C. Morphology and DNA barcodes reveal the presence of the non-native land planarian Obama marmorata (Platyhelminthes : Geoplanidae) in Europe. INVERTEBR SYST 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/is14033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We report for the first time the occurrence of Obama marmorata in the Iberian Peninsula as an introduced species from the Neotropical Region. The species is also reported for the first time in Argentina. The identification was made on the basis of morphological evidence. The divergence levels of a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochromec oxidaseI gene from Argentinean and Iberian samples were studied. The morphology of samples from the two regions was the same and matched the original description of the species. A DNA barcoding matrix was constructed using new sequences from O. marmorata and sequences of related species taken from GenBank. Among the Geoplanidae, interspecific divergence ranged between 3.3 and 14.4%, while intraspecific divergence percentages were 0–1.2%, signalling the presence of a DNA barcoding gap. All O. marmorata sequences, irrespective of their geographic origin, form a well supported clade with an intraspecific divergence of 0–0.9 (average = 0.4%). These results indicate the utility of DNA barcoding to discover allochthonous species in this group of organisms.
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Sluys R, Vila-Farré M, Álvarez-Presas M, Riutort M, Kawakatsu M, Tulp AS. The diet and distribution ofPentacoelum kazukolinda(Kawakatsu & Mitchell, 1984), a maricolan planarian with a freshwater ecology. ZOOL SCR 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Sluys
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center; PO Box 9517 2300 RA Leiden the Netherlands
| | - Miquel Vila-Farré
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics; Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307 Dresden Germany
| | - Marta Álvarez-Presas
- Departament de Genètica; Facultat de Biologia & Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat; University of Barcelona; Av. Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica; Facultat de Biologia & Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat; University of Barcelona; Av. Diagonal 643 08028 Barcelona Spain
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Alvarez-Presas M, Mateos E, Tudó A, Jones H, Riutort M. Diversity of introduced terrestrial flatworms in the Iberian Peninsula: a cautionary tale. PeerJ 2014; 2:e430. [PMID: 24949245 PMCID: PMC4060057 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many tropical terrestrial planarians (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) have been introduced around the globe. One of these species is known to cause significant decline in earthworm populations, resulting in a reduction of ecological functions that earthworms provide. Flatworms, additionally, are a potential risk to other species that have the same dietary needs. Hence, the planarian invasion might cause significant economic losses in agriculture and damage to the ecosystem. In the Iberian Peninsula only Bipalium kewense Moseley, 1878 had been cited till 2007. From that year on, four more species have been cited, and several reports of the presence of these animals in particular gardens have been received. In the present study we have: (1) analyzed the animals sent by non-specialists and also the presence of terrestrial planarians in plant nurseries and garden centers; (2) identified their species through morphological and phylogenetic molecular analyses, including representatives of their areas of origin; (3) revised their dietary sources and (4) used Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) for one species to evaluate the risk of its introduction to natural areas. The results have shown the presence of at least ten species of alien terrestrial planarians, from all its phylogenetic range. International plant trade is the source of these animals, and many garden centers are acting as reservoirs. Also, landscape restoration to reintroduce autochthonous plants has facilitated their introduction close to natural forests and agricultural fields. In conclusion, there is a need to take measures on plant trade and to have special care in the treatment of restored habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Alvarez-Presas
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia i Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Eduardo Mateos
- Departament de Biologia Animal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Angels Tudó
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia i Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Hugh Jones
- Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum , London , UK
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia i Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain
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Planarian (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) Diversity and Molecular Markers: A New View of an Old Group. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/d6020323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Carbayo F, Álvarez-Presas M, Olivares CT, Marques FPL, Froehlich EM, Riutort M. Molecular phylogeny of Geoplaninae (Platyhelminthes) challenges current classification: proposal of taxonomic actions. ZOOL SCR 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Carbayo
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução; Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH); Universidade de São Paulo (USP); Av. Arlindo Bettio, 1000; São Paulo; SP; 03828-000; Brazil
| | - Marta Álvarez-Presas
- Departament de Genètica; Facultat de Biologia and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio); Universitat de Barcelona; Avinguda Diagonal; Barcelona; 643 E-08028; Spain
| | - Cláudia T. Olivares
- Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São Paulo (USP); Rua do Matão; Travessa 14 Cidade Universitária; São Paulo; SP; 05508-900; Brazil
| | - Fernando P. L. Marques
- Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São Paulo (USP); Rua do Matão; Travessa 14 Cidade Universitária; São Paulo; SP; 05508-900; Brazil
| | - Eudóxia M. Froehlich
- Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São Paulo (USP); Rua do Matão; Travessa 14 Cidade Universitária; São Paulo; SP; 05508-900; Brazil
| | - Marta Riutort
- Departament de Genètica; Facultat de Biologia and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio); Universitat de Barcelona; Avinguda Diagonal; Barcelona; 643 E-08028; Spain
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Harrath A, Ahmed M, Sayed S, Saifi M, Alwasel S. An ultrastructural study of oogenesis and cell dynamics during cocoon shell secretion in the subterranean freshwater planarian Dendrocoelum constrictum (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida). Tissue Cell 2013; 45:39-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2012.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 09/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Solà E, Sluys R, Gritzalis K, Riutort M. Fluvial basin history in the northeastern Mediterranean region underlies dispersal and speciation patterns in the genus Dugesia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Dugesiidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2012. [PMID: 23182762 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In this study we analyzed the phylogenetic relationships of eastern Mediterranean freshwater planarians of the genus Dugesia, estimated divergence times for the various clades, and correlated their phylogeographic patterns with geological and paleoclimatic events, in order to discover which evolutionary processes have shaped the present-day distribution of these animals. Specimens were collected from freshwater courses and lakes in continental and insular Greece. Genetic divergences and phylogenetic relationships were inferred by using the mitochondrial gene subunit I of cytochrome oxidase (COI) and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) from 74 newly collected individuals from Greece. Divergence time estimates were obtained under a Bayesian framework, using the COI sequences. Two alternative geological dates for the isolation of Crete from the mainland were tested as calibration points. A clear phylogeographic pattern was present for Dugesia lineages in the Eastern Mediterranean. Morphological data, combined with information on genetic divergences, revealed that eight out of the nine known species were represented in the samples, while additional new, and still undescribed species were detected. Divergence time analyses suggested that Dugesia species became isolated in Crete after the first geological isolation of the island, and that their present distribution in the Eastern Mediterranean has been shaped mainly by vicariant events but also by dispersal. During the Messinian salinity crisis these freshwater planarians apparently were not able to cross the sea barrier between Crete and the mainland, while they probably did disperse between islands in the Aegean Sea. Their dependence on freshwater to survive suggests the presence of contiguous freshwater bodies in those regions. Our results also suggest a major extinction of freshwater planarians on the Peloponnese at the end of the Pliocene, while about 2Mya ago, when the current Mediterranean climate was established, these Peloponnese populations probably began to disperse again. At the end of the Pliocene or during the Pleistocene, mainland populations of Dugesia colonized the western coast, including the Ionian Islands, which were then part of the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Solà
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia and Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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