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Melekhin M, Potekhin A, Gentekaki E, Chantangsi C. Paramecium (Oligohymenophorea, Ciliophora) diversity in Thailand sheds light on the genus biogeography and reveals new phylogenetic lineages. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2024; 71:e13004. [PMID: 37849422 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.13004] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Paramecium (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) is a good model to study ciliate biogeography. Extensive sampling mainly in northern hemisphere has led to 16 valid morphological species description thus far. However, a majority of hard-to-reach regions, including South East Asia, are underinvestigated. Our study combined traditional morphological and molecular approaches to reveal the biodiversity of Paramecium in Thailand from more than 110 samples collected in 10 provinces. Representatives of seven morphological species were identified from our collection, including the rare species, such as P. gigas and P. jenningsi. Additionally, we detected five different sibling species of the P. aurelia complex, described a new cryptic species P. hiwatashii n. sp. phylogenetically related to P. caudatum, and discovered a potentially new genetic species of the P. bursaria species complex. We also documented a variety of bacterial cytoplasmic symbionts from at least nine monoclonal cultures of Paramecium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksim Melekhin
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Protistology, Zoological Institute RAS, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexey Potekhin
- Research Department for Limnology, University of Innsbruck, Mondsee, Austria
| | - Eleni Gentekaki
- School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
| | - Chitchai Chantangsi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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2
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Characterization of a Pseudokeronopsis Strain (Ciliophora, Urostylida) and Its Bacterial Endosymbiont “Candidatus Trichorickettsia” (Alphaproteobacteria, Rickettsiales). DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14121032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Symbiotic associations between bacteria and ciliate protists are rather common. In particular, several cases were reported involving bacteria of the alphaproteobacterial lineage Rickettsiales, but the diversity, features, and interactions in these associations are still poorly understood. In this work, we characterized a novel ciliate protist strain originating from Brazil and its associated Rickettsiales endosymbiont by means of live and ultrastructural observations, as well as molecular phylogeny. Though with few morphological peculiarities, the ciliate was found to be phylogenetically affiliated with Pseudokeronopsis erythrina, a euryhaline species, which is consistent with its origin from a lagoon with significant spatial and seasonal salinity variations. The bacterial symbiont was assigned to “Candidatus Trichorickettsia mobilis subsp. hyperinfectiva”, being the first documented case of a Rickettsiales associated with urostylid ciliates. It resided in the host cytoplasm and bore flagella, similarly to many, but not all, conspecifics in other host species. These findings highlight the ability of “Candidatus Trichorickettsia” to infect multiple distinct host species and underline the importance of further studies on this system, in particular on flagella and their regulation, from a functional and also an evolutionary perspective, considering the phylogenetic proximity with the well-studied and non-flagellated Rickettsia.
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3
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Melekhin M, Yakovleva Y, Lebedeva N, Nekrasova I, Nikitashina L, Castelli M, Mayén-Estrada R, Romanovich AE, Petroni G, Potekhin A. Cryptic Diversity in Paramecium multimicronucleatum Revealed with a Polyphasic Approach. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050974. [PMID: 35630417 PMCID: PMC9143557 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Paramecium (Ciliophora) systematics is well studied, and about twenty morphological species have been described. The morphological species may include several genetic species. However, molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the species diversity within Paramecium could be even higher and has raised a problem of cryptic species whose statuses remain uncertain. In the present study, we provide the morphological and molecular characterization of two novel Paramecium species. While Paramecium lynni n. sp., although morphologically similar to P. multimicronucleatum, is phylogenetically well separated from all other Paramecium species, Paramecium fokini n. sp. appears to be a cryptic sister species to P. multimicronucleatum. The latter two species can be distinguished only by molecular methods. The number and structure of micronuclei, traditionally utilized to discriminate species in Paramecium, vary not only between but also within each of the three studied species and, thus, cannot be considered a reliable feature for species identification. The geographic distribution of the P. multimicronucleatum and P. fokini n. sp. strains do not show defined patterns, still leaving space for a role of the geographic factor in initial speciation in Paramecium. Future findings of new Paramecium species can be predicted from the molecular data, while morphological characteristics appear to be unstable and overlapping at least in some species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksim Melekhin
- Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Protistology, Zoological Institute RAS, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Yulia Yakovleva
- Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalia Lebedeva
- Centre for Culture Collection of Microorganisms, Saint Petersburg State University, 198504 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina Nekrasova
- Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Liubov Nikitashina
- Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Rosaura Mayén-Estrada
- Laboratorio de Protozoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Ext. s/núm. Ciudad Universitaria, Av. Universidad 3000, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, Mexico
| | - Anna E Romanovich
- Center for Molecular and Cell Technologies, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Giulio Petroni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alexey Potekhin
- Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Protistology, Zoological Institute RAS, 199034 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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4
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Paramecium bursaria—A Complex of Five Cryptic Species: Mitochondrial DNA COI Haplotype Variation and Biogeographic Distribution. DIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/d13110589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Ciliates are a diverse protistan group and many consist of cryptic species complexes whose members may be restricted to particular biogeographic locations. Mitochondrial genes, characterized by a high resolution for closely related species, were applied to identify new species and to distinguish closely related morphospecies. In the current study, we analyzed 132 sequences of COI mtDNA fragments obtained from P. bursaria species collected worldwide. The results allowed, for the first time, to generate a network of COI haplotypes and demonstrate the relationships between P. bursaria strains, as well as to confirm the existence of five reproductively isolated haplogroups. The P. bursaria haplogroups identified in the present study correspond to previously reported syngens (R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5), thus we decided to propose the following binominal names for each of them: P. primabursaria, P. bibursaria, P. tribursaria, P. tetrabursaria, and P. pentabursaria, respectively. The phylogeographic distribution of P. bursaria species showed that P. primabursaria and P. bibursaria were strictly Eurasian, except for two South Australian P. bibursaria strains. P. tribursaria was found mainly in Eastern Asia, in two stands in Europe and in North America. In turn, P. tetrabursaria was restricted to the USA territory, whereas P. pentabursaria was found in two European localities.
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5
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Multidisciplinary integrated characterization of a native Chlorella-like microalgal strain isolated from a municipal landfill leachate. ALGAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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6
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Serra V, Fokin SI, Gammuto L, Nitla V, Castelli M, Basuri CK, Satyaveni A, Sandeep BV, Modeo L, Petroni G. Phylogeny of
Neobursaridium
reshapes the systematics of
Paramecium
(Oligohymenophorea, Ciliophora). ZOOL SCR 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sergei I. Fokin
- Department of Biology University of Pisa Pisa Italy
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology St. Petersburg State University St. Petersburg Russia
- St. Petersburg Branch of the S.I. Vavilov Institute of History of Science and Technology Russian Academy of Sciences St. Petersburg Russia
| | | | | | - Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ‘Lazzaro Spallanzani’ Pavia University Pavia Italy
| | - Charan Kumar Basuri
- National Centre for Coastal Research Ministry of Earth Sciences Government of IndiaNIOT Campus Pallikaranai, Chennai India
- Department of Zoology Andhra University Visakhapatnam India
| | | | | | - Letizia Modeo
- Department of Biology University of Pisa Pisa Italy
- CIME Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica Università di Pisa Pisa Italy
- CISUP, Centro per l'Integrazione della Strumentazione dell'Università di Pisa Pisa Italy
| | - Giulio Petroni
- Department of Biology University of Pisa Pisa Italy
- CIME Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica Università di Pisa Pisa Italy
- CISUP, Centro per l'Integrazione della Strumentazione dell'Università di Pisa Pisa Italy
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7
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Abstract
Interests to estimate and assess the diversity of ciliates have a centuries-long history [...]
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8
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Tasneem F, Shakoori FR, Ilyas M, Shahzad N, Potekhin A, Shakoori AR. Genetic diversity of Paramecium species on the basis of multiple loci analysis and ITS secondary structure models. J Cell Biochem 2020; 121:3837-3853. [PMID: 31692070 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Among ciliates, Paramecium has become a privileged model for the study of "species problem" particularly in the case of the "Paramecium aurelia complex" that has been intensely investigated. Despite extensive studies, the taxonomy of Paramecium is still challenging. The major problem is an uneven sampling of Paramecium with relatively few representatives of each species. To investigate species from the less discovered region (Pakistan), 10 isolates of Paramecium species including a standing-alone FT8 strain previously isolated by some of us were subjected to molecular characterization. Fragments of 18S recombinant DNA (rDNA), ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-5'LSU rDNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, and hsp70 genes were used as molecular markers for phylogenetic analysis of particular isolates. The nucleotide sequences of polymerase chain reaction products of all markers were compared with the available sequences of relevant markers of other Paramecium species from GenBank. Phylogenetic trees based on all molecular markers showed that all the nine strains had a very close relationship with Paramecium primaurelia except for the FT8 strain. FT8 consistently showed its unique position in comparison to all other species in the phylogenetic trees. Available sequences of internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and ITS2 and some other ciliate sequences from GenBank were used for the construction of secondary models. Two highly conserved helices supported by compensatory base changes among all ciliates of ITS2 secondary structures were found similar to other eukaryotes. Therefore, the most conserved 120 to 180 base pairs regions were identified for their comparative studies. We found that out of the three helices in ITS1 structure, helix B was more conserved in Paramecium species. Despite various substitutions in the primary sequence, it was observed that secondary structures of ITS1 and ITS2 could be helpful in interpreting the phylogenetic relationships both at species as well as at generic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fareeda Tasneem
- Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Farah R Shakoori
- Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Ilyas
- School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Naveed Shahzad
- School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Alexey Potekhin
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Abdul R Shakoori
- Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan.,School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Quaid-i-Azam Campus, Lahore, Pakistan
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9
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De Souza BA, Dias RJP, Senra MVX. Intrageneric evolutionary timing and hidden genetic diversity of Paramecium lineages (Ciliophora: Oligohymenophorea). SYST BIODIVERS 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2020.1769225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Aline De Souza
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora, CEP 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Roberto Junio Pedroso Dias
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora, CEP 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcus Vinicius Xavier Senra
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, Juiz de Fora, CEP 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Instituto de Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Itajubá, CEP 37500-903, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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10
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Modeo L, Salvetti A, Rossi L, Castelli M, Szokoli F, Krenek S, Serra V, Sabaneyeva E, Di Giuseppe G, Fokin SI, Verni F, Petroni G. "Candidatus Trichorickettsia mobilis", a Rickettsiales bacterium, can be transiently transferred from the unicellular eukaryote Paramecium to the planarian Dugesia japonica. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8977. [PMID: 32351785 PMCID: PMC7183750 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Most of the microorganisms responsible for vector-borne diseases (VBD) have hematophagous arthropods as vector/reservoir. Recently, many new species of microorganisms phylogenetically related to agents of VBD were found in a variety of aquatic eukaryotic hosts; in particular, numerous new bacterial species related to the genus Rickettsia (Alphaproteobacteria, Rickettsiales) were discovered in protist ciliates and other unicellular eukaryotes. Although their pathogenicity for humans and terrestrial animals is not known, several indirect indications exist that these bacteria might act as etiological agents of possible VBD of aquatic organisms, with protists as vectors. In the present study, a novel strain of the Rickettsia-Like Organism (RLO) endosymbiont "Candidatus (Ca.) Trichorickettsia mobilis" was identified in the macronucleus of the ciliate Paramecium multimicronucleatum. We performed transfection experiments of this RLO to planarians (Dugesia japonica) per os. Indeed, the latter is a widely used model system for studying bacteria pathogenic to humans and other Metazoa. In transfection experiments, homogenized paramecia were added to food of antibiotic-treated planarians. Treated and non-treated (i.e. control) planarians were investigated at day 1, 3, and 7 after feeding for endosymbiont presence by means of PCR and ultrastructural analyses. Obtained results were fully concordant and suggest that this RLO endosymbiont can be transiently transferred from ciliates to metazoans, being detected up to day 7 in treated planarians' enterocytes. Our findings might offer insights into the potential role of ciliates or other protists as putative vectors for diseases caused by Rickettsiales or other RLOs and occurring in fish farms or in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Modeo
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CIME, Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CISUP, Centro per l'Integrazione della Strumentazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandra Salvetti
- CIME, Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CISUP, Centro per l'Integrazione della Strumentazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Leonardo Rossi
- CIME, Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CISUP, Centro per l'Integrazione della Strumentazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michele Castelli
- Centro Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi Ricerca Pediatrica, Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Franziska Szokoli
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sascha Krenek
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.,Department of River Ecology, Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research-UFZ, Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | - Elena Sabaneyeva
- Department of Cytology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Sergei I Fokin
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CIME, Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Franco Verni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CIME, Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CISUP, Centro per l'Integrazione della Strumentazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulio Petroni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CIME, Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CISUP, Centro per l'Integrazione della Strumentazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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11
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Documentation of a new hypotrich species in the family Amphisiellidae, Lamtostyla gui n. sp. (Protista, Ciliophora) using a multidisciplinary approach. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3763. [PMID: 32111909 PMCID: PMC7048753 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60327-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
An integrated approach considering both morphologic and molecular data is now required to improve biodiversity estimations and provide more robust systematics interpretations in hypotrichs, a highly differentiated group of ciliates. In present study, we document a new hypotrich species, Lamtostyla gui n. sp., collected from Chongming wetland, Shanghai, China, based on investigations using living observation, protargol staining, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and gene sequencing. The new species is mainly recognized by having a short amphisiellid median cirral row composed of four cirri, three frontoventral cirri, three dorsal kinetids, four to eight macronuclear nodules, and small colorless cortical granules distributed as rosettes around dorsal bristles. Transmission electron microscope observation finds the associated microtubules of cirri and pharyngeal discs of L. gui are distinct from those in other hypotrichs. Morphogenesis of this species indicates that parental adoral membranelles retained intact or partial renewed is a potential feature to separate Lamtostyla granulifera-group and Lamtostyla lamottei-group. Phylogenetic analysis based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene shows that this molecular marker is not useful to resolve phylogenetic relationships of the genus Lamtostyla, as well as many other hypotrichous taxa. We additionally characterize the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region and the almost complete large subunit rRNA, which will be essential for future studies aimed at solving phylogenetic problems of Lamtostyla, or even the family Amphisiellidae. As a final remark, the critical screening of GenBank using ITS genes of our organism allows us to recognize a large amount of hypotrichous sequences have been misclassified as fungi. This observation suggests that hypotrichs could be frequently found in fungi-rich environment and overlooked by fungal specialists.
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12
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Shazib SUA, Vďačný P, Slovák M, Gentekaki E, Shin MK. Deciphering phylogenetic relationships and delimiting species boundaries using a Bayesian coalescent approach in protists: A case study of the ciliate genus Spirostomum (Ciliophora, Heterotrichea). Sci Rep 2019; 9:16360. [PMID: 31704993 PMCID: PMC6841689 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52722-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The ciliate genus Spirostomum comprises eight morphospecies, inhabiting diverse aquatic environments worldwide, where they can be used as water quality indicators. Although Spirostomum species are relatively easily identified using morphological methods, the previous nuclear rDNA-based phylogenies indicated several conflicts in morphospecies delineation. Moreover, the single locus phylogenies and previous analytical approaches could not unambiguously resolve phylogenetic relationships among Spirostomum morphospecies. Here, we attempt to investigate species boundaries and evolutionary history of Spirostomum taxa, using 166 new sequences from multiple populations employing one mitochondrial locus (CO1 gene) and two nuclear loci (rRNA operon and alpha-tubulin gene). In accordance with previous studies, relationships among the eight Spirostomum morphospecies were poorly supported statistically in individual gene trees. To overcome this problem, we utilised for the first time in ciliates the Bayesian coalescent approach, which accounts for ancestral polymorphisms, incomplete lineage sorting, and recombination. This strategy enabled us to robustly resolve deep relationships between Spirostomum species and to support the hypothesis that taxa with compact macronucleus and taxa with moniliform macronucleus each form a distinct lineage. Bayesian coalescent-based delimitation analyses strongly statistically supported the traditional morphospecies concept but also indicated that there are two S. minus-like cryptic species and S. teres is non-monophyletic. Spirostomum teres was very likely defined by a set of ancestral features of lineages that also gave rise to S. yagiui and S. dharwarensis. However, molecular data from type populations of the morphospecies S. minus and S. teres are required to unambiguously resolve the taxonomic problems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Vďačný
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Marek Slovák
- Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Institute of Botany, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 23, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Department of Botany, Charles University, 128 01, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eleni Gentekaki
- School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand
| | - Mann Kyoon Shin
- Department of Biological Science, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, 44610, South Korea.
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13
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Przyboś E, Rautian M, Beliavskaia A, Tarcz S. Evaluation of the molecular variability and characteristics of Paramecium polycaryum and Paramecium nephridiatum, within subgenus Cypriostomum (Ciliophora, Protista). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2018; 132:296-306. [PMID: 30528084 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Although some Paramecium species are suitable research objects in many areas of life sciences, the biodiversity structure of other species is almost unknown. In the current survey, we present a molecular analysis of 60 Cypriostomum strains, which for the first time allows for the study of intra- and interspecific relationships within that subgenus, as well as the assessment of the biogeography patterns of its morphospecies. Analysis of COI mtDNA variation revealed three main clades (separated from each other by approximately 130 nucleotide substitutions), each one with internal sub-clusters (differing by 30 to 70 substitutions - a similar range found between P. aurelia cryptic species and P. bursaria syngens). The first clade is represented exclusively by P. polycaryum; the second one includes only four strains identified as P. calkinsi. The third cluster seems to be paraphyletic, as it includes P. nephridiatum, P. woodruffi, and Eucandidatus P. hungarianum. Some strains, previously identified as P. calkinsi, had COI sequences identical or very similar to P. nephridiatum ones. Morphological reinvestigation of several such strains revealed common morphological features with P. nephridiatum. The paper contains new information concerning speciation within particular species, i.e. existence of cryptic species within P. polycaryum (three) and in P. nephridiatum (six).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Przyboś
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016 Kraków, Poland
| | - Maria Rautian
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexandra Beliavskaia
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Tarcz
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016 Kraków, Poland.
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14
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Sabaneyeva E, Castelli M, Szokoli F, Benken K, Lebedeva N, Salvetti A, Schweikert M, Fokin S, Petroni G. Host and symbiont intraspecific variability: The case of Paramecium calkinsi and "Candidatus Trichorickettsia mobilis". Eur J Protistol 2017; 62:79-94. [PMID: 29287245 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Newly isolated strains of the ciliate Paramecium calkinsi and their cytoplasmic bacterial endosymbionts were characterized by a multidisciplinary approach, including live observation, ultrastructural investigation, and molecular analysis. Despite morphological resemblance, the characterized P. calkinsi strains showed a significant molecular divergence compared to conspecifics, possibly hinting for a cryptic speciation. The endosymbionts were clearly found to be affiliated to the species "Candidatus Trichorickettsia mobilis" (Rickettsiales, Rickettsiaceae), currently encompassing only bacteria retrieved in an obligate intracellular association with other ciliates. However, a relatively high degree of intraspecific divergence was observed as well, thus it was possible to split "Candidatus Trichorickettsia" into three subspecies, one of which represented so far only by the newly characterized endosymbionts of P. calkinsi. Other features distinguished the members of each different subspecies. In particular, the endosymbionts of P. calkinsi resided in the cytoplasm and possessed numerous peritrichous flagella, although no motility was evidenced, whereas their conspecifics in other hosts were either cytoplasmic and devoid of flagella, or macronuclear, displaying flagellar-driven motility. Moreover, contrarily to previously analyzed "Candidatus Trichorickettsia" hosts, infected P. calkinsi cells frequently became amicronucleate and demonstrated abnormal cell division, eventually leading to decline of the laboratory culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sabaneyeva
- Department of Cytology and Histology, St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation.
| | - M Castelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Italy; Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - F Szokoli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Italy; Institut für Hydrobiologie, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - K Benken
- Core Facility Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis, St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation
| | - N Lebedeva
- Core Facility Center for Cultivation of Microorganisms, St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation
| | - A Salvetti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, Italy
| | - M Schweikert
- Institut of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, Stuttgart University, Germany
| | - S Fokin
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Italy; Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation
| | - G Petroni
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Italy.
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15
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Diversification and Phylogenetics of Mobilid Peritrichs (Ciliophora) with Description of Urceolaria parakorschelti sp. nov. Protist 2017; 168:481-493. [DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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16
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Lanzoni O, Fokin SI, Lebedeva N, Migunova A, Petroni G, Potekhin A. Rare Freshwater Ciliate Paramecium chlorelligerum Kahl, 1935 and Its Macronuclear Symbiotic Bacterium "Candidatus Holospora parva". PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167928. [PMID: 27992463 PMCID: PMC5161471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ciliated protists often form symbioses with many diverse microorganisms. In particular, symbiotic associations between ciliates and green algae, as well as between ciliates and intracellular bacteria, are rather wide-spread in nature. In this study, we describe the complex symbiotic system between a very rare ciliate, Paramecium chlorelligerum, unicellular algae inhabiting its cytoplasm, and novel bacteria colonizing the host macronucleus. Paramecium chlorelligerum, previously found only twice in Germany, was retrieved from a novel location in vicinity of St. Petersburg in Russia. Species identification was based on both classical morphological methods and analysis of the small subunit rDNA. Numerous algae occupying the cytoplasm of this ciliate were identified with ultrastructural and molecular methods as representatives of the Meyerella genus, which before was not considered among symbiotic algae. In the same locality at least fifteen other species of "green" ciliates were found, thus it is indeed a biodiversity hot-spot for such protists. A novel species of bacterial symbionts living in the macronucleus of Paramecium chlorelligerum cells was morphologically and ultrastructurally investigated in detail with the description of its life cycle and infection capabilities. The new endosymbiont was molecularly characterized following the full-cycle rRNA approach. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the novel bacterium is a member of Holospora genus branching basally but sharing all characteristics of the genus except inducing connecting piece formation during the infected host nucleus division. We propose the name "Candidatus Holospora parva" for this newly described species. The described complex system raises new questions on how these microorganisms evolve and interact in symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sergei I. Fokin
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalia Lebedeva
- Centre of Core Facilities “Culture Collections of Microorganisms”, Research Park, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexandra Migunova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | | | - Alexey Potekhin
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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17
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Disentangling the Taxonomy of Rickettsiales and Description of Two Novel Symbionts ("Candidatus Bealeia paramacronuclearis" and "Candidatus Fokinia cryptica") Sharing the Cytoplasm of the Ciliate Protist Paramecium biaurelia. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:7236-7247. [PMID: 27742680 PMCID: PMC5118934 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02284-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past 10 years, the number of endosymbionts described within the bacterial order Rickettsiales has constantly grown. Since 2006, 18 novel Rickettsiales genera inhabiting protists, such as ciliates and amoebae, have been described. In this work, we characterize two novel bacterial endosymbionts from Paramecium collected near Bloomington, IN. Both endosymbiotic species inhabit the cytoplasm of the same host. The Gram-negative bacterium “Candidatus Bealeia paramacronuclearis” occurs in clumps and is frequently associated with the host macronucleus. With its electron-dense cytoplasm and a distinct halo surrounding the cell, it is easily distinguishable from the second smaller symbiont, “Candidatus Fokinia cryptica,” whose cytoplasm is electron lucid, lacks a halo, and is always surrounded by a symbiontophorous vacuole. For molecular characterization, the small-subunit rRNA genes were sequenced and used for taxonomic assignment as well as the design of species-specific oligonucleotide probes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that “Candidatus Bealeia paramacronuclearis” clusters with the so-called “basal” Rickettsiales, and “Candidatus Fokinia cryptica” belongs to “Candidatus Midichloriaceae.” We obtained tree topologies showing a separation of Rickettsiales into at least two groups: one represented by the families Rickettsiaceae, Anaplasmataceae, and “Candidatus Midichloriaceae” (RAM clade), and the other represented by “basal Rickettsiales,” including “Candidatus Bealeia paramacronuclearis.” Therefore, and in accordance with recent publications, we propose to limit the order Rickettsiales to the RAM clade and to raise “basal Rickettsiales” to an independent order, Holosporales ord. nov., inside Alphaproteobacteria, which presently includes four family-level clades. Additionally, we define the family “Candidatus Hepatincolaceae” and redefine the family Holosporaceae. IMPORTANCE In this paper, we provide the characterization of two novel bacterial symbionts inhabiting the same Paramecium host (Ciliophora, Alveolata). Both symbionts belong to “traditional” Rickettsiales, one representing a new species of the genus “Candidatus Fokinia” (“Candidatus Midichloriaceae”), and the other representing a new genus of a “basal” Rickettsiales. According to newly characterized sequences and to a critical revision of recent literature, we propose a taxonomic reorganization of “traditional” Rickettsiales that we split into two orders: Rickettsiales sensu stricto and Holosporales ord. nov. This work represents a critical revision, including new records of a group of symbionts frequently occurring in protists and whose biodiversity is still largely underestimated.
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18
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Senra MVX, Dias RJP, Castelli M, Silva-Neto ID, Verni F, Soares CAG, Petroni G. A House for Two--Double Bacterial Infection in Euplotes woodruffi Sq1 (Ciliophora, Euplotia) Sampled in Southeastern Brazil. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2016; 71:505-517. [PMID: 26381539 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-015-0668-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Several ciliated protists form symbiotic associations with a diversity of microorganisms, leading to drastic impact on their ecology and evolution. In this work, two Euplotes spp. sampled in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were identified based on morphological and molecular features as Euplotes woodruffi strain Sq1 and E. encysticus strain Sq2 and investigated for the presence of endosymbionts. While E. woodruffi Sq1 stably hosts two bacterial populations, namely Polynucleobacter necessarius (Betaproteobacteria) and a new member of the family "Candidatus Midichloriaceae" (Alphaproteobacteria, Rickettsiales), here described as "Candidatus Bandiella woodruffii," branching with a broad host range bacterial group found in association with cnidarians, sponges, euglenoids, and some arthropods; in E. encysticus Sq2 no symbiotic bacterium could be detected. The dispersion ability of this novel bacterium was tested by co-incubating E. woodruffi Sq1 with three different ciliate species. Among the tested strains "Ca. B. woodruffii" could only be detected in association with E. encysticus Sq2 with a prevalence of 20 % after 1 week and 40 % after 2 weeks, maintaining this level for up to 6 months. Nevertheless, this apparent in vitro association was abolished when E. woodruffi Sq1 donor was removed from the microcosm, suggesting that this bacterium has the capacity for at least a short-term survival outside its natural host and the aptitude to ephemerally interact with other organisms. Together, these findings strongly suggest the need for more detailed investigations to evaluate the host range for "Ca. B. woodruffii" and any possible pathogenic effect of this bacterium on other organisms including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus V X Senra
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373 - CCS A2-120, Rio de Janeiro, 21.944-970, Brazil
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, UFJF, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roberto J P Dias
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, UFJF, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via A. Volta 4/6, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Inácio D Silva-Neto
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Franco Verni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via A. Volta 4/6, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Carlos A G Soares
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373 - CCS A2-120, Rio de Janeiro, 21.944-970, Brazil.
| | - Giulio Petroni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via A. Volta 4/6, Pisa, 56126, Italy.
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19
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Utility of combining morphological characters, nuclear and mitochondrial genes: An attempt to resolve the conflicts of species identification for ciliated protists. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2016; 94:718-729. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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20
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Przyboś E, Tarcz S, Rautian M, Sawka N. Delimiting Species Boundaries within a Paraphyletic Species Complex: Insights from Morphological, Genetic, and Molecular Data on Paramecium sonneborni (Paramecium aurelia species complex, Ciliophora, Protozoa). Protist 2015; 166:438-56. [PMID: 26277215 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The demarcation of boundaries between protist species is often problematic because of the absence of a uniform species definition, the abundance of cryptic diversity, and the occurrence of convergent morphology. The ciliates belonging to the Paramecium aurelia complex, consisting of 15 species, are a good model for such systematic and evolutionary studies. One member of the complex is P. sonneborni, previously known only from one stand in Texas (USA), but recently found in two new sampling sites in Cyprus (creeks running to Salt Lake and Oroklini Lake near Larnaca). The studied Paramecium sonneborni strains (from the USA and Cyprus) reveal low viability in the F1 and F2 generations of interstrain hybrids and may be an example of ongoing allopatric speciation. Despite its molecular distinctiveness, we postulate that P. sonneborni should remain in the P. aurelia complex, making it a paraphyletic taxon. Morphological studies have revealed that some features of the nuclear apparatus of P. sonneborni correspond to the P. aurelia spp. complex, while others are similar to P. jenningsi and P. schewiakoffi. The observed discordance indicates rapid splitting of the P. aurelia-P. jenningsi-P. schewiakoffi group, in which genetic, morphological, and molecular boundaries between species are not congruent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Przyboś
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków 31-016, Sławkowska 17, Poland
| | - Sebastian Tarcz
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków 31-016, Sławkowska 17, Poland.
| | - Maria Rautian
- Laboratory of Protistology and Experimental Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Soil Science, St. Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg 199034, Universitetskaya nab. 7/9, Russia
| | - Natalia Sawka
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków 31-016, Sławkowska 17, Poland
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21
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New Paramecium (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) congeners shape our view on its biodiversity. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-015-0207-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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22
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Focusing on Genera to Improve Species Identification: Revised Systematics of the Ciliate Spirostomum. Protist 2014; 165:527-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Revised: 05/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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23
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Tarcz S, Rautian M, Potekhin A, Sawka N, Beliavskaya A, Kiselev A, Nekrasova I, Przyboś E. Paramecium putrinum (Ciliophora, Protozoa): The first insight into the variation of two DNA fragments – Molecular support for the existence of cryptic species. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2014; 73:140-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Revised: 01/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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24
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Przyboś E, Tarcz S. Three-locus analysis in conjunction with strain crosses confirms the existence of reproductively isolated populations inParamecium jenningsi. SYST BIODIVERS 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2013.865680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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25
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Yi Z, Strüder-Kypke M, Hu X, Lin X, Song W. Sampling strategies for improving tree accuracy and phylogenetic analyses: a case study in ciliate protists, with notes on the genus Paramecium. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2013; 71:142-8. [PMID: 24315865 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Revised: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 11/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In order to assess how dataset-selection for multi-gene analyses affects the accuracy of inferred phylogenetic trees in ciliates, we chose five genes and the genus Paramecium, one of the most widely used model protist genera, and compared tree topologies of the single- and multi-gene analyses. Our empirical study shows that: (1) Using multiple genes improves phylogenetic accuracy, even when their one-gene topologies are in conflict with each other. (2) The impact of missing data on phylogenetic accuracy is ambiguous: resolution power and topological similarity, but not number of represented taxa, are the most important criteria of a dataset for inclusion in concatenated analyses. (3) As an example, we tested the three classification models of the genus Paramecium with a multi-gene based approach, and only the monophyly of the subgenus Paramecium is supported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Yi
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment Science in Guangdong Higher Education, School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China; Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Michaela Strüder-Kypke
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1, Canada
| | - Xiaozhong Hu
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xiaofeng Lin
- Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environment Science in Guangdong Higher Education, School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
| | - Weibo Song
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
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26
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Zhao Y, Gentekaki E, Yi Z, Lin X. Genetic differentiation of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase C subunit I gene in genus Paramecium (Protista, Ciliophora). PLoS One 2013; 8:e77044. [PMID: 24204730 PMCID: PMC3812207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is being used increasingly for evaluating inter- and intra-specific genetic diversity of ciliated protists. However, very few studies focus on assessing genetic divergence of the COI gene within individuals and how its presence might affect species identification and population structure analyses. Methodology/Principal findings We evaluated the genetic variation of the COI gene in five Paramecium species for a total of 147 clones derived from 21 individuals and 7 populations. We identified a total of 90 haplotypes with several individuals carrying more than one haplotype. Parsimony network and phylogenetic tree analyses revealed that intra-individual diversity had no effect in species identification and only a minor effect on population structure. Conclusions Our results suggest that the COI gene is a suitable marker for resolving inter- and intra-specific relationships of Paramecium spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China ; Laboratory of Protozoology, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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