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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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Wang C, Jiang L, Pan H, Warren A, Hu X. New contributions to the Cyrtophoria ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora): Establishment of new taxa and phylogenetic analyses using two ribosomal genes. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2023; 70:e12938. [PMID: 35892241 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Periphytic ciliates play a vital role in the material cycle and energy flow of microbial food web, however, their taxonomy and biodiversity are inadequately studied given their high species richness. Two new and one little known species, viz. Derouxella lembodes gen. et sp. nov., Cyrtophoron multivacuolatum sp. nov., and Cyrtophoron apsheronica Aliev, 1991, collected from coastal waters of China, were investigated using modern methods. Derouxella gen. nov. can be recognized by having dorsoventrally flattened body, a podite, one fragmented preoral kinety, two parallel circumoral kineties, and somatic kineties progressively shortened from right to left. Morphological classification and phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA (nSSU rRNA) and mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal RNA (mtSSU rRNA) gene sequence data inferred that Derouxella gen. nov. occupies an intermediate position between Hartmannulidae and Dysteriidae. Cyrtophoron multivacuolatum sp. nov. is characterized by large body size, the numbers of somatic kineties and nematodesmal rods, and having numerous contractile vacuoles. The genus Cyrtophoron and the poorly known species C. apsheronica were redefined. Even with the addition of newly obtained nSSU rRNA and mtSSU rRNA gene sequences of Cyrtophoron, the family Chlamydodontidae was still recovered as a monophyletic group, the monophyly of Cyrtophoron was supported too.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Limin Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Hongbo Pan
- Shanghai Universities Key Laboratory of Marine Animal Taxonomy and Evolution, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.,Engineering Research Center of Environmental DNA and Ecological Water Health Assessment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Xiaozhong Hu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.,Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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Fu J, Chi Y, Lu X, Gao F, Al-Farraj SA, Petroni G, Jiang J. Doublets of the unicellular organism Euplotes vannus (Alveolata, Ciliophora, Euplotida): the morphogenetic patterns of the ciliary and nuclear apparatuses associated with cell division. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:527-535. [PMID: 37078083 PMCID: PMC10077243 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-022-00150-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Ciliated protists are one of the most diverse and highly differentiated group among unicellular organisms. Doublets occur in ciliates when two cells fuse into a single individual. Doublets contain two major cellular components (either cell in a doublet) and have traditionally been considered as developmental anomalies. Nevertheless, doublets can divide or even conjugate effectively, which may represent dispersal forms of the life stages. In addition, morphogenesis, as an important process in the life cycle, will provide important insights into the complex differentiation mechanism and various physiological phenomena. However, morphogenetic studies focusing on doublets of ciliates are very limited, which has become an obstacle to understand their complete life history. Here we isolated a doublet strain from the marine species Euplotes vannus (Müller, 1786) Diesing, 1850 and investigated its morphogenetic events during asexual reproduction. Our results indicate that: (1) the opisthe's oral primordium develops de novo beneath the cortex; (2) the frontoventral and transverse cirral anlagen, cirrus I/1, and marginal anlagen in both dividers develop de novo separately; (3) the dorsal kinety anlagen, the three rightmost ones of which produce three caudal cirri for the proter, occur within the parental structures in the mid-body region; (4) the opisthe acquires two caudal cirri, one from the end of each two rightmost kineties; and (5) there are two macronuclei and one micronucleus in the doublet and they divide amitotically and mitotically, respectively. Finally, we speculate that this special differentiation may be an adaptive form to adverse environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyu Fu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Yong Chi
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Xiaoteng Lu
- Department of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen, 518172 China
| | - Feng Gao
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Saleh A. Al-Farraj
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451 Saudi Arabia
| | - Giulio Petroni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Jiamei Jiang
- Engineering Research Center of Environmental DNA and Ecological Water Health Assessment, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306 China
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Wang Z, Chi Y, Li T, Song W, Wang Y, Wu T, Zhang G, Liu Y, Ma H, Song W, Al-Rasheid KAS, Warren A, Lu B. Biodiversity of freshwater ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora) in the Lake Weishan Wetland, China: the state of the art. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:429-451. [PMID: 37078082 PMCID: PMC10077249 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-022-00154-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Ciliates are core components of the structure of and function of aquatic microbial food webs. They play an essential role in the energy flow and material circulation within aquatic ecosystems. However, studies on the taxonomy and biodiversity of freshwater ciliates, especially those in wetlands in China are limited. To address this issue, a project to investigate the freshwater ciliates of the Lake Weishan Wetland, Shandong Province, commenced in 2019. Here, we summarize our findings to date on the diversity of ciliates. A total of 187 ciliate species have been found, 94 of which are identified to species-level, 87 to genus-level, and six to family-level. These species show a high morphological diversity and represent five classes, i.e., Heterotrichea, Litostomatea, Prostomatea, Oligohymenophorea, and Spirotrichea. The largest number of species documented are oligohymenophoreans. A comprehensive database of these ciliates, including morphological data, gene sequences, microscope slide specimens and a DNA bank, has been established. In the present study, we provide an annotated checklist of retrieved ciliates as well as information on the sequences of published species. Most of these species are recorded in China for the first time and more than 20% are tentatively identified as new to science. Additionally, an investigation of environmental DNA revealed that the ciliate species diversity in Lake Weishan Wetland is higher than previously supposed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-022-00154-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209 China
| | - Yong Chi
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Tao Li
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Wenya Song
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Yunfeng Wang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Tong Wu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Gongaote Zhang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Yujie Liu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Honggang Ma
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Weibo Song
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209 China
- Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237 China
| | | | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD UK
| | - Borong Lu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
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Li T, Liu M, Warren A, Al-Farraj SA, Yi Z, Sheng Y. Morphology and SSU rRNA gene-based phylogeny of three peniculid ciliates (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) from china, including a new Frontonia species. Eur J Protistol 2022; 85:125910. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2022.125910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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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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Li T, Pan X, Lu B, Miao M, Liu M. Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of a new freshwater ciliate Frontonia apoacuminata sp. nov. (Protista, Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) from Qingdao, PR China. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021; 71. [PMID: 34694984 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005071] [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: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The morphology and ciliature of a new freshwater ciliate, Frontonia apoacuminata sp. nov., isolated from an artificial pond in Qingdao, PR China, were investigated using live observation and silver staining methods. The main features separating F. apoacuminata sp. nov. from its congeners are as follows: a broad elliptical body that is slightly pointed at the posterior end, four ophryokineties, one or two spherical micronuclei of a 'compact' type, a dorsally positioned contractile vacuole, and peniculi 1-3 each with five kinetosome rows though the left-most two rows in peniculus 3 are extremely shortened (with only two or three kinetosomes each). Additionally, an improved diagnosis of F. acuminata is provided. Phylogenetic analyses based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene show that F. apoacuminata sp. nov. clusters with F. atra, F. minuta, F. acuminata and F. terricola. These five species group with Disematostoma, Marituja and Stokesia rather than with other Frontonia species, causing polyphyly of the genus Frontonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China.,College of Fisheries and Key Laboratory of Mariculture of the Education Ministry of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Xuming Pan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Normal University, Harbin 150025, PR China
| | - Borong Lu
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China.,College of Fisheries and Key Laboratory of Mariculture of the Education Ministry of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Miao Miao
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Mingjian Liu
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, PR China.,College of Fisheries and Key Laboratory of Mariculture of the Education Ministry of China, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
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Serra V, D’Alessandro A, Nitla V, Gammuto L, Modeo L, Petroni G, Fokin SI. The neotypification of Frontonia vernalis (Ehrenberg, 1833) Ehrenberg, 1838 and the description of Frontonia paravernalis sp. nov. trigger a critical revision of frontoniid systematics. BMC ZOOL 2021; 6:4. [PMID: 37170316 PMCID: PMC10127333 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-021-00067-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Among Oligohymenophorea (Ciliophora, Alveolata) the subclass Peniculia stands as one of the most well-known groups. Frontonia is the largest genus of Peniculia, and its representatives are spread in any type of water bodies as well as in soil. At a first glance, Frontonia species exhibit an overall similar morphology, and form a well-recognizable taxon of ciliates. Despite the general morphological homogeneity, the phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S rDNA sequencing showed that Frontonia is a non-monophyletic group. The systematics of this genus should be deeply reviewed, although additional issues complicate the task solving. First, type species of the genus is not yet clearly established, and no type material is available. In this context, the situation of F. vernalis, one of the first Frontonia ever described, is somehow puzzled: the description of this ciliate made by Ehrenberg (in 1833 and 1838) contains several inaccuracies and subsequent misidentifications by other authors occurred. Moreover, the 18S rDNA sequence of a putative F. vernalis is available on GenBank, but no morphological description of the correspondent specimens is provided; thus, in our opinion, it should be only prudently associated with F. vernalis or at least indicated as “F. vernalis”.
Results
In the present work, we provide the neotypification of F. vernalis newly found in Italy, presenting its multidisciplinary description and its neotype material. Similarly, we describe a novel species bearing Chlorella-like endosymbionts, Frontonia paravernalis sp. nov., retrieved in two far distant locations (Italy, Russia). A critical discussion on the status of Frontonia taxonomy and phylogeny is also presented, based on the 18S rDNA sequencing of both these two newly collected species and other 14 frontoniids isolated in different parts of the world. Finally, in the present study F. leucas was neotypified and proposed as the type species of the genus.
Conclusions
Green frontoniids form a monophyletic clade of freshwater organisms characterized by having a single contractile vacuole and bearing intracytoplasmatic Chlorella-like symbionts. With the neotypification of F. vernalis and F. leucas a fundamental step in Frontonia systematics was taken, and the bases for further taxonomic studies were laid.
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