Grl1 Protein is a Candidate K Antigen in Tetrahymena thermophila
Publication date: July 2018Source: Protist, Volume 169, Issue 3Author(s): Takahide OtaIn Tetrahymena, K antigens associate only with mature basal bodies and are expected to play important roles in the morphogenesis and function of the membrane skeleton around basal bodies, but these proteins have not been identified and their functions are unknown. Commercially available anti-human Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor α (RhoGDIα) antibody (sc-33201) was accidentally found to show very similar immunofluorescence staining patterns to those of anti-K antigen antibodies, such as 424A8 and 10D12 mouse monoclonal antibodies, in Tetr...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Molecular Phylogeny and Morphology of Haplozoon ezoense n. sp. (Dinophyceae): A Parasitic Dinoflagellate with Ultrastructural Evidence of Remnant Non-photosynthetic Plastids
This study describes a novel species of Haplozoon, H. ezoense n. sp., a dinoflagellate parasite isolated from the intestines of Praxillella pacifica (Polychaeta). Trophonts (feeding stages) of H. ezoense n. sp. were isolated and studied with scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and molecular phylogenetic analyses was performed using 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA. Trophonts had an average length of 120 μm, and were linear, forming a single longitudinal row comprising a trophocyte with a stylet, an average of 14 gonocytes (width = 10 μm), and bulbous cells that we concluded were likely sporocytes. The...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Diversity of Organellar Genomes in Non-photosynthetic Diatoms
This study clearly demonstrated not only the evolutionary trends of plastid genome reduction but also the linkage between plastid genome reduction and a biological change of nutrient requirements in Nitzschia. (Source: Protist)
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Tropidoatractidae fam. nov., a Deep Branching Lineage of Metopida (Armophorea, Ciliophora) Found in Diverse Habitats and Possessing Prokaryotic Symbionts
We report a discovery of a novel family of anaerobic ciliates, Tropidoatractidae fam. nov. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 18S rRNA gene show that the family Tropidoatractidae corresponds to the previously reported clade of environmental sequences closely related to the lineage consisting of orders Metopida and Clevelandellida. The family comprises two genera, Tropidoatractus and Palmarella, and five species, two of which are newly described herein. Tropidoatractidae are cosmopolitan Metopida with sparse somatic and oral ciliature, deep, cup-like buccal cavity, and hyaline cortex with interkinetal ridges. Moreover, all ...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Chaetoceros pauciramosus sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae), a Widely Distributed Brackish Water Species in the C. lorenzianus Complex
Publication date: Available online 5 July 2018Source: ProtistAuthor(s): Zuo Yi Chen, Nina Lundholm, Øjvind Moestrup, Janina Kownacka, Yang LiTo understand the diversity of the diatom genus Chaetoceros Ehrenberg, the C. lorenzianus complex was previously chosen as a model and three new species were described. In the present study, yet another new species, Chaetoceros pauciramosus sp. nov., was discovered from Chinese tropical waters and the temperate south-eastern Baltic Sea. In the latter locality it has been known since 2003 and identified as C. cf lorenzianus, and now found to comprise a dominating component of the autu...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Revisiting “Genetic Diversity of Symbiotic Dinoflagellates in the Genus Symbiodinium”
Publication date: Available online 6 July 2018Source: ProtistAuthor(s): Scott R. Santos, Mary Alice Coffroth (Source: Protist)
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Incomplete Reproductive Isolation Between Genetically Distinct Sympatric Clades of the Pennate Model Diatom Seminavis robusta
Publication date: August 2018Source: Protist, Volume 169, Issue 4Author(s): Sam De Decker, Pieter Vanormelingen, Eveline Pinseel, Josefin Sefbom, Sien Audoor, Koen Sabbe, Wim VyvermanIncomplete reproductive isolation between genetically distinct taxa provides an interesting opportunity for speciation and adaptation studies. This phenomenon is well-described in macro-organisms, but less experimental evidence is available for unicellular eukaryotes. Here, we document the sympatric occurrence of genetically differentiated populations of the pennate model diatom Seminavis robusta in coastal subtidal biofilm communities and sho...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Is Myxomycetes (Amoebozoa) a Truly Ambiregnal Group? A Major Issue in Protist Nomenclature
Publication date: August 2018Source: Protist, Volume 169, Issue 4Author(s): Anna Ronikier, Adam T. HalamskiMyxomycetes is one of the largest groups of protists belonging to Amoebozoa, with ca 1,000 species recognised and more than 4,000 names in use. Historically, myxomycetes were considered fungi or protozoans which, however, fell under the provisions of the former International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN), currently the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). Attempts to apply the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) to myxomycetes were rare and inconsistent; thus,...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Comprehensive Study of Cultivation Conditions and Methods on Lipid Accumulation of a Marine Protist, Thraustochytrium striatum
Publication date: August 2018Source: Protist, Volume 169, Issue 4Author(s): Rui Xiao, Xiang Li, Yi ZhengThis research studied the influences of cultivation conditions (carbon/nitrogen source concentration, initial pH, salinity, and rotation speed) on cell growth and fatty acid (FA) production/composition of a marine protist, Thraustochytrium striatum. Fed-batch was also studied to improve cell growth and FA production. The optimum cell growth (∼5 g/L dry cell mass, DCM) occurred under the cultivation conditions of T = 25 °C, glucose = 30 g/L, yeast extract/peptone (YEP) = 4&n...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
The Little-known Freshwater Metopid Ciliate, Idiometopus turbo (Dragesco and Dragesco-Kernéis, 1986) nov. gen., nov. comb., Originally Discovered in Africa, Found on the Micronesian Island of Guam
Publication date: August 2018Source: Protist, Volume 169, Issue 4Author(s): William Bourland, Johana Rotterová, Xiaotian Luo, Ivan ČepičkaClass Armophorea Lynn, 2004 includes two orders of mainly free-living anaerobic ciliates, Armophorida Jankowski, 1980 and Metopida Jankowski, 1980 and, a third, the exclusively endosymbiotic Clevelandellida. Kahl described the majority of free-living metopid species early in the 20th century. Excepting Jankowski in the 1960’s, little further interest was shown in this group. Metopus turbo Dragesco and Dragesco-Kernéis, 1986, from a West African pond, was more recently described. Al...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Collimyces mutans gen. et sp. nov. (Rhizophydiales, Collimycetaceae fam. nov.), a New Chytrid Parasite of Microglena (Volvocales, clade Monadinia)
Publication date: August 2018Source: Protist, Volume 169, Issue 4Author(s): Kensuke Seto, Yousuke DegawaChytrids are early diverging lineages of true fungi that reproduce with posteriorly uniflagellate zoospores. In aquatic ecosystems, parasitic chytrids of algae have important ecological roles by influencing the population dynamics of phytoplankton and transferring nutrients and energy from inedible algae to zooplankton via zoospores. Despite their ecological importance, information on parasitic chytrids is lacking in the current systematics of chytrids. Here, we investigated a novel chytrid culture KS100 that parasitizes...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Discrepancies Between Molecular and Morphological Databases of Soil Ciliates Studied for Temperate Grasslands of Central Europe
Publication date: August 2018Source: Protist, Volume 169, Issue 4Author(s): Paul Christiaan Venter, Frank Nitsche, Anja Scherwass, Hartmut ArndtBy measuring the change in soil protist communities, the effect of human land use on grasslands can be monitored to promote sustainable ecosystem functioning. Protists form the active link in the rhizosphere between the plant roots and higher trophic organisms; however, only few morphological species and their ecological values have yet been described in this context. To investigate the communicability between morphological and molecular databases used in the molecular barcoding of...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Calcineurin Silencing in Dictyostelium discoideum Leads to Cellular Alterations Affecting Mitochondria, Gene Expression, and Oxidative Stress Response
Publication date: August 2018Source: Protist, Volume 169, Issue 4Author(s): Konstanze Kobel-Höller, Kevin Gley, Janina Jochinke, Kristina Heider, Verena Nadin Fritsch, Ha Viet Duc Nguyen, Timo Lischke, Renate Radek, Ria Baumgrass, Rupert Mutzel, Sascha ThewesCalcineurin is involved in development and cell differentiation of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. However, since knockouts of the calcineurin-encoding genes are not possible in D. discoideum it is assumed that the phosphatase also plays a crucial role during vegetative growth of the amoebae. Therefore, we investigated the role of calcineurin during vegeta...
Source: Protist - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Revisiting “Genetic Diversity of Symbiotic Dinoflagellates in the Genus Symbiodinium”
Publication date: Available online 6 July 2018Source: ProtistAuthor(s): Scott R. Santos, Mary Alice Coffroth (Source: Protist)
Source: Protist - July 7, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Epizoic and Apochlorotic Tursiocola species (Bacillariophyta) from the Skin of Florida Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
Publication date: Available online 16 April 2018Source: ProtistAuthor(s): Thomas A. Frankovich, Matt P. Ashworth, Michael J. Sullivan, Edward C. Theriot, Nicole I. StacyUntil now only one group of diatoms, the Bacillariaceae, was known to contain heterotrophic representatives. We show that a second group, represented by species in the genus Tursiocola, has undergone evolutionary loss of photosynthesis within the Bacillariophyta. Heterotrophy was evidenced by the presence of only apochlorotic cells in live and motile specimens. Three species of Tursiocola (T. bondei sp. nov., T. alata sp. nov., and T. gracilis sp. nov.), of...
Source: Protist - July 6, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
