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Sogame Y, Ogata M, Hakozaki S, Saito Y, Suzuki T, Saito R, Suizu F, Watanabe K. α,β-trehalose, an intracellular substance in resting cyst of colpodid ciliates as a key to environmental tolerances. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 716:149971. [PMID: 38697009 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149971] [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: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
α,α-trehalose is a well-known sugar that plays a key role in establishing tolerance to environmental stresses in many organisms, except unicellular eukaryotes. However, almost nothing is known about α,β-trehalose, including their synthesis, function, and even presence in living organisms. In this study, we identified α,β-trehalose in the resting cyst, a dormancy cell form characterized by extreme tolerance to environmental stresses, of the ciliated protist Colpoda cucullus, using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Gene expression analysis revealed that the expression of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS), glycosyltransferase (GT), alpha-amylase (AMY), and trehalose transporter 1 (TRET1), were up-regulated in encystment, while the expression of α-glucosidase 2 (AG2) and trehalase (TREH) was up-regulated in excystment. These results suggest that α,β-trehalose is synthesized during encystment process, while and contributes to extreme tolerances to environmental stressors, stored carbohydrates, and energy reserve during resting cyst and/or during excystment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoichiro Sogame
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, Iwaki, 970-8034, Japan.
| | - Makoto Ogata
- Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fukushima University, Fukushima, 960-1296, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Hakozaki
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, Iwaki, 970-8034, Japan
| | - Yuta Saito
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, Iwaki, 970-8034, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Suzuki
- Center for Bioscience Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, 321-8505, Japan
| | - Ryota Saito
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Institute of Technology, Fukushima College, Iwaki, 970-8034, Japan
| | - Futoshi Suizu
- Molecular Oncologic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Host-Defense, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Takamatsu, 761-0793, Japan
| | - Kozo Watanabe
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan
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Liu Y, Niu J, Ye F, Solberg T, Lu B, Wang C, Nowacki M, Gao S. Dynamic DNA N 6-adenine methylation (6mA) governs the encystment process, showcased in the unicellular eukaryote Pseudocohnilembus persalinus. Genome Res 2024; 34:256-271. [PMID: 38471739 PMCID: PMC10984389 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278796.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The formation of resting cysts commonly found in unicellular eukaryotes is a complex and highly regulated survival strategy against environmental stress that involves drastic physiological and biochemical changes. Although most studies have focused on the morphology and structure of cysts, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control this process. Recent studies indicate that DNA N 6-adenine methylation (6mA) could be dynamically changing in response to external stimuli; however, its potential role in the regulation of cyst formation remains unknown. We used the ciliate Pseudocohnilembus persalinus, which can be easily induced to form cysts to investigate the dynamic pattern of 6mA in trophonts and cysts. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing reveals high levels of 6mA in trophonts that decrease in cysts, along with a conversion of symmetric 6mA to asymmetric 6mA. Further analysis shows that 6mA, a mark of active transcription, is involved in altering the expression of encystment-related genes through changes in 6mA levels and 6mA symmetric-to-asymmetric conversion. Most importantly, we show that reducing 6mA levels by knocking down the DNA 6mA methyltransferase PpAMT1 accelerates cyst formation. Taken together, we characterize the genome-wide 6mA landscape in P. persalinus and provide insights into the role of 6mA in gene regulation under environmental stress in eukaryotes. We propose that 6mA acts as a mark of active transcription to regulate the encystment process along with symmetric-to-asymmetric conversion, providing important information for understanding the molecular response to environmental cues from the perspective of 6mA modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqiang Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity and Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Junhua Niu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity and Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Fei Ye
- MOE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity and Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Therese Solberg
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, 160-8582 Tokyo, Japan
- Human Biology Microbiome Quantum Research Center (WPI-Bio2Q), Keio University, 108-8345 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Borong Lu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity and Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Chundi Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity and Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory of Marine Protozoan Biodiversity and Evolution, Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
| | - Mariusz Nowacki
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Shan Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity and Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China;
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao 266237, China
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3
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Weisse T, Scheffel U, Stadler P. Functional ecology of planktonic ciliates: Measuring mortality rates in response to starvation. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2023; 70:e12969. [PMID: 36825816 PMCID: PMC10952899 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12969] [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: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Population dynamics of aquatic ciliates are controlled "bottom-up" via food supply and "top-down" by grazing and parasitism. While intrinsic growth rates of ciliates under saturating food conditions have been studied in some detail, mortality rates induced by starvation have received little attention thus far. To this end, we examined the response of three algivorous freshwater ciliate species to starvation using three different optical methods. Two of these methods, i.e. ciliate mortality rates (δ) estimated from (i) numerical response experiments and (ii) the rate of decline (ROD) in cell numbers, investigated the response of the ciliate population using conventional light microscopy. The third method, imaging cytometry using a FlowCAM instrument, monitored single cells during the starvation experiment. Like light microscopy, the FlowCAM approach estimated δ based on ROD in the experimental containers. However, imaging cytometry also measured the relative cellular chlorophyll a content in the ciliates' food vacuoles as a proxy for the nutritional status of the cells. The linear decline of the cellular chl. a yielded an independent estimate of δ that was similar to δ calculated from ROD. Additionally, the FlowCAM measurements revealed a high degree of phenotypic plasticity of the ciliates when exposed to starvation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weisse
- Research Department for LimnologyUniversity of InnsbruckMondseeAustria
| | - Ulrike Scheffel
- Research Department for LimnologyUniversity of InnsbruckMondseeAustria
| | - Peter Stadler
- Research Department for LimnologyUniversity of InnsbruckMondseeAustria
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Wu JH, Lee JC, Ho CC, Chiu PW, Sun CH. A myeloid leukemia factor homolog is involved in tolerance to stresses and stress-induced protein metabolism in Giardia lamblia. Biol Direct 2023; 18:20. [PMID: 37095576 PMCID: PMC10127389 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00378-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The eukaryotic membrane vesicles contain specific sets of proteins that determine vesicle function and shuttle with specific destination. Giardia lamblia contains unknown cytosolic vesicles that are related to the identification of a homolog of human myeloid leukemia factor (MLF) named MLF vesicles (MLFVs). Previous studies suggest that MLF also colocalized with two autophagy machineries, FYVE and ATG8-like protein, and that MLFVs are stress-induced compartments for substrates of the proteasome or autophagy in response to rapamycin, MG132, and chloroquine treatment. A mutant protein of cyclin-dependent kinase 2, CDK2m3, was used to understand whether the aberrant proteins are targeted to degradative compratments. Interestingly, MLF was upregulated by CDK2m3 and they both colocalized within the same vesicles. Autophagy is a self-digestion process that is activated to remove damaged proteins for preventing cell death in response to various stresses. Because of the absence of some autophagy machineries, the mechanism of autophagy is unclear in G. lamblia. RESULTS In this study, we tested the six autophagosome and stress inducers in mammalian cells, including MG132, rapamycin, chloroquine, nocodazole, DTT, and G418, and found that their treatment increased reactive oxygen species production and vesicle number and level of MLF, FYVE, and ATG8-like protein in G. lamblia. Five stress inducers also increased the CDK2m3 protein levels and vesicles. Using stress inducers and knockdown system for MLF, we identified that stress induction of CDK2m3 was positively regulated by MLF. An autophagosome-reducing agent, 3-methyl adenine, can reduce MLF and CDK2m3 vesicles and proteins. In addition, knockdown of MLF with CRISPR/Cas9 system reduced cell survival upon treatment with stress inducers. Our newly developed complementation system for CRISPR/Cas9 indicated that complementation of MLF restored cell survival in response to stress inducers. Furthermore, human MLF2, like Giardia MLF, can increase cyst wall protein expression and cyst formation in G. lamblia, and it can colocalize with MLFVs and interact with MLF. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that MLF family proteins are functionally conserved in evolution. Our results also suggest an important role of MLF in survival in stress conditions and that MLFVs share similar stress-induced characteristics with autophagy compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Hsuan Wu
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jen-Chi Lee
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chun-Che Ho
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Pei-Wei Chiu
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chin-Hung Sun
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 100, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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Temperature-dependent resistance to starvation of three contrasting freshwater ciliates. Eur J Protistol 2023; 88:125973. [PMID: 36989877 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2023.125973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the temperature-dependent response to starvation of three contrasting freshwater ciliates (Ciliophora). The cyst-forming algivorous species Meseres corlissi and the bactivorous species Glaucomides bromelicola, which cannot form cysts, co-occur in the reservoirs (tanks) of tree bromeliads. The mixotrophic species Coleps spetai is common in many lakes. We hypothesized that the ciliates' different traits and life strategies would affect their survival rates and temperature sensitivity under food depleted conditions. We measured the decline of the ciliate populations in microcosm experiments at different temperatures for several days. We used an imaging flow cytometer to size the ciliates and documented their morphological and physiological changes in response to starvation. We found that the cyst-forming species had the highest mortality rates but may endure long-term starvation by encystment. The sympatric, non-encysting species suffered the lowest mortality rates and could survive for more than three weeks without food. The mixotrophic species had intermediate mortality rates but showed the highest phenotypic plasticity in response to starvation. A significant fraction of the C. spetai population appeared unaffected by starvation, suggesting that the endosymbionts provided some resources to the host cells. The mean mortality rate per day of all three species increased with temperature by 0.09 °C-1.
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Effects of autophagy inhibition by 3-methyladenine on encystation, morphology, and metabolites of Cryptocaryon irritans. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:509-517. [PMID: 36526927 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07751-w] [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: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Encystment is crucial for defense and reproduction in Cryptocaryon irritans. Therefore, understanding the encystment-related events in the protomont stage can help prevent and control C. irritans. Autophagy promotes protozoan parasite encystation. However, 3MA can inhibit autophagy. In this study, the effects of autophagy inhibition on encystation, survival rate, ultrastructural features, and metabolomic profiles of C. irritans, were evaluated using protomonts treated with 3MA (20 mM). The treatment with 3MA for about 4 h significantly lowered survival and encystation rates of protomonts to about 86.44% and 76.08%, respectively. Microstructural observations showed that the 3MA-treated protomonts showed deformed cell membranes and the cytoplasmic content spill. Furthermore, observation of the ultrastructure of 3MA-treated protomonts showed the destruction of organelles (Golgi bodies and mucocyst) and a lack of autophagosomes. However, no abnormality was observed in the control experiments. Furthermore, the metabolic analysis revealed suppression of metabolites, such as lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. These results demonstrate that 3MA can inhibit autophagy in C. irritans, thus hindering encystation, suppressing the metabolism of metabolites, and altering morphological ultrastructure in these parasites.
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Bushra, Maha IF, Xie X, Yin F. Integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of encystation in Cryptocaryon irritans regulated by rapamycin. Vet Parasitol 2023; 314:109868. [PMID: 36603452 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109868] [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: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Encystation in Cryptocaryon irritans is a fundamental process for environmental resistance and development. Autophagy participates in the encystation of ciliates, and rapamycin can induce autophagy in the cells. A set of genes and metabolites related to autophagy and encystation are highly elaborative. The existence of these genes and metabolites and their role are well characterized. However, little is known about their role in protozoans such as ciliates. The newly produced C. irritans protomonts were exposed to an optimal concentration of rapamycin (1400 nM), and the survival, encystation, microstructure/ultrastructure, transcriptomic and metabolomic profile in treated and control protomonts were investigated. The results showed that exposure of protomonts to rapamycin at 4 h significantly lowered the survival and encystation rates to 91.62 % and 98.44 % compared to the control group (100 %, p ≤ 0.05). Morphological alterations observed in light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that the drug significantly changed cell symmetry by causing the formation of various autophagic vacuoles/vesicles. The transcriptome sequencing of rapamycin-treated protomont revealed that 2249 (1837 up-regulated and 977 down-regulated) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that 226 DEGs were successfully annotated in 21 pathways (p˂0.05), including most enriched pathways apoptosis and phagosome with 25 and 24 DEGs, respectively. Most unigenes were assigned to autophagy-related pathways; 24 DEGs were classified into phagosomes, and 15 DEGs were assigned to lysosome pathways. Cytoskeleton and cell progression-associated genes were down-regulated. Besides, cell death-inducing proteins were up-regulated. The metabolomic analysis revealed exposure to rapamycin treatment enhanced protomont metabolites, including L-Cysteine, which is related to autophagy. Rapamycin had influenced the gene and metabolites of protomont; activating autophagy with inhibition of mechanistic target of rapamycin, (mTOR). The process negatively influences protomont morphology, encystation, and survival. Further autophagy-related gene silencing can be investigated via genome sequencing of C. irritans to study encystation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China; State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China; Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Ivon F Maha
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China; State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China; Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Xiao Xie
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China; State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China; Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China.
| | - Fei Yin
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China; State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China; Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, PR China.
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Morón Á, Martín-González A, Díaz S, Gutiérrez JC, Amaro F. Autophagy and lipid droplets are a defense mechanism against toxic copper oxide nanotubes in the eukaryotic microbial model Tetrahymena thermophila. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157580. [PMID: 35882336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of inorganic nanomaterials of anthropogenic origin has significantly increased in the last decade, being now considered as emerging pollutants. This makes it necessary to carry out studies to further understand their toxicity and interactions with cells. In the present work we analyzed the toxicity of CuO nanotubes (CuONT) in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, a eukaryotic unicellular model with animal biology. CuONT exposure rapidly induced ROS generation in the cell leading to oxidative stress and upregulation of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), metal-chelating metallothioneins and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Comet assays and overexpression of genes involved in DNA repair confirmed oxidative DNA damage in CuONT-treated cells. Remarkably, both electron and fluorescent microscopy revealed numerous lipid droplets and autophagosomes containing CuONT aggregates and damaged mitochondria, indicating activation of macroautophagy, which was further confirmed by a dramatic upregulation of ATG (AuTophaGy related) genes. Treatment with autophagy inhibitors significantly increased CuONT toxicity, evidencing the protective role of autophagy towards CuONT-induced damage. Moreover, increased formation of lipid droplets appears as an additional mechanism of CuONT detoxification. Based on these results, we present a hypothetical scenario summarizing how T. thermophila responds to CuONT toxicity. This study corroborates the use of this ciliate as an excellent eukaryotic microbial model for analyzing the cellular response to stress caused by toxic metal nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Morón
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Martín-González
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Díaz
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Gutiérrez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Amaro
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Ganser MH, Bartel H, Weißenbacher B, Andosch A, Lütz-Meindl U, Radacher P, Agatha S. A light and electron microscopical study on the resting cyst of the tintinnid Schmidingerella (Alveolata, Ciliophora) including a phylogeny-aware comparison. Eur J Protistol 2022; 86:125922. [PMID: 36155308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2022.125922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Resting cysts protect ciliates against adverse environmental conditions. The morphology and ultrastructure of resting cysts has been described in very few Oligotrichea, a group of mainly marine planktonic ciliates. The present study provides the first ultrastructural data for loricate choreotrichids, applying light and electron microscopy on the cysts of the tintinnid Schmidingerella meunieri (Kofoid and Campbell, 1929) Agatha and Strüder-Kypke, 2012. The morphology of live cysts and the wall ultrastructure of cryofixed cysts were morphometrically analysed. The resting cyst is roughly flask-shaped, broadening to a slightly concave, laterally protruding anterior plate. An emergence pore closed by a skull cap-shaped papula is directed to the bottom of the lorica on the opposite side of the cyst. The cyst wall consists of an ectocyst, mesocyst, and endocyst differing in thickness, structure, and nitrogen concentration as revealed by conventional transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and electron spectroscopic imaging. The cysts of S. meunieri belong to the kinetosome-resorbing type, which also occurs in the majority of hypotrich ciliates. Two main features (flask-shape and presence of an emergence pore) are shared with the closely related aloricate choreotrichids and oligotrichids, distinguishing the Oligotrichea from the hypotrich and the more distantly related euplotid ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian H Ganser
- Department of Environment & Biodiversity, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
| | - Heidi Bartel
- Department of Environment & Biodiversity, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Birgit Weißenbacher
- Department of Environment & Biodiversity, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ancuela Andosch
- Department of Biosciences & Medical Biology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Ursula Lütz-Meindl
- Department of Environment & Biodiversity, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Department of Biosciences & Medical Biology, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Peter Radacher
- Department of Environment & Biodiversity, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Sabine Agatha
- Department of Environment & Biodiversity, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
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10
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Omar A, Yeo JH, Jung JH. A new “flagship” ciliate, Pseudostylonychia obliquocaudata n. gen., n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotricha), from south korea. Eur J Protistol 2022; 84:125893. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2022.125893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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11
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Li Y, Wang Y, Zhang S, Maurer-Alcalá XX, Yan Y. How Ciliated Protists Survive by Cysts: Some Key Points During Encystment and Excystment. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:785502. [PMID: 35250922 PMCID: PMC8891572 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.785502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Forming cysts is a common and important bionomic strategy for microorganisms to persist in harsh environments. In ciliated protists, many species have been reported to form cysts when facing unfavorable conditions. Despite traditional studies on the morphological features of cysts and the chemical composition of cyst wall, recent research has focused more on the molecular mechanisms of encystment. The present work reviews studies on developmental features and molecular information of resting cysts in ciliates, and pays more attention to the following questions: what are the inducing factors of encystment and excystment? How does the cell change morphologically during these dynamic processes? And what molecular mechanisms underlie those changes? We also present and summarize the characteristics of cysts from diverse ciliate lineages in a phylogenetic framework, aiming to provide new perspectives for studies on adaptive evolution of unicellular eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Li
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yurui Wang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory of Protozoological Biodiversity and Evolution in Wetland, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
| | - Shijing Zhang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xyrus X. Maurer-Alcalá
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ying Yan
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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12
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García-Rodríguez JJ, Köster PC, Ponce-Gordo F. Cyst detection and viability assessment of Balantioides coli in environmental samples: Current status and future needs. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2022; 26:e00143. [PMID: 35146143 PMCID: PMC8802839 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2021.e00143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The ciliate Balantioides coli is a human enteric parasite that can cause life-threatening infections. It is a food- and waterborne parasite, with cysts being the infective stage. Despite its importance as a potential pathogen, few reports have investigated its presence in environmental samples, and some issues need attention including i) The accuracy of B. coli identification. In most cases, the protozoa is identified only by its morphological traits, which can be identical to those from other parasitic ciliates of animals. Genetic analysis of cysts recovered from environmental samples is necessary for species confirmation. In addition, genetic methods used with faecal samples need to be adequately validated with environmental matrices. ii) The methodology for searching this parasite in environmental samples. The protocols include an initial phase to isolate the cysts from the matrix followed by a second phase in which concentration procedures are usually applied. The methods may be valid but are not standardised and differences between studies could affect the results obtained. iii) The areas that needs further research. The development of genetic identification methods and standardised analytical protocols in environmental samples are required, as well as the assessment of viability and infectivity of B. coli cysts. The development of axenic culture systems will boost research on this parasite. Balantioides coli is mainly considered a foodborne parasite for humans. Detection methods in environmental samples are not standardised. Correct identification should be made by genetic analysis. Methods for B. coli cyst viability and infectivity assessment are to be developed.
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Wu JH, Tung SY, Ho CC, Su LH, Gan SW, Liao JY, Cho CC, Lin BC, Chiu PW, Pan YJ, Kao YY, Liu YC, Sun CH. A myeloid leukemia factor homolog involved in encystation-induced protein metabolism in Giardia lamblia. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2021; 1865:129859. [PMID: 33581251 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Giardia lamblia differentiates into resistant cysts as an established model for dormancy. Myeloid leukemia factor (MLF) proteins are important regulators of cell differentiation. Giardia possesses a MLF homolog which was up-regulated during encystation and localized to unknown cytosolic vesicles named MLF vesicles (MLFVs). METHODS We used double staining for visualization of potential factors with role in protein metabolism pathway and a strategy that employed a deletion mutant, CDK2m3, to test the protein degradation pathway. We also explored whether autophagy or proteasomal degradation are regulators of Giardia encystation by treatment with MG132, rapamycin, or chloroquine. RESULTS Double staining of MLF and ISCU or CWP1 revealed no overlap between their vesicles. The aberrant CDK2m3 colocalized with MLFVs and formed complexes with MLF. MG132 increased the number of CDK2m3-localized vesicles and its protein level. We further found that MLF colocalized and interacted with a FYVE protein and an ATG8-like (ATG8L) protein, which were up-regulated during encystation and their expression induced Giardia encystation. The addition of MG132, rapamycin, or chloroquine, increased their levels and the number of their vesicles, and inhibited the cyst formation. MLF and FYVE were detected in exosomes released from culture. CONCLUSIONS The MLFVs are not mitosomes or encystation-specific vesicles, but are related with degradative pathway for CDK2m3. MLF, FYVE, and ATG8L play a positive role in encystation and function in protein clearance pathway, which is important for encystation and coordinated with Exosomes. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE MLF, FYVE, and ATG8L may be involved an encystation-induced protein metabolism during Giardia differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Hsuan Wu
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Szu-Yu Tung
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chun-Che Ho
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Li-Hsin Su
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Soo-Wah Gan
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jo-Yu Liao
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chao-Cheng Cho
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Bo-Chi Lin
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Pei-Wei Chiu
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Jiao Pan
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Yun Kao
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Chen Liu
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chin-Hung Sun
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC.
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Hoshina R, Tsukii Y, Harumoto T, Suzaki T. Characterization of a green Stentor with symbiotic algae growing in an extremely oligotrophic environment and storing large amounts of starch granules in its cytoplasm. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2865. [PMID: 33536497 PMCID: PMC7859197 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82416-9] [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: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Stentor is a relatively well-known ciliate owing to its lucid trumpet shape. Stentor pyriformis represents a green, short, and fat Stentor, but it is a little-known species. We investigated 124 ponds and wetlands in Japan and confirmed the presence of S. pyriformis at 23 locations. All these ponds were noticeably oligotrophic. With the improvement of oligotrophic culture conditions, we succeeded in long-term cultivation of three strains of S. pyriformis. The cytoplasm of S. piriformis contains a large number of 1-3 μm refractive granules that turn brown by Lugol's staining. The granules also show a typical Maltese-cross pattern by polarization microscopy, strongly suggesting that the granules are made of amylopectin-rich starch. By analyzing the algal rDNA, it was found that all S. pyriformis symbionts investigated in this study were Chlorella variabilis. This species is known as the symbiont of Paramecium bursaria and is physiologically specialized for endosymbiosis. Genetic discrepancies between C. variabilis of S. pyriformis and P. bursaria may indicate that algal sharing was an old incident. Having symbiotic algae and storing carbohydrate granules in the cytoplasm is considered a powerful strategy for this ciliate to withstand oligotrophic and cold winter environments in highland bogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Hoshina
- grid.419056.f0000 0004 1793 2541Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Tamura 1266, Nagahama, Shiga 526-0829 Japan
| | - Yuuji Tsukii
- grid.257114.40000 0004 1762 1436Laboratory of Biological Science, Hosei University, 2-17-1 Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8160 Japan
| | - Terue Harumoto
- grid.174568.90000 0001 0059 3836Research Group of Biological Sciences, Division of Natural Sciences, Nara Women’s University, Kitauoya-Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506 Japan
| | - Toshinobu Suzaki
- grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan
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The total conjugation process of the free-living ciliate Paraurostyla weissei (Ciliophora: Spirotrichea): the unexpected response to unfavorable fluctuations in the environment. Biologia (Bratisl) 2020. [DOI: 10.2478/s11756-020-00629-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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16
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Bharti D, Kumar S, La Terza A, Chandra K. Dispersal of ciliated protist cysts: mutualism and phoresy on mites. Ecology 2020; 101:e03075. [PMID: 32304224 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daizy Bharti
- Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700 053, India
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700 053, India
| | - Antonietta La Terza
- Laboratory of Animal and Molecular Ecology, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, Camerino, MC, 62032, Italy
| | - Kailash Chandra
- Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata, 700 053, India
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Pan N, Bhatti MZ, Zhang H, Ni B, Fan X, Chen J. The Encystment-Related MicroRNAs and Its Regulation Molecular Mechanism in Pseudourostyla cristata Revealed by High Throughput Small RNA Sequencing. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072309. [PMID: 32225121 PMCID: PMC7177753 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the expression of target genes in diverse cellular processes and play important roles in different physiological processes. However, little is known about the microRNAome (miRNAome) during encystment of ciliated protozoa. In the current study, we first investigated the differentially expressed miRNAs and relative signaling pathways participating in the transformation of vegetative cells into dormant cysts of Pseudourostyla cristata (P. cristata). A total of 1608 known miRNAs were found in the two libraries. There were 165 miRNAs with 1217 target miRNAs. The total number of differential miRNAs screened between vegetative cells and dormant cysts databases were 449 with p < 0.05 and |log2 fold changes| > 1. Among them, the upregulated and downregulated miRNAs were 243 and 206, respectively. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that some of the differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly associated with oxidative phosphorylation, two-component system, and biosynthesis of amino acids. Combining with our bioinformatics analyzes, some differentially expressed miRNAs including miR-143, miR-23b-3p, miR-28, and miR-744-5p participates in the encystment of P. cristata. Based on these findings, we propose a hypothetical signaling network of miRNAs regulating or promoting P. cristata encystment. This study shed new lights on the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in encystment of ciliated protozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Pan
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (N.P.); (B.N.)
| | - Muhammad Zeeshan Bhatti
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (M.Z.B.); (H.Z.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan
| | - Haiyang Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (M.Z.B.); (H.Z.)
| | - Bing Ni
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (N.P.); (B.N.)
| | - Xinpeng Fan
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (N.P.); (B.N.)
- Correspondence: ;
| | - Jiwu Chen
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China; (N.P.); (B.N.)
- Correspondence: ;
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18
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Nalepa CA. Origin of Mutualism Between Termites and Flagellated Gut Protists: Transition From Horizontal to Vertical Transmission. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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19
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Liu Y, Nan B, Duan L, Cheng T, Bourland WA, Liu M, Zhao Y. A Simple and Rapid Cryopreservation Technique for Ciliates: A Long‐Term Storage Procedure Used for Marine Scuticociliates. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2019; 66:836-848. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yongqiang Liu
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity Ocean University of China Qingdao 266003 China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology Qingdao 266003 China
| | - Bei Nan
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity Ocean University of China Qingdao 266003 China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology Qingdao 266003 China
| | - Lili Duan
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity Ocean University of China Qingdao 266003 China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology Qingdao 266003 China
| | - Ting Cheng
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity Ocean University of China Qingdao 266003 China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology Qingdao 266003 China
| | - William A. Bourland
- Department of Biological Sciences Boise State University Boise Idaho 83725‐1515 USA
| | - Mingjian Liu
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity Ocean University of China Qingdao 266003 China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Research Centre for Eco‐Environmental Sciences Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100085 China
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20
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The affiliation of Hexasterias problematica and Halodinium verrucatum sp. nov. to ciliate cysts based on molecular phylogeny and cyst wall composition. Eur J Protistol 2018; 66:115-135. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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21
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Bourland W, Rotterová J, Čepička I. Morphologic and molecular characterization of Brachonella pulchra (Kahl, 1927) comb. nov. (Armophorea, Ciliophora) with comments on cyst structure and formation. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2018; 68:3052-3065. [DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.002888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- William Bourland
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725-1515, USA
| | - Johana Rotterová
- 2Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Čepička
- 2Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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22
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Chen F, Xue Y, Pan N, Bhatti MZ, Niu T, Chen J. New contribution to the morphology and molecular mechanism of Euplotes encysticus encystment. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12795. [PMID: 30143743 PMCID: PMC6109176 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31160-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ciliated protists are a large group of single-cell eukaryotes, leading to the resting cysts in unfavorable environmental condition. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of encystment in the free-living ciliates is poorly understood. Here we show that the resting cysts are better than the vegetative cells of Euplotes encysticus in adverse survivor with respect to energy metabolism. Therefore scale identification of encystment-related proteins in Euplotes encysticus was investigated by iTRAQ analysis. We analyzed a total of 130 proteins, in which 19 proteins involving 12 upregulated and 7 downregulated proteins were associated with encystment in the resting cysts in comparison with the vegetative cells. Moreover, direct fluorescent labeling analysis showed that the vegetative cells treated with shRNA-β-tubulin recombinant E. coli accumulated a large number of granular materials, and dramatic cell morphology changes. Importantly, the cell membrane rupture phenomenon was observed after three weeks of shRNA-β-tubulin interference as compared to the control group. These results revealed that different proteins might play an important role in the process of the vegetative cells into the resting cysts. These results will help to reveal the morphological changes and molecular mechanism of resting cyst formation of ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenfen Chen
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P. R. China
| | - Yanyan Xue
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P. R. China
| | - Nan Pan
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P. R. China
| | - Muhammad Zeeshan Bhatti
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P. R. China
- Department of Molecular Medicine, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Tao Niu
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P. R. China
| | - Jiwu Chen
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, P. R. China.
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23
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Jiang C, Wei W, Yan G, Shi T, Miao W. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Molecular Mechanism of Resting Cyst Formation inColpoda aspera. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2018; 66:212-220. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chuanqi Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation; Institute of Hydrobiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Wuhan 430072 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Wei Wei
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation; Institute of Hydrobiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Wuhan 430072 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Guanxiong Yan
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation; Institute of Hydrobiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Wuhan 430072 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Tuanyuan Shi
- Department of Animal Parasitology; Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine; Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Science; Hangzhou 310021 China
| | - Wei Miao
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation; Institute of Hydrobiology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Wuhan 430072 China
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24
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Light microscopy observations on the encystation and excystation processes of the ciliate Phacodinium metchnikoffi (Ciliophora, Phacodiniidae), including additional information on its resting cysts structure. Biologia (Bratisl) 2018. [DOI: 10.2478/s11756-018-0059-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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25
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Nalepa CA. What Kills the Hindgut Flagellates of Lower Termites during the Host Molting Cycle? Microorganisms 2017; 5:E82. [PMID: 29258251 PMCID: PMC5748591 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms5040082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Subsocial wood feeding cockroaches in the genus Cryptocercus, the sister group of termites, retain their symbiotic gut flagellates during the host molting cycle, but in lower termites, closely related flagellates die prior to host ecdysis. Although the prevalent view is that termite flagellates die because of conditions of starvation and desiccation in the gut during the host molting cycle, the work of L.R. Cleveland in the 1930s through the 1960s provides a strong alternate hypothesis: it was the changed hormonal environment associated with the origin of eusociality and its concomitant shift in termite developmental ontogeny that instigates the death of the flagellates in termites. Although the research on termite gut microbial communities has exploded since the advent of modern molecular techniques, the role of the host hormonal environment on the life cycle of its gut flagellates has been neglected. Here Cleveland's studies are revisited to provide a basis for re-examination of the problem, and the results framed in the context of two alternate hypotheses: the flagellate symbionts are victims of the change in host social status, or the flagellates have become incorporated into the life cycle of the eusocial termite colony. Recent work on parasitic protists suggests clear paths for exploring these hypotheses and for resolving long standing issues regarding sexual-encystment cycles in flagellates of the Cryptocercus-termite lineage using molecular methodologies, bringing the problem into the modern era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine A Nalepa
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7613, USA.
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Wang B, Niu T, Bhatti MZ, Chen F, Wu L, Chen J. Identification of cyst wall proteins of the hypotrich ciliate Euplotes encysticus using a proteomics approach. J Microbiol 2017; 55:545-553. [DOI: 10.1007/s12275-017-6422-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Pajdak-Stós A, Sobczyk M, Fiałkowska E, Kocerba-Soroka W, Fyda J. The effect of three different predatory ciliate species on activated sludge microfauna. Eur J Protistol 2017; 58:87-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Li Q, Sun Q, Fan X, Wu N, Ni B, Gu F. The differentiation of cellular structure during encystment in the soil hypotrichous ciliate Australocirrus cf. australis (Protista, Ciliophora). Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2016; 21:45-52. [PMID: 30460051 PMCID: PMC6138342 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2016.1262896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ciliates are able to form resting cysts as a survival strategy in response to stressful environmental factors. Studies on the characteristics of cellular structure during encystment may provide useful information for further understanding of the regulatory mechanism of cellular patterns and supply new clues regarding the phylogeny of ciliates. Scanning and transmission electron microscopies were used to observe the ultrastructure of cells during encystment of the soil ciliate Australocirrus cf. australis. The dedifferentiation of ciliature was revealed for the first time. Ciliary shafts first shortened, and the remaining ciliature, including basal bodies and the fibrillar cirral basket, retracted into the cytoplasm and was surrounded by the autophagic vacuoles and then gradually digested. A large number of autophagic vacuoles were observed in mature resting cysts. Autophagy might not only be necessary for the differentiation of cellular structures during encystment but might also be important to sustain the basic life activities in the resting stage. Australocirrus cf. australis formed a kinetosome-resorbing cyst and contained four layers in the cyst wall: the ectocyst, mesocyst, endocyst and granular layer. The ciliature resorbing state and the number of layers in the cyst wall were consistent with those found in other oxytrichous ciliates. However, the phenomenon wherein the two macronuclear nodules are not fused during encystment is not commonly observed among oxytrichids. Additionally, the octahedral granules in the mesocyst of this species exhibit different morphology from the congeners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qili Li
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianqian Sun
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinpeng Fan
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Wu
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Ni
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fukang Gu
- School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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30
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Stress and Protists: No life without stress. Eur J Protistol 2016; 55:39-49. [PMID: 27365178 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We report a summary of the symposium "Stress and Protists: No life without stress", which was held in September 2015 on the VII European Congress of Protistology in partnership with the International Society of Protistologists (Seville, Spain). We present an overview on general comments and concepts on cellular stress which can be also applied to any protist. Generally, various environmental stressors may induce similar cell responses in very different protists. Two main topics are reported in this manuscript: (i) metallic nanoparticles as environmental pollutants and stressors for aquatic protists, and (ii) ultraviolet radiation - induced stress and photoprotective strategies in ciliates. Model protists such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Tetrahymena thermophila were used to assess stress caused by nanoparticles while stress caused by ultraviolet radiation was tested with free living planktonic ciliates as well as with the symbiont-bearing model ciliate Paramecium bursaria. For future studies, we suggest more intensive analyses on protist stress responses to specific environmental abiotic and/or biotic stressors at molecular and genetic levels up to ecological consequences and food web dynamics.
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Yin F, Sun P, Wang J, Gao Q. Transcriptome analysis of dormant tomonts of the marine fish ectoparasitic ciliate Cryptocaryon irritans under low temperature. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:280. [PMID: 27177617 PMCID: PMC4867990 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1550-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptocaryon irritans, a species of obligatory ciliate ectoparasite, can infect various species of marine teleost fish. Cryptocaryon irritans that fall to the seabed or aquarium bottom in winter can form "dormant tomonts" and wake up when the temperature rises the next year. Abundant studies and analyses on the dormant tomonts were carried out at the transcriptome level, in order to investigate the molecular mechanism of C. irritans tomonts entering the dormant state under low-temperature conditions. METHODS The paired-end sequencing strategy was used to better assemble the entire transcriptome de novo. All clean sequencing reads from each of the three libraries (Group A: untreated blank control; Group B: treated for 24 h at 12 °C; and Group C: developed for 24 h at 25 °C) were respectively mapped back to the transcriptome assembly using the bioinformatics software. RESULTS In this study, 25,695,034, 21,944,467, and 28,722,875 paired-end clean reads were obtained respectively from the three cDNA libraries of the C. irritans tomont by Illumina paired-end sequencing technology. A total of 25,925 unique transcript fragments (unigenes) were assembled, with an average length of 839 bp. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were scrutinized; in Group B/A pairwise comparison, 343 genes presented differential expression, including 265 up-regulated genes and 78 down-regulated genes in Group B; in Group C/A pairwise comparison, there were 567 DEGs, including 548 up-regulated genes and 19 down-regulated genes in Group C; and in Group B/C pairwise comparison, 185 genes showed differential expression, including 145 up-regulated genes and 40 down-regulated genes in Group B. CONCLUSIONS This is the first transcriptomic analytical study of the C. irritans tomonts under low temperature. It can be concluded that most of the genes required for its cell survival under low temperature, or for cell entry into a deeper dormancy state were discovered, and that they might be considered as candidate genes to develop the diagnostic and control measures for cryptocaryoniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yin
- Key Laboratory of East China Sea and Oceanic Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Room 316, Building 6, 300 Jungong Road, Shanghai, 200090, PR China.
| | - Peng Sun
- Key Laboratory of East China Sea and Oceanic Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Room 316, Building 6, 300 Jungong Road, Shanghai, 200090, PR China
| | - Jiteng Wang
- Fisheries College of Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, 316022, PR China
| | - Quanxin Gao
- Key Laboratory of East China Sea and Oceanic Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Room 316, Building 6, 300 Jungong Road, Shanghai, 200090, PR China
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Glaser K, Kuppardt A, Boenigk J, Harms H, Fetzer I, Chatzinotas A. The influence of environmental factors on protistan microorganisms in grassland soils along a land-use gradient. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 537:33-42. [PMID: 26282737 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effect of land use intensity, soil parameters and vegetation on protistan communities in grassland soils. We performed qualitative (T-RFLP) and quantitative (qPCR) analyses using primers specifically targeting the 18S rRNA gene for all Eukarya and for two common flagellate groups, i.e. the Chrysophyceae and the Kinetoplastea. Both approaches were applied to extracted soil DNA and RNA, in order to distinguish between the potentially active protists (i.e. RNA pool) and the total protistan communities, including potentially inactive and encysted cells (i.e. DNA pool). Several environmental determinants such as site, soil parameters and vegetation had an impact on the T-RFLP community profiles and the abundance of the quantified 18S rRNA genes. Correlating factors often differed between quantitative (qPCR) and qualitative (T-RFLP) approaches. For instance the Chrysophyceae/Eukarya 18S rDNA ratio as determined by qPCR correlated with the C/N ratio, whereas the community composition based on T-RLFP analysis was not affected indicating that both methods taken together provide a more complete picture of the parameters driving protist diversity. Moreover, distinct T-RFs were obtained, which could serve as potential indicators for either active organisms or environmental conditions like water content. While site was the main determinant across all investigated exploratories, land use seemed to be of minor importance for structuring protist communities. The impact of other parameters differed between the target groups, e.g. Kinetoplastea reacted on changes to water content on all sites, whereas Chrysophyceae were only affected in the Schorfheide. Finally, in most cases different responses were observed on RNA- and DNA-level, respectively. Vegetation for instance influenced the two flagellate groups only at the DNA-level across all sites. Future studies should thus include different protistan groups and also distinguish between active and inactive cells, in order to reveal causal shifts in community composition and abundance in agriculturally used systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Glaser
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anke Kuppardt
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Boenigk
- Department of Biodiversity, University Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Hauke Harms
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig; Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingo Fetzer
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden
| | - Antonis Chatzinotas
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig; Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Segade P, García N, García Estévez JM, Arias C, Iglesias R. Encystment/excystment response and serotypic variation in the gastropod parasite Tetrahymena rostrata (Ciliophora, Tetrahymenidae). Parasitol Res 2015; 115:771-7. [PMID: 26499199 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4802-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Tetrahymena rostrata, which is characterized by a particular encystment-excystment cycle involving autogamy, has been recently found infecting the kidney of edible Helix aspersa snails under farming conditions. In this work, the effects of several factors on its encystment/excystment behaviour and the occurrence of different serotypes were investigated. The encystment/excystment response under starvation conditions was seriously affected by temperature. While a peak of encystment at 48 h followed by a progressive spontaneous excystment was observed at 18 and 25 °C, the encystment response was practically inhibited at 5 °C and clearly slowed down at 10 °C. At 30 °C, most of surviving ciliates remained encysted throughout the experiment, with spontaneous excystment being detected only after switching the temperature to 18 °C. Soil components also affected the encystment/excystment behaviour at 18 °C, with spontaneous excystment occurring in the presence of a sterile-filtered soil extract or mineral water but being strongly minimized with a non-filtered soil extract. Resting cysts formed in the latter extract exhibited a 3–4 times thicker and ultrastructurally more complex wall than that formed in mineral water and retained the excystment ability for about 4 weeks. Incomplete desiccation did not affect significantly the encystment response, while the mucus and kidney extracts from snails as well as a ciliate extract strongly stimulated a rapid excystment. Finally, two different serotypes infecting H. aspersa in heliciculture farms of Galicia (NW Spain) were identified, but no differences were observed between the encystment/excystment responses exhibited by two isolates belonging to each serotype.
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Large-scale identification of encystment-related proteins and genes in Pseudourostyla cristata. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11360. [PMID: 26079518 PMCID: PMC4650649 DOI: 10.1038/srep11360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The transformation of a ciliate into cyst is an advance strategy against an adverse situation. However, the molecular mechanism for the encystation of free-living ciliates is poorly understood. A large-scale identification of the encystment-related proteins and genes in ciliate would provide us with deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms for the encystations of ciliate. We identified the encystment-related proteins and genes in Pseudourostyla cristata with shotgun LC-MS/MS and scale qRT-PCR, respectively, in this report. A total of 668 proteins were detected in the resting cysts, 102 of these proteins were high credible proteins, whereas 88 high credible proteins of the 724 total proteins were found in the vegetative cells. Compared with the vegetative cell, 6 specific proteins were found in the resting cyst. However, the majority of high credible proteins in the resting cyst and the vegetative cell were co-expressed. We compared 47 genes of the co-expressed proteins with known functions in both the cyst and the vegetative cell using scale qRT-PCR. Twenty-seven of 47 genes were differentially expressed in the cyst compared with the vegetative cell. In our identifications, many uncharacterized proteins were also found. These results will help reveal the molecular mechanism for the formation of cyst in ciliates.
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Shatilovich A, Stoupin D, Rivkina E. Ciliates from ancient permafrost: Assessment of cold resistance of the resting cysts. Eur J Protistol 2015; 51:230-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2015.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Revised: 03/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Vaerewijck MJ, Baré J, Lambrecht E, Sabbe K, Houf K. Interactions of Foodborne Pathogens with Free-living Protozoa: Potential Consequences for Food Safety. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Julie Baré
- Dept. of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent Univ; Belgium
| | - Ellen Lambrecht
- Dept. of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent Univ; Belgium
| | - Koen Sabbe
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology; Dept. of Biology, Ghent Univ; Belgium
| | - Kurt Houf
- Dept. of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent Univ; Belgium
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Weisse T. Ciliates and the Rare Biosphere—Community Ecology and Population Dynamics. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2014; 61:419-33. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weisse
- Research Institute for Limnology University of Innsbruck Mondseestraße 95310 Mondsee Austria
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Proteomic approach to reveal the proteins associated with encystment of the ciliate Euplotes encysticus. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97362. [PMID: 24837719 PMCID: PMC4023950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to identify and reveal the proteins related to encystment of the ciliate Euplotes encysticus, we analyzed variation in the abundance of the proteins isolated from the resting cyst comparing with proteins in the vegetative cell. 2-D electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF MS techniques and Bioinformatics were used for proteome separation, quantification and identification. The comparative proteomics studies revealed 26 proteins with changes on the expression in the resting cysts, including 12 specific proteins and 14 differential proteins. 12 specific proteins and 10 out of the 14 differential proteins were selected and identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The identified specific proteins with known functions included type II cytoskeletal 1, keratin, Nop16 domain containing protein, protein arginine n-methyltransferase, epsilon-trimethyllysine hydroxylase and calpain-like protein. The identified differential proteins with known functions included Lysozyme C, keratinocyte growth factor, lysozyme homolog AT-2, formate acetyltransferase, alpha S1 casein and cold-shock protein. We discussed the functions of these proteins as well as their contribution in the process of encystment. These identified proteins covered a wide range of molecular functions, including gene regulation, RNA regulation, proteins degradation and oxidation resistance, stress response, material transport and cytoskeleton organization. Therefore, differential expression of these proteins was essential for cell morphological and physiological changes during encystment. This suggested that the peculiar proteins and differential proteins might play important roles in the process of the vegetative cells transforming into the resting cysts. These observations may be novel findings that bring new insights into the detailed mechanisms of dormancy.
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Di Giuseppe G, Barbieri M, Vallesi A, Luporini P, Dini F. Phylogeographical pattern ofEuplotes nobilii, a protist ciliate with a bipolar biogeographical distribution. Mol Ecol 2013; 22:4029-37. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Revised: 04/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adriana Vallesi
- Laboratory of Eukaryotic Microbiology and Animal Biology; Department of Environmental Sciences; University of Camerino; 62032 Camerino MC Italy
| | - Pierangelo Luporini
- Laboratory of Eukaryotic Microbiology and Animal Biology; Department of Environmental Sciences; University of Camerino; 62032 Camerino MC Italy
| | - Fernando Dini
- Department of Biology; University of Pisa; 56126 Pisa Italy
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Weisse T, Scheffel U, Stadler P, Foissner W. Bromeliothrix metopoides, a boom and bust ciliate (Ciliophora, Colpodea) from tank bromeliads. Eur J Protistol 2013; 49:406-19. [PMID: 23541138 PMCID: PMC3688101 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2013.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2012] [Revised: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the recently described colpodid ciliate Bromeliothrix metopoides in a series of laboratory experiments to reveal the environmental factors that constrain this species to its peculiar habitat, i.e. the tanks of bromeliads. Our results demonstrated that the various life stages of this ciliate (bacterivorous theronts and microstome trophonts, flagellate-feeding macrostomes) have specific demands in terms of food quality and quantity. Bromeliothrix required a high food threshold (>1.4 mg C L−1) in order to thrive. Food quality also affected resting cyst formation of B. metopoides when the experimental containers dried out. Its maximum growth rates (μmax = 4.71 d−1, i.e. 6.8 doublings d−1) belong to the highest ones recorded thus far for free-living ciliates. The pH niche of B. metopoides was relatively wide (pH ∼4 to >9) under optimal food conditions. However, its high sensitivity to unfavourable environmental conditions let the population collapse within several hours. We conclude that B. metopoides is a boom and bust ciliate that is specifically adapted to its peculiar habitat but virtually unviable in other environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Weisse
- University of Innsbruck, Research Institute for Limnology, Mondsee, Austria.
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Orsi W, Biddle JF, Edgcomb V. Deep sequencing of subseafloor eukaryotic rRNA reveals active Fungi across marine subsurface provinces. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56335. [PMID: 23418556 PMCID: PMC3572030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The deep marine subsurface is a vast habitat for microbial life where cells may live on geologic timescales. Because DNA in sediments may be preserved on long timescales, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) is suggested to be a proxy for the active fraction of a microbial community in the subsurface. During an investigation of eukaryotic 18S rRNA by amplicon pyrosequencing, unique profiles of Fungi were found across a range of marine subsurface provinces including ridge flanks, continental margins, and abyssal plains. Subseafloor fungal populations exhibit statistically significant correlations with total organic carbon (TOC), nitrate, sulfide, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). These correlations are supported by terminal restriction length polymorphism (TRFLP) analyses of fungal rRNA. Geochemical correlations with fungal pyrosequencing and TRFLP data from this geographically broad sample set suggests environmental selection of active Fungi in the marine subsurface. Within the same dataset, ancient rRNA signatures were recovered from plants and diatoms in marine sediments ranging from 0.03 to 2.7 million years old, suggesting that rRNA from some eukaryotic taxa may be much more stable than previously considered in the marine subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Orsi
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America.
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Hengherr S, Schill RO, Clegg JS. Mechanisms associated with cellular desiccation tolerance in the animal extremophile artemia. Physiol Biochem Zool 2011; 84:249-57. [PMID: 21527815 DOI: 10.1086/659314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Using differential scanning calorimetry, we demonstrated the presence of biological glasses and measured the transition temperatures in dry encysted embryos (cysts) of the brine shrimp, Artemia franciscana. Cysts from the following three geographic locations were studied: San Francisco Bay (SFB); the Great Salt Lake, Utah (GSL); and the Mekong Delta, Vietnam (VN; these cysts were produced from previous sequential inoculations of SFB cysts into growth ponds). Values for the glass transition temperature, T(g), were highest in VN cysts. This study indicates that the composition and properties of these biological glasses can be altered by natural selection and thermal adaptation. To our knowledge, T(g) values for all three kinds of cysts were significantly higher than those for any other desiccation-tolerant animal system. To gain insight into the significance of T(g), we examined the thermal stability of these dry cysts at 80 °C. GSL cysts were the least tolerant, by far, with VN cysts being extremely tolerant and SFB cysts not far behind. Those results correlated with the thermal transition values. Also measured were alcohol-soluble carbohydrates, ~90% of which is the disaccharide trehalose, a known component of biological glasses. Amounts in the GSL cysts were significantly less than those in the other two kinds of cysts. Several stress proteins were measured in the three groups of cysts, with all of them being in lesser amounts in GSL cysts compared with the SFB and VN cysts. We interpret the data in terms of mechanisms involved with desiccation tolerance and thermal conditions at the sites of cyst collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Hengherr
- Biological Institute, Zoology, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
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Vaerewijck MJM, Sabbe K, Baré J, Houf K. Occurrence and diversity of free-living protozoa on butterhead lettuce. Int J Food Microbiol 2011; 147:105-11. [PMID: 21513995 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2010] [Revised: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 03/23/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence and diversity of free-living protozoa (FLP) on butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was investigated using four different sampling techniques (washing, swabbing, homogenization, and excising). FLP were recovered from all leaf samples (n=64), and cultures were FLP-positive after 1 week. Identification of FLP was performed by light microscopy and sequencing of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)-separated 18S rRNA gene fragments. Bodo saltans, Spumella (-like) spp. and Cercozoa were the most common heterotrophic nanoflagellates. Amoebae belonged mainly to the Vannellida and Tubulinida. Colpoda steinii and Cyclidium glaucoma were the most common ciliates. The total number of FLP on middle leaves estimated by the Most Probable Number method ranged from 9.3 × 10(2)MPN/g to 2.4 × 10(5)MPN/g leaf, with flagellates (92 MPN/g to 2.4 ×10(5)MPN/g) being more abundant than amoebae (<3 MPN/g to 9.3 × 10(3)MPN/g) and ciliates (<3 MPN/g to 9.3 × 10(2)MPN/g). Washing or rinsing leaves followed by spin-drying in a household salad spinner reduced the protozoan number with maximum one log unit. Our survey shows that FLP on lettuce leaves are a common and diverse but largely unexplored group of microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario J M Vaerewijck
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent University, Salisburylaan, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Vaerewijck MJM, Sabbe K, Van Hende J, Baré J, Houf K. Sampling strategy, occurrence and diversity of free-living protozoa in domestic refrigerators. J Appl Microbiol 2010; 109:1566-78. [PMID: 20569273 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04783.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Evaluation of a sampling method to recover free-living protozoa (FLP) from plastic surfaces. Application of the method on different areas inside domestic refrigerators. METHODS AND RESULTS Plastic coupons seeded with representatives of FLP were swabbed with cotton wools. The recovery efficiency was the highest for Chilomonas paramecium, followed by Tetrahymena pyriformis and the lowest for Acanthamoeba polyphaga. From 43 refrigerators, 19 and 26 were considered FLP positive when sample cultures were incubated at 7°C and 20°C, respectively. The number of FLP-positive cultures was the highest in samples taken from vegetable trays followed by discharge gutters, whereas interior walls were rarely FLP positive. Higher numbers of taxa were observed in enrichment cultures incubated at 20°C instead of 7°C. The combination of microscopy and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed that discharge gutters occasionally were contaminated with a persistent protozoan population of flagellates (Cercozoa) and amoebae (Tubulinea). The FLP-positive status of refrigerator surfaces was correlated with a high aerobic plate count. CONCLUSIONS The cotton wool sampling method is useful to sample FLP from plastic surfaces. FLP are part of the microbial communities in domestic refrigerators. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Knowledge on the occurrence of FLP in food-related indoor environments is scarce. For the first time, a high protozoan diversity in domestic refrigerators is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J M Vaerewijck
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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Tolerance of the resting cysts of Colpoda inflata (Ciliophora, Colpodea) and Meseres corlissi (Ciliophora, Spirotrichea) to desiccation and freezing. Eur J Protistol 2010; 46:133-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2009.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2009] [Revised: 12/18/2009] [Accepted: 12/18/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Pushkareva VI, Ermolaeva SA. Listeria monocytogenes virulence factor Listeriolysin O favors bacterial growth in co-culture with the ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis, causes protozoan encystment and promotes bacterial survival inside cysts. BMC Microbiol 2010; 10:26. [PMID: 20109168 PMCID: PMC2827469 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-10-26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2009] [Accepted: 01/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The gram-positive pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is widely spread in the nature. L. monocytogenes was reported to be isolated from soil, water, sewage and sludge. Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a L. monocytogenes major virulence factor. In the course of infection in mammals, LLO is required for intracellular survival and apoptosis induction in lymphocytes. In this study, we explored the potential of LLO to promote interactions between L. monocytogenes and the ubiquitous inhabitant of natural ecosystems bacteriovorous free-living ciliate Tetrahymena pyriformis. Results Wild type L. monocytogenes reduced T. pyriformis trophozoite counts and stimulated encystment. The effects were observed starting from 48 h of co-incubation. On the day 14, trophozoites were eliminated from the co-culture while about 5 × 104 cells/ml remained in the axenic T. pyriformis culture. The deficient in the LLO-encoding hly gene L. monocytogenes strain failed to cause mortality among protozoa and to trigger protozoan encystment. Replenishment of the hly gene in the mutant strain restored toxicity towards protozoa and induction of protozoan encystment. The saprophytic non-haemolytic species L. innocua transformed with the LLO-expressing plasmid caused extensive mortality and encystment in ciliates. During the first week of co-incubation, LLO-producing L. monocytogenes demonstrated higher growth rates in association with T. pyriformis than the LLO-deficient isogenic strain. At latter stages of co-incubation bacterial counts were similar for both strains. T. pyriformis cysts infected with wild type L. monocytogenes caused listerial infection in guinea pigs upon ocular and oral inoculation. The infection was proved by bacterial plating from the internal organs. Conclusions The L. monocytogenes virulence factor LLO promotes bacterial survival and growth in the presence of bacteriovorous ciliate T. pyriformis. LLO is responsible for L. monocytogenes toxicity for protozoa and induction of protozoan encystment. L. monocytogenes entrapped in cysts remained viable and virulent. In whole, LLO activity seems to support bacterial survival in the natural habitat outside of a host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina I Pushkareva
- Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Heydarnejad MS. Survival of Paramecium caudatum at various pH values and under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Pak J Biol Sci 2008; 11:392-397. [PMID: 18817161 DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2008.392.397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the survival of Paramecium caudatum, a protozoan ciliate, with different pH under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. P. caudatum was exposed to 18 treatments (in triplicate) of varying pH (4, 4.7, 5.7, 6.7, 7.7, 8.7, 9.7, 10.7 and 11.7) with two different conditions of normoxic and hypoxic. Survival was examined every second day for three weeks. P. caudatum mortality was 100% immediately when exposed to pH 4, 10.7 and 11.7 either in normoxic or hypoxic conditions, whereas at other pH values tested this ciliate could survive mostly under hypoxic conditions. The results suggest that under hypoxic condition, 4.7-6.7 is the best pH range for survival of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Saeed Heydarnejad
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Department of Biology, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord-88186, P.O. Box 115, Iran
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49
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Müller H. Live observation of excystment in the spirotrich ciliate Meseres corlissi. Eur J Protistol 2007; 43:95-100. [PMID: 17280821 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2006.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2006] [Revised: 11/24/2006] [Accepted: 11/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Excystment of Meseres corlissi Petz and Foissner 1992 was observed by light microscopy. Excysting cells were first recognized by the appearance of a non-pulsating vacuole. With increasing size of this vacuole, the outer cyst wall ruptured, creating a narrow slit. The emerging protoplast was enclosed by an inner flexible membrane. Oral membranelles were faintly visible, but inactive at this stage. Within the next hour, oral membranelles and a pulsating vacuole became active, and the ciliate started to rotate. During a phase of rapid movement, the flexible membrane became wider and thinner. Finally, it burst open and released the now fully differentiated ciliate. The emergence of M. corlissi from the cyst is similar to descriptions in the literature for Didinium nasutum, Nassula ornata, Tillina magna and several stichotrich ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helga Müller
- Private Laboratory, Jacob-Burckhardt-Str. 18, 78464 Konstanz, Germany.
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Ma H, Overstreet RM. Two New Species of Epistylis (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) on the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Gulf of Mexico. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2006; 53:85-95. [PMID: 16579810 DOI: 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2005.00080.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Two epibiotic peritrichs infested the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, from the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, USA. Epistylis callinectes n. sp. was isolated from the epipods of maxillipeds, bases of gill-cleaning setae, and gills, and Epistylis clampi n. sp. was isolated from the exterior surfaces of the exoskeleton. Epistylis callinectes has short, symmetrically and dichotomously branched stalks; its zooid is elongate ovoid and conspicuously longer than the individual stalk branches, measuring 40-57 (49) x 18-33 (26) microm in vivo and containing a thick, undivided peristomial lip (PL). It has a single contractile vacuole and a transverse horseshoe-shaped macronucleus. Its haplokinety (H) and polykinety (Po) complete one and one-half circuits on the peristome before entering the infundibulum. There is a distal kinetal fragment present at the distal end of both the H and Po. Epistylis callinectes has 48-70 transverse silverlines from the oral area to the trochal band (TB) and 19-26 from the TB to the scopula. Epistylis clampi has long, asymmetrically, and dichotomously branched stalks. Its zooid is elongate vase-shaped, measuring 35-64 (48) x 21-30 (27) microm in vivo and with a thick, transversely folded PL. The stalks supporting zooids are unequal in length. Its zooid has a single contractile vacuole and a transverse horseshoe-shaped macronucleus occurs in the upper half of the body. Its H and Po complete approximately one circuit around the peristome before entering the infundibulum. There is a distal kinetal fragment present at the distal end of both the H and Po. This species has 71-112 transverse silverlines from the peristome to the scopula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Ma
- Department of Coastal Sciences, The University of Southern Mississippi, P. O. Box 7000, Ocean Springs, Mississippi 39566-7000, USA
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