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Coots NL, Jasso-Selles DE, Swichtenberg KL, Aguilar SG, Nguyen L, Sidles PG, Woo C, Smith HM, Bresee BJ, Abboud AA, Abd Al Rahman T, Anand R, Avalle SR, Batra A, Brown MA, Camacho Ruelas H, Fajardo Chavez A, Gallegos CN, Grambs A, Hernández DA, Singh Johal A, Jones SA, McAnally KB, McNamara M, Munigala L, Nguyen HL, Salas Perez K, Shah R, Sharma NK, Thomas MK, Vega Beltran E, Verne NM, De Martini F, Gile GH. The protist symbionts of Reticulitermes tibialis: Unexpected diversity enables a new taxonomic framework. Protist 2025; 176:126087. [PMID: 39929034 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2025.126087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Revised: 12/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2025] [Indexed: 02/12/2025]
Abstract
Wood-feeding termites harbor specialized protists in their hindguts in a classic nutritional mutualism. The protists are vertically inherited, which has generated a broad-scale pattern of codiversification over ∼150 million years, but there are many incongruences due to lineage-specific loss and transfer of symbionts. Despite the evolutionary and economic importance of this symbiosis, the symbiont communities of most termite species are incompletely characterized or entirely unstudied. Here, we have investigated the protist symbiont community of Reticulitermes tibialis, using single-cell PCR to link morphology to 18S rRNA gene sequences. The protists belong to at least 41 species in 3 major lineages within Metamonada: Spirotrichonymphida, Pyrsonymphidae, and Trichonympha. The Spirotrichonymphida symbionts belong to 6 genera, including Pseudospironympha, which has not been found in Reticulitermes until now, and Dexiohelix, a new genus. Pyrsonymphidae traditionally include just Pyrsonympha and Dinenympha, but our morphology-linked 18S phylogeny indicates that both genera are polyphyletic. We accordingly restrict the definitions of Pyrsonympha and Dinenympha to the clades that include their type species, and we propose 5 new genera to accommodate the remaining clades. Short-read 18S amplicon sequencing revealed considerable variation in community composition across R. tibialis colonies in Arizona, suggestive of a symbiont metacommunity. Symbiont species varied in their prevalence across colonies, with a core set of about 12 highly prevalent symbiont species, 11 species with intermediate prevalence, and 18 rare species. This pattern contrasts with the traditional paradigm of consistent symbiont community composition across colonies of a termite species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Coots
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA.
| | - Daniel E Jasso-Selles
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Kali L Swichtenberg
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Serena G Aguilar
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - LeAnn Nguyen
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Piper G Sidles
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Cindy Woo
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Harrison M Smith
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Bailey J Bresee
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Amir A Abboud
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Tala Abd Al Rahman
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Ritika Anand
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Sergio R Avalle
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Anuvi Batra
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Mackenzie A Brown
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Hilary Camacho Ruelas
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | | | - Campbell N Gallegos
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Amalia Grambs
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - D Armaan Hernández
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Amrit Singh Johal
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Serenity A Jones
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Kelsi B McAnally
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Molly McNamara
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Likith Munigala
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Hongan L Nguyen
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Kevin Salas Perez
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Ryan Shah
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Noah K Sharma
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Morgen K Thomas
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Eddy Vega Beltran
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Natalie M Verne
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Francesca De Martini
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Gillian H Gile
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
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Boscaro V, James ER, Fiorito R, Del Campo J, Scheffrahn RH, Keeling PJ. Updated classification of the phylum Parabasalia. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2024; 71:e13035. [PMID: 38825738 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.13035] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
The phylum Parabasalia includes very diverse single-cell organisms that nevertheless share a distinctive set of morphological traits. Most are harmless or beneficial gut symbionts of animals, but some have turned into parasites in other body compartments, the most notorious example being Trichomonas vaginalis in humans. Parabasalians have garnered attention for their nutritional symbioses with termites, their modified anaerobic mitochondria (hydrogenosomes), their character evolution, and the wholly unique features of some species. The molecular revolution confirmed the monophyly of Parabasalia, but considerably changed our view of their internal relationships, prompting a comprehensive reclassification 14 years ago. This classification has remained authoritative for many subgroups despite a greatly expanded pool of available data, but the large number of species and sequences that have since come out allow for taxonomic refinements in certain lineages, which we undertake here. We aimed to introduce as little disruption as possible but at the same time ensure that most taxa are truly monophyletic, and that the larger clades are subdivided into meaningful units. In doing so, we also highlighted correlations between the phylogeny of parabasalians and that of their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Boscaro
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Erick R James
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rebecca Fiorito
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Javier Del Campo
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Patrick J Keeling
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Gile GH. Protist symbionts of termites: diversity, distribution, and coevolution. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:622-652. [PMID: 38105542 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The symbiosis between termites and their hindgut protists is mutually obligate and vertically inherited. It was established by the late Jurassic in the cockroach ancestors of termites as they transitioned to wood feeding. Since then, protist symbionts have been transmitted from host generation to host generation by proctodeal trophallaxis (anal feeding). The protists belong to multiple lineages within the eukaryotic superphylum Metamonada. Most of these lineages have evolved large cells with complex morphology, unlike the non-termite-associated Metamonada. The species richness and taxonomic composition of symbiotic protist communities varies widely across termite lineages, especially within the deep-branching clade Teletisoptera. In general, closely related termites tend to harbour closely related protists, and deep-branching termites tend to harbour deep-branching protists, reflecting their broad-scale co-diversification. A closer view, however, reveals a complex distribution of protist lineages across hosts. Some protist taxa are common, some are rare, some are widespread, and some are restricted to a single host family or genus. Some protist taxa can be found in only a few, distantly related, host species. Thus, the long history of co-diversification in this symbiosis has been complicated by lineage-specific loss of symbionts, transfer of symbionts from one host lineage to another, and by independent diversification of the symbionts relative to their hosts. This review aims to introduce the biology of this important symbiosis and serve as a gateway to the diversity and systematics literature for both termites and protists. A searchable database with all termite-protist occurrence records and taxonomic references is provided as a supplementary file to encourage and facilitate new research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian H Gile
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
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Noda S, Kitade O, Jasso-Selles DE, Taerum SJ, Takayanagi M, Radek R, Lo N, Ohkuma M, Gile GH. Molecular phylogeny of Spirotrichonymphea (Parabasalia) with emphasis on Spironympha, Spirotrichonympha, and three new genera Pseudospironympha, Nanospironympha, and Brugerollina. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2023; 70:e12967. [PMID: 36760170 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Spirotrichonymphea, one of the six classes of phylum Parabasalia, are characterized by bearing many flagella in spiral rows, and they occur exclusively in the guts of termites. Phylogenetic relationships among the 13 described genera are not well understood due to complex morphological evolution and a paucity of molecular data. One such understudied genus is Spironympha. It has been variously considered a valid genus, a subgenus of Spirotrichonympha, or an "immature" life cycle stage of Spirotrichonympha. To clarify this, we sequenced the small subunit rRNA gene sequences of Spironympha and Spirotrichonympha cells isolated from the hindguts of Reticulitermes species and Hodotermopsis sjostedti and confirmed the molecular identity of H. sjostedti symbionts using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Spironympha as currently circumscribed is polyphyletic, with both H. sjostedti symbiont species branching separately from the "true" Spironympha from Reticulitermes. Similarly, the Spirotrichonympha symbiont of H. sjostedti branches separately from the "true" Spirotrichonympha found in Reticulitermes. Our data support Spironympha from Reticulitermes as a valid genus most closely related to Spirotrichonympha, though its monophyly and interspecific relationships are not resolved in our molecular phylogenetic analysis. We propose three new genera to accommodate the H. sjostedti symbionts and two new species of Spirotrichonympha from Reticulitermes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoko Noda
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ibaraki University, Mito, Japan.,Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Osamu Kitade
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ibaraki University, Mito, Japan
| | | | - Stephen J Taerum
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Miki Takayanagi
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Renate Radek
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nathan Lo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Moriya Ohkuma
- Japan Collection of Microorganisms, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Gillian H Gile
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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Radek R, Platt K, Öztas D, Šobotník J, Sillam-Dussès D, Hanus R, Brune A. New insights into the coevolutionary history of termites and their gut flagellates: Description of Retractinympha glossotermitis gen. nov. sp. nov. (Retractinymphidae fam. nov.). Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1111484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lower termites harbor diverse consortia of symbiotic gut flagellates. Despite numerous evidence for co-cladogenesis, the evolutionary history of these associations remains unclear. Here, we present Retractinymphidae fam. nov., a monogeneric lineage of Trichonymphida from Serritermitidae. Although Retractinympha glossotermitis gen. nov. sp. nov. morphologically resembles members of the genus Pseudotrichonympha, phylogenetic analysis identified it as sister group of the Teranymphidae. We compared morphology and ultrastructure of R. glossotermitis to that of Pseudotrichonympha and other Teranymphidae, including the so-far undescribed Pseudotrichonympha solitaria sp. nov. from Termitogeton planus (Rhinotermitidae). Like all Teranymphidae, R. glossotermitis is a large, elongated flagellate with a bilaterally symmetric rostrum, an anterior, flagella-free operculum, and an internal rostral tube. However, it is readily distinguished by the length of its rostral flagella, which never exceeds that of the postrostral flagella, and its retractable anterior end. Inclusion of the hitherto unstudied Stylotermes halumicus (Stylotermitidae) in our survey of trichonymphid flagellates in Neoisoptera confirmed that the combined presence of Heliconympha and Retractinympha and absence of Pseudotrichonympha is unique to Serritermitidae. The close phylogenetic relatedness of Heliconympha in Serritermitidae to the spirotrichosomid flagellates in Stolotermitidae provides strong support for their acquisition by horizontal transmission.
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