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Zhou Z, Li C, Yuan Q, Chi Y, Li Y, Yan Y, Al-Farraj SA, Stover NA, Chen Z, Chen X. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals genome evolution in predatory litostomatean ciliates. Eur J Protistol 2024; 93:126062. [PMID: 38368736 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126062] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Many ciliated protists prey on other large microbial organisms, including other protists and microscopic metazoans. The ciliate class Litostomatea unites both predatory and endosymbiotic species. The evolution of predation ability in ciliates remains poorly understood, in part, due to a lack of genomic data. To fill this gap, we acquired the transcriptome profiles of six predatory litostomateans using single-cell sequencing technology and investigated their transcriptomic features. Our results show that: (1) in contrast to non-predatory ciliates, the predatory litostomateans have expanded gene families associated with transmembrane activity and reactive oxidative stress response pathways, potentially as a result of cellular behaviors such as fast contraction and extension; (2) the expansion of the calcium-activated BK potassium channel gene family, which hypothetically regulates cell contractility, is an ancient evolutionary event for the class Litostomatea, suggesting a rewired metabolism associated with the hunting behavior of predatory ciliates; and (3) three whole genome duplication (WGD) events have been detected in litostomateans, with genes associated with biosynthetic processes, transmembrane activity, and calcium-activated potassium channel activity being retained during the WGD events. In addition, we explored the evolutionary relationships among 17 ciliate species, including eight litostomateans, and provided a rich foundational dataset for future in-depth phylogenomic studies of Litostomatea. Our comprehensive analyses suggest that the rewired cellular metabolism via expanded gene families and WGD events might be the potential genetic basis for the predation ability of raptorial ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaorui Zhou
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Chao Li
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Qingxiang Yuan
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yong Chi
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Yuqing Li
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Ying Yan
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Saleh A Al-Farraj
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naomi A Stover
- Department of Biology, Bradley University, Peoria 61625, USA.
| | - Zigui Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Xiao Chen
- Laboratory of Marine Protozoan Biodiversity and Evolution, Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China; Suzhou Research Institute, Shandong University, Suzhou 215123, China.
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2
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Kendlbacher V, Winter TMR, Bright M. Zoothamnium mariella sp. nov., a marine, colonial ciliate with an atypcial growth pattern, and its ectosymbiont Candidatus Fusimicrobium zoothamnicola gen. nov., sp. nov. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300758. [PMID: 38557976 PMCID: PMC10984469 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300758] [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: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Ciliates are unicellular eukaryotes, regularly involved in symbiotic associations. Symbionts may colonize the inside of their cells as well as their surface as ectosymbionts. Here, we report on a new ciliate species, designated as Zoothamnium mariella sp. nov. (Peritrichia, Sessilida), discovered in the northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea) in 2021. We found this ciliate species to be monospecifically associated with a new genus of ectosymbiotic bacteria, here proposed as Candidatus Fusimicrobium zoothamnicola gen. nov., sp. nov. To formally describe the new ciliate species, we investigated its morphology and sequenced its 18S rRNA gene. To demonstrate its association with a single species of bacterial ectosymbiont, we performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, we explored the two partners' cultivation requirements and ecology. Z. mariella sp. nov. was characterized by a colony length of up to 1 mm. A consistent number of either seven or eight long branches alternated on the stalk in close distance to each other. The colony developed three different types of zooids: microzooids ("trophic stage"), macrozooids ("telotroch stage"), and terminal zooids ("dividing stage"). Viewed from inside the cell, the microzooids' oral ciliature ran in 1 ¼ turns in a clockwise direction around the peristomial disc before entering the infundibulum, where it performed another ¾ turn. Phylogenetic analyses assigned Z. mariella sp. nov. to clade II of the family Zoothamnidae. The ectosymbiont formed a monophyletic clade within the Gammaproteobacteria along with two other ectosymbionts of peritrichous ciliates and a free-living vent bacterium. It colonized the entire surface of its ciliate host, except for the most basal stalk of large colonies, and exhibited a single, spindle-shaped morphotype. Furthermore, the two partners together appear to be generalists of temperate, oxic, marine shallow-water environments and were collectively cultivable in steady flow-through systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Kendlbacher
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Monika Bright
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Ravindran C, Irudayarajan L, Raveendran HP. Possible beneficial interactions of ciliated protozoans with coral health and resilience. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0121723. [PMID: 37702497 PMCID: PMC10617535 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01217-23] [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] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial interactions contribute significantly to coral health in the marine environment. Most beneficial associations have been described with their bacterial communities, but knowledge of beneficial associations between protozoan ciliates and corals is still lacking. Ciliates are important bacterial predators and provide nutrition to higher trophic-level organisms. The mucus secreted by corals and the microenvironment of the coral surface layer attract ciliates based on their food preferences. The mixotrophic and heterotrophic ciliates play a major role in nutrient cycling by increasing nitrogen, phosphorus, and extractable sulfur, which can enhance the proliferation of coral beneficial microbe. Besides, bacterial predator ciliates reduce the pathogenic bacterial population that infects the coral and also act as bioindicators for assessing the toxicity of the reef ecosystem. Thus, these ciliates can be used as a beneficial partner in influencing coral health and resilience under various stress conditions. Herein, we explore the urgent need to understand the complex beneficial interactions of ciliates that may occur in the coral reef ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinnarajan Ravindran
- Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR - National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Lawrance Irudayarajan
- Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR - National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Haritha P. Raveendran
- Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR - National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, India
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4
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Zhang X, Bi L, Gentekaki E, Zhao J, Shen P, Zhang Q. Culture-Independent Single-Cell PacBio Sequencing Reveals Epibiotic Variovorax and Nucleus Associated Mycoplasma in the Microbiome of the Marine Benthic Protist Geleia sp. YT (Ciliophora, Karyorelictea). Microorganisms 2023; 11:1500. [PMID: 37375002 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbes in marine sediments constitute up to five-sixths of the planet's total biomass, but their diversity is little explored, especially for those forming associations with unicellular protists. Heterotrophic ciliates are among the most dominant and diversified marine benthic protists and comprise hotspot niches of bacterial colonization. To date, studies using culture-independent single-cell approaches to explore microbiomes of marine benthic ciliates in nature are almost absent, even for the most ubiquitous species. Here, we characterize the major bacterial groups associated with a representative marine benthic ciliate, Geleia sp. YT, collected directly from the coastal zone of Yantai, China. PacBio sequencing of the nearly full-length 16Sr RNA genes was performed on single cells of Geleia. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with genus-specific probes was further applied to locate the dominant bacterial groups. We identified a Variovorax-like bacterium as the major epibiotic symbiont residing in the kineties of the ciliate host. We provide evidence of a nucleus-associated bacterium related to the human pathogen Mycoplasma, which appeared prevalently in the local populations of Geleia sp. YT for 4 months. The most abundant bacterial taxa associated with Geleia sp. YT likely represent its core microbiome, hinting at the important roles of the ciliate-bacteria consortium in the marine benthos. Overall, this work has contributed to the knowledge of the diversity of life in the enigmatic marine benthic ciliate and its symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxin Zhang
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai 264003, China
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Luping Bi
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
- Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Eleni Gentekaki
- School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
- Gut Microbiome Research Group, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
| | - Jianmin Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
- Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Pingping Shen
- School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
- Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
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5
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Shao Q, Sun D, Fang C, Feng Y, Wang C. Microbial food webs share similar biogeographic patterns and driving mechanisms with depths in oligotrophic tropical western Pacific Ocean. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1098264. [PMID: 36778869 PMCID: PMC9909095 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1098264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial food web (MFW) dominates the energy flow in oligotrophic tropical open ocean pelagic ecosystems. Understanding biogeographic patterns and driving mechanisms of key components of the MFW is one of the central topics in current marine ecology. Investigations were conducted along an 1,100-km horizontal gradient and in the full-water column vertical gradient of the oligotrophic tropical western Pacific Ocean. High-throughput sequencing and association networking methods were used to analyze the community structure and interspecies interactions of MFW. The structure of MFW significantly differed with depths, but not across horizontal gradients. Bacteria and microeukaryotes were interconnected and had more predominantly positive and negative linkages in the aphotic layers. Key components of MFW exhibited similar biogeographic patterns and driving mechanisms. Geographic distance exerted minimal effects on the distribution patterns of the microbial food web, while environmental factors played more important roles, especially for temperature and inorganic nutrients. Stochastic processes were more important in the microbial food webs of the 5-200 m layer than the >500 m layer, and drift explained the majority of stochastic processes. Moreover, only a weak but not significant driving force for North Equatorial Current on the east-west connectivity of the microbial food web was found in the upper layers. This knowledge is a critical fundamental data for future planning of marine protected areas targeting the protection of tuna fishing in the western Pacific Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianwen Shao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China,Ningbo Institute of Oceanography, Ningbo, China
| | - Dong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China,*Correspondence: Dong Sun, ✉
| | - Chen Fang
- College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yunzhi Feng
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunsheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, China,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China,School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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6
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Dirren-Pitsch G, Bühler D, Salcher MM, Bassin B, Le Moigne A, Schuler M, Pernthaler J, Posch T. FISHing for ciliates: Catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization for the detection of planktonic freshwater ciliates. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1070232. [PMID: 36578568 PMCID: PMC9790926 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1070232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Planktonic ciliate species form multiple trophic guilds and are central components of freshwater food webs. Progress in molecular analytical tools has opened new insight into ciliate assemblages. However, high and variable 18S rDNA copy numbers, typical for ciliates, make reliable quantification by amplicon sequencing extremely difficult. For an exact determination of abundances, the classical morphology-based quantitative protargol staining is still the method of choice. Morphotype analyses, however, are time consuming and need specific taxonomic expertise. Catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) may represent a promising tool for the analysis of planktonic ciliates by combining molecular identification with microscopic quantification. We tested the applicability of CARD-FISH using nine cultured ciliate species. Eight species- and three genus-specific oligonucleotide probes were designed based on their 18S rRNA genes. The CARD-FISH protocol was adapted and the specificity of probes was established. We subsequently examined the precision of quantitation by CARD-FISH on single cultures and mock assemblages. Successful tests on lake water samples proved that planktonic ciliates could be identified and quantified in field samples by CARD-FISH. Double hybridizations allowed studying interspecific predator prey interactions between two ciliate species. In summary, we demonstrate that CARD-FISH with species-specific probes can facilitate studies on the population dynamics of closely related, small sized or cryptic species at high sampling frequencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianna Dirren-Pitsch
- Limnological Station, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Kilchberg, Switzerland,*Correspondence: Gianna Dirren-Pitsch,
| | - Dominique Bühler
- Limnological Station, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Kilchberg, Switzerland
| | - Michaela M. Salcher
- Department of Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budĕjovice, Czechia
| | - Barbara Bassin
- Limnological Station, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Kilchberg, Switzerland
| | - Alizée Le Moigne
- Limnological Station, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Kilchberg, Switzerland
| | - Martina Schuler
- Limnological Station, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Kilchberg, Switzerland
| | - Jakob Pernthaler
- Limnological Station, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Kilchberg, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Posch
- Limnological Station, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Kilchberg, Switzerland
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7
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Rotterová J, Edgcomb VP, Čepička I, Beinart R. Anaerobic Ciliates as a Model Group for Studying Symbioses in Oxygen-depleted Environments. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2022; 69:e12912. [PMID: 35325496 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Anaerobiosis has independently evolved in multiple lineages of ciliates, allowing them to colonize a variety of anoxic and oxygen-depleted habitats. Anaerobic ciliates commonly form symbiotic relationships with various prokaryotes, including methanogenic archaea and members of several bacterial groups. The hypothesized functions of these ecto- and endosymbionts include the symbiont utilizing the ciliate's fermentative end-products to increase host's anaerobic metabolic efficiency, or the symbiont directly providing the host with energy by denitrification or photosynthesis. The host, in turn, may protect the symbiont from competition, the environment, and predation. Despite rapid advances in sampling, molecular, and microscopy methods, as well as the associated broadening of the known diversity of anaerobic ciliates, many aspects of these ciliate symbioses, including host-specificity and co-evolution, remain largely unexplored. Nevertheless, with the number of comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses targeting anaerobic ciliates and their symbionts on the rise, insights into the nature of these symbioses and the evolution of the ciliate transition to obligate anaerobiosis continue to deepen. This review summarizes the current body of knowledge regarding the complex nature of symbioses in anaerobic ciliates, the diversity of these symbionts, their role in the evolution of ciliate anaerobiosis and their significance in ecosystem-level processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johana Rotterová
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Virginia P Edgcomb
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ivan Čepička
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Roxanne Beinart
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
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8
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Su M, Dell'Orto M, D'Imporzano G, Bani A, Dumbrell AJ, Adani F. The structure and diversity of microalgae-microbial consortia isolated from various local organic wastes. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 347:126416. [PMID: 34838970 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pure microalgae cultivation in organic wastes may be hampered by their low adaptation to extreme growth conditions and by the risk of microbial contamination. This work aimed to isolate self-adapted microalgae-microbial consortia able to survive in organic wastes characterized by extreme conditions, to be then proposed for technological application in removing carbon and nutrients from wastes' streams. To do so, sixteen organic wastes with different origins and consistency were sampled. Twelve microbial consortia were isolated from wastes and their eukaryotic and prokaryotic compositions were analyzed by next generation sequencing. Eight eukaryotic communities were dominated by Chlorophyta, led by Chlorella, able to survive in different wastes regardless of chemical-biological properties. Tetradesmus, the second most represented genus, grew preferentially in substrates with less stressing chemical-physical parameters. Chlorella and Tetradesmus were mostly isolated from cow slurry and derived wastes which proved to be the best local residual organic source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Su
- Gruppo Ricicla labs., Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia (DiSAA), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Italy
| | - Marta Dell'Orto
- Gruppo Ricicla labs., Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia (DiSAA), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Italy
| | - Giuliana D'Imporzano
- Gruppo Ricicla labs., Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia (DiSAA), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Italy
| | - Alessia Bani
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Alex J Dumbrell
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Fabrizio Adani
- Gruppo Ricicla labs., Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia (DiSAA), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133, Italy.
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9
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Fokin SI, Serra V. Bacterial Symbiosis in Ciliates (Alveolata, Ciliophora): Roads Traveled and Those Still to be Taken. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2022; 69:e12886. [PMID: 35006645 PMCID: PMC9539572 DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The diversity of prokaryotic symbionts in Ciliophora and other protists is fascinatingly rich; they may even include some potentially pathogenic bacteria. In this review, we summarize currently available data on biodiversity and some morphological and biological peculiarities of prokaryotic symbionts mainly within the genera Paramecium and Euplotes. Another direction of ciliate symbiology, neglected for a long time and now re‐discovered, is the study of epibionts of ciliates. This promises a variety of interesting outcomes. Last, but not least, we stress the new technologies, such as next generation sequencing and the use of genomics data, which all can clarify many new aspects of relevance. For this reason, a brief overview of achievements in genomic studies on ciliate's symbionts is provided. Summing up the results of numerous scientific contributions, we systematically update current knowledge and outline the prospects as to how symbiology of Ciliophora may develop in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei I Fokin
- University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
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10
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Teiba I, Okunishi S, Yoshikawa T, Ikenaga M, Fouad El Basuini M, Mae S Santander-DE Leon S, Maeda H. Use of Purple Non-Sulfur Photosynthetic Bacteria (Rhodobacter sphaeroides) in Promoting Ciliated Protozoa Growth. Biocontrol Sci 2021; 25:81-89. [PMID: 32507794 DOI: 10.4265/bio.25.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Photosynthetic bacterium (PSB) was isolated from sediment samples of Yamagawa Bay, Kagoshima, Japan. Phylogenetic analysis results of PSB isolate were closely related to Rhodobacter sphaeroides, purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacteria (PNSB). Pink-colored smooth edges of single bacterial colonies were observed after 3-5 days of incubation period on Basic I medium agar plates. Rhodobacter sphaeroides microscopic examination showed a short rod cell (1-2 µm length) with round ends. Sediment and water samples used for ciliates cultivation were collected from Kuwano-ura Bay, Koshiki Island, Japan. Ciliates were cultivated using fish meal with radish leaves medium (MI), with sediment into MI (MII) and algae media (MIII). The use of the algae media (MIII) in cultivation mixture produced the highest total number of ciliates. Big size ciliates were identified as Euplotes minuta and Cyclidium varibonneti, while small size was identified as Micrometopion nutans, based on PCR-DGGE. When ciliates were cultured with the PSB isolate, Rhodobacter sphaeroides as a feed, ciliates grow to 2,081 individual ml-1 72 hrs later. These findings indicate that PNSB can be used to promote ciliates growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam Teiba
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University.,Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University
| | - Suguru Okunishi
- Research Field in Fisheries; Agriculture, Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine Area; Research and Education Assembly; Kagoshima University
| | - Takeshi Yoshikawa
- Research Field in Fisheries; Agriculture, Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine Area; Research and Education Assembly; Kagoshima University
| | - Makoto Ikenaga
- Research Field in Agriculture; Agriculture, Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine Area; Research and Education Assembly; Kagoshima University
| | - Mohammed Fouad El Basuini
- Research Field in Fisheries; Agriculture, Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine Area; Research and Education Assembly; Kagoshima University.,Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University
| | | | - Hiroto Maeda
- Research Field in Fisheries; Agriculture, Fisheries and Veterinary Medicine Area; Research and Education Assembly; Kagoshima University
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11
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Zheng Q, Lin W, Wang Y, Xu D, Liu Y, Jiao N. Top-down controls on nutrient cycling and population dynamics in a model estuarine photoautotroph-heterotroph co-culture system. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:592-607. [PMID: 33226689 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Viral lysis and protistan grazing are thought to be the major processes leading to microbial mortality in aquatic environments and thus regulate community diversity and biogeochemical cycling characteristics. Here, we studied nutrient cycling and bacterial responses to cyanophage-mediated photoautotroph lysis and ciliate predation in a model Synechococcus-heterotroph co-culture system. Both viral lysis and Euplotes grazing facilitated the transformation of organic carbon from biomass to dissolved organic matter with convention efficiencies of 20%-26%. The accumulation of ammonium after the addition of phages and ciliates suggested the importance of recycled NH4 + occurred in the interactions between Synechococcus growth and heterotrophic bacterial metabolism of photosynthate. The slower efficiency of P mineralization compared to N (primarily ammonium) indicated that P-containing organic matter was primarily integrated into bacterial biomass rather than being remineralized into inorganic phosphate under C-rich conditions. In the cyanophage addition treatment, both Fluviicola and Alteromonas exhibited rapid positive responses to Synechococcus lysing, while Marivita exhibited an apparent negative response. Further, the addition of Euplotes altered the incubation system from a Synechococcus-driven phycosphere to a ciliate-remodelled zoosphere that primarily constituted grazing-resistant bacteria and Euplotes symbionts. Top-down controls increased co-culture system diversity and resulted in a preference for free-living lifestyles of dominant populations, which was accompanied by the transfer of matter and energy. Our results indicate top-down control was particularly important for organic matter redistribution and inorganic nutrient regeneration between photoautotrophs and heterotrophs, and altered bacterial lifestyles. This study consequently sheds light on marine biogeochemical cycling and the interaction networks within these dynamic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenxin Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Dapeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanting Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
| | - Nianzhi Jiao
- State Key Laboratory for Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.,Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China
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12
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Rotterová J, Salomaki E, Pánek T, Bourland W, Žihala D, Táborský P, Edgcomb VP, Beinart RA, Kolísko M, Čepička I. Genomics of New Ciliate Lineages Provides Insight into the Evolution of Obligate Anaerobiosis. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2037-2050.e6. [PMID: 32330419 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.03.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Oxygen plays a crucial role in energetic metabolism of most eukaryotes. Yet adaptations to low-oxygen concentrations leading to anaerobiosis have independently arisen in many eukaryotic lineages, resulting in a broad spectrum of reduced and modified mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs). In this study, we present the discovery of two new class-level lineages of free-living marine anaerobic ciliates, Muranotrichea, cl. nov. and Parablepharismea, cl. nov., that, together with the class Armophorea, form a major clade of obligate anaerobes (APM ciliates) within the Spirotrichea, Armophorea, and Litostomatea (SAL) group. To deepen our understanding of the evolution of anaerobiosis in ciliates, we predicted the mitochondrial metabolism of cultured representatives from all three classes in the APM clade by using transcriptomic and metagenomic data and performed phylogenomic analyses to assess their evolutionary relationships. The predicted mitochondrial metabolism of representatives from the APM ciliates reveals functional adaptations of metabolic pathways that were present in their last common ancestor and likely led to the successful colonization and diversification of the group in various anoxic environments. Furthermore, we discuss the possible relationship of Parablepharismea to the uncultured deep-sea class Cariacotrichea on the basis of single-gene analyses. Like most anaerobic ciliates, all studied species of the APM clade host symbionts, which we propose to be a significant accelerating factor in the transitions to an obligately anaerobic lifestyle. Our results provide an insight into the evolutionary mechanisms of early transitions to anaerobiosis and shed light on fine-scale adaptations in MROs over a relatively short evolutionary time frame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johana Rotterová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 128 43, Czech Republic.
| | - Eric Salomaki
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Pánek
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 128 43, Czech Republic
| | - William Bourland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725-1515, USA
| | - David Žihala
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Ostrava 710 00, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Táborský
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Virginia P Edgcomb
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Roxanne A Beinart
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
| | - Martin Kolísko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ivan Čepička
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 128 43, Czech Republic
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13
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Epidemiology of Nucleus-Dwelling Holospora: Infection, Transmission, Adaptation, and Interaction with Paramecium. Results Probl Cell Differ 2020; 69:105-135. [PMID: 33263870 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-51849-3_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The chapter describes the exceptional symbiotic associations formed between the ciliate Paramecium and Holospora, highly infectious bacteria residing in the host nuclei. Holospora and Holospora-like bacteria (Alphaproteobacteria) are characterized by their ability for vertical and horizontal transmission in host populations, a complex biphasic life cycle, and pronounced preference for host species and colonized cell compartment. These bacteria are obligate intracellular parasites; thus, their metabolic repertoire is dramatically reduced. Nevertheless, they perform complex interactions with the host ciliate. We review ongoing efforts to unravel the molecular adaptations of these bacteria to their unusual lifestyle and the host's employment in the symbiosis. Furthermore, we summarize current knowledge on the genetic and genomic background of Paramecium-Holospora symbiosis and provide insights into the ecological and evolutionary consequences of this interaction. The diversity and occurrence of symbioses between ciliates and Holospora-like bacteria in nature is discussed in connection with transmission modes of symbionts, host specificity and compatibility of the partners. We aim to summarize 50 years of research devoted to these symbiotic systems and conclude trying to predict some perspectives for further studies.
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14
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Bright M, Espada-Hinojosa S, Volland JM, Drexel J, Kesting J, Kolar I, Morchner D, Nussbaumer A, Ott J, Scharhauser F, Schuster L, Zambalos HC, Nemeschkal HL. Thiotrophic bacterial symbiont induces polyphenism in giant ciliate host Zoothamnium niveum. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15081. [PMID: 31636334 PMCID: PMC6803713 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51511-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary theory predicts potential shifts between cooperative and uncooperative behaviour under fluctuating environmental conditions. This leads to unstable benefits to the partners and restricts the evolution of dependence. High dependence is usually found in those hosts in which vertically transmitted symbionts provide nutrients reliably. Here we study host dependence in the marine, giant colonial ciliate Zoothamnium niveum and its vertically transmitted, nutritional, thiotrophic symbiont from an unstable environment of degrading wood. Previously, we have shown that sulphidic conditions lead to high host fitness and oxic conditions to low fitness, but the fate of the symbiont has not been studied. We combine several experimental approaches to provide evidence for a sulphide-tolerant host with striking polyphenism involving two discrete morphs, a symbiotic and an aposymbiotic one. The two differ significantly in colony growth form and fitness. This polyphenism is triggered by chemical conditions and elicited by the symbiont’s presence on the dispersing swarmer. We provide evidence of a single aposymbiotic morph found in nature. We propose that despite a high fitness loss when aposymbiotic, the ciliate has retained a facultative life style and may use the option to live without its symbiont to overcome spatial and temporal shortage of sulphide in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Bright
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria.
| | | | - Jean-Marie Volland
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria
| | - Judith Drexel
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Kesting
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingrid Kolar
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria
| | - Denny Morchner
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrea Nussbaumer
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jörg Ott
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Scharhauser
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Schuster
- University of Vienna, Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, Vienna, Austria
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15
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Tsao HF, Scheikl U, Herbold C, Indra A, Walochnik J, Horn M. The cooling tower water microbiota: Seasonal dynamics and co-occurrence of bacterial and protist phylotypes. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 159:464-479. [PMID: 31128471 PMCID: PMC6554697 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.04.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Cooling towers for heating, ventilation and air conditioning are ubiquitous in the built environment. Often located on rooftops, their semi-open water basins provide a suitable environment for microbial growth. They are recognized as a potential source of bacterial pathogens and have been associated with disease outbreaks such as Legionnaires' disease. While measures to minimize public health risks are in place, the general microbial and protist community structure and dynamics in these systems remain largely elusive. In this study, we analysed the microbiome of the bulk water from the basins of three cooling towers by 16S and 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing over the course of one year. Bacterial diversity in all three towers was broadly comparable to other freshwater systems, yet less diverse than natural environments; the most abundant taxa are also frequently found in freshwater or drinking water. While each cooling tower had a pronounced site-specific microbial community, taxa shared among all locations mainly included groups generally associated with biofilm formation. We also detected several groups related to known opportunistic pathogens, such as Legionella, Mycobacterium, and Pseudomonas species, albeit at generally low abundance. Although cooling towers represent a rather stable environment, microbial community composition was highly dynamic and subject to seasonal change. Protists are important members of the cooling tower water microbiome and known reservoirs for bacterial pathogens. Co-occurrence analysis of bacteria and protist taxa successfully captured known interactions between amoeba-associated bacteria and their hosts, and predicted a large number of additional relationships involving ciliates and other protists. Together, this study provides an unbiased and comprehensive overview of microbial diversity of cooling tower water basins, establishing a framework for investigating and assessing public health risks associated with these man-made freshwater environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Fei Tsao
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ute Scheikl
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Craig Herbold
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Indra
- Department of Mycobacteriology and Clinical Molecular Biology, AGES, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Walochnik
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Horn
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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16
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Rossi A, Bellone A, Fokin SI, Boscaro V, Vannini C. Detecting Associations Between Ciliated Protists and Prokaryotes with Culture-Independent Single-Cell Microbiomics: a Proof-of-Concept Study. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2019; 78:232-242. [PMID: 30411190 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-018-1279-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Symbioses between prokaryotes and microbial eukaryotes, particularly ciliated protists, have been studied for a long time. Nevertheless, researchers have focused only on a few host genera and species, mainly due to difficulties in cultivating the hosts, and usually have considered a single symbiont at a time. Here, we present a pilot study using a single-cell microbiomic approach to circumvent these issues. Unicellular ciliate isolation followed by simultaneous amplification of eukaryotic and prokaryotic markers was used. Our preliminary test gave reliable and satisfactory results both on samples collected from different habitats (marine and freshwater) and on ciliates belonging to different taxonomic groups. Results suggest that, as already assessed for many macro-organisms like plants and metazoans, ciliated protists harbor distinct microbiomes. The applied approach detected new potential symbionts as well as new hosts for previously described ones, with relatively low time and cost effort and without culturing. When further developed, single-cell microbiomics for ciliates could be applied to a large number of studies aiming to unravel the evolutionary and ecological meaning of these symbiotic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Rossi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Sergei I Fokin
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St.-Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- St. Petersburg Branch of the S.I. Vavilov Institute of History of Science and Technology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vittorio Boscaro
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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17
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Luo X, Huang JA, Li L, Song W, Bourland WA. Phylogeny of the ciliate family Psilotrichidae (Protista, Ciliophora), a curious and poorly-known taxon, with notes on two algae-bearing psilotrichids from Guam, USA. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:125. [PMID: 31215407 PMCID: PMC6582579 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1450-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The classification of the family Psilotrichidae, a curious group of ciliated protists with unique morphological and ontogenetic features, is ambiguous and poorly understood particularly due to the lack of molecular data. Hence, the systematic relationship between this group and other taxa in the subclass Hypotrichia remains unresolved. In this paper the morphology and phylogenetics of species from two genera of Psilotrichida are studied to shed new light on the phylogeny and species diversity of this group of ciliates. Results The 18S rRNA gene sequences of species from two psilotrichid genera were obtained. In the phylogenetic trees, the available psilotrichid sequences are placed in a highly supported clade, justifying the establishment of the family Psilotrichidae. The morphology of two little-known species, packed with green algae, including a new species, Hemiholosticha kahli nov. spec., and Psilotrichides hawaiiensis Heber et al., 2018, is studied based on live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. Both species are easily recognized by their green coloration due to the intracellular algae, and a comprehensive discussion as to the possible roles of the intracellular algae is provided. Conclusions The 18S rRNA gene phylogeny supports the morphological argument that Hemiholosticha, Psilotrichides and Urospinula belong to the same family, Psilotrichidae. However, the single-gene analysis, not surprisingly, does not resolve the deeper relationships of Psilotrichidae within the subclass Hypotrichia. Two little-known psilotrichid genera with green algae were collected from the same puddle on the island of Guam, indicating a high species diversity and broader geographic distribution of this group of ciliates than previously supposed. Phylogenetic inferences from transcriptomic and/or genomic data will likely be necessary to better define the systematic position and evolution of the family Psilotrichidae. Further studies are also needed to clarify the role of the intracellular eyespot-bearing algae in these ciliates. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-019-1450-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Luo
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China.,Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA
| | - Jie A Huang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Lifang Li
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264209, China
| | - Weibo Song
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - William A Bourland
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, 83725, USA.
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18
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Vallesi A, Sjödin A, Petrelli D, Luporini P, Taddei AR, Thelaus J, Öhrman C, Nilsson E, Di Giuseppe G, Gutiérrez G, Villalobo E. A New Species of the γ-Proteobacterium Francisella, F. adeliensis Sp. Nov., Endocytobiont in an Antarctic Marine Ciliate and Potential Evolutionary Forerunner of Pathogenic Species. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2019; 77:587-596. [PMID: 30187088 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-018-1256-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The study of the draft genome of an Antarctic marine ciliate, Euplotes petzi, revealed foreign sequences of bacterial origin belonging to the γ-proteobacterium Francisella that includes pathogenic and environmental species. TEM and FISH analyses confirmed the presence of a Francisella endocytobiont in E. petzi. This endocytobiont was isolated and found to be a new species, named F. adeliensis sp. nov.. F. adeliensis grows well at wide ranges of temperature, salinity, and carbon dioxide concentrations implying that it may colonize new organisms living in deeply diversified habitats. The F. adeliensis genome includes the igl and pdp gene sets (pdpC and pdpE excepted) of the Francisella pathogenicity island needed for intracellular growth. Consistently with an F. adeliensis ancient symbiotic lifestyle, it also contains a single insertion-sequence element. Instead, it lacks genes for the biosynthesis of essential amino acids such as cysteine, lysine, methionine, and tyrosine. In a genome-based phylogenetic tree, F. adeliensis forms a new early branching clade, basal to the evolution of pathogenic species. The correlations of this clade with the other clades raise doubts about a genuine free-living nature of the environmental Francisella species isolated from natural and man-made environments, and suggest to look at F. adeliensis as a pioneer in the Francisella colonization of eukaryotic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Vallesi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- Department of Chemistry, Computational Life Science Cluster (CLiC), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dezemona Petrelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Luporini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Taddei
- Center of Large Equipment-section of Electron Microscopy, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, snc, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Johanna Thelaus
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Caroline Öhrman
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elin Nilsson
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Gabriel Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Sevilla, Av Reina Mercedes 6, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Eduardo Villalobo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, Av Reina Mercedes 6, 41012, Seville, Spain.
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19
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Levy B, Jami E. Exploring the Prokaryotic Community Associated With the Rumen Ciliate Protozoa Population. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2526. [PMID: 30420841 PMCID: PMC6217230 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ciliate protozoa are an integral part of the rumen microbiome and were found to exert a large effect on the rumen ecosystem itself as well as their host animal physiology. Part of these effects have been attributed to their ability to harbor a diverse ecto- and endo-symbiotic community of prokaryotic cells. Studies on the relationship between the protozoa population and their associated prokaryotic community in the rumen mainly focused on the methanogens, revealing that protozoa play a major role in enhancing methanogenesis potential. In contrast, little is known about the composition and function of the bacteria associated with rumen protozoa and the extent of this association. In this study, we characterize the prokaryotic communities associated with different protozoa populations and compare their structure to the free-living prokaryotic population residing in the cow rumen. We show that the overall protozoa associated prokaryotic community structure differs significantly compared to the free-living community in terms of richness and composition. The methanogens proportion was significantly higher in all protozoa populations compared to the free-living fraction, while the Lachnospiraceae was the most prevalent bacterial family in the protozoa associated bacterial communities. Several taxa not detected or detected in extremely low abundance in the free-living community were enriched in the protozoa associated bacterial community. These include members of the Endomicrobia class, previously identified as protozoa symbionts in the termite gut. Our results show that rumen protozoa harbor prokaryotic communities that are compositionally different from their surroundings, which may be the result of specific tropism between the prokaryotic community and protozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bar Levy
- Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel.,The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Elie Jami
- Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
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20
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Shu L, Zhang B, Queller DC, Strassmann JE. Burkholderia bacteria use chemotaxis to find social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum hosts. THE ISME JOURNAL 2018; 12:1977-1993. [PMID: 29795447 PMCID: PMC6052080 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0147-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A key question in cooperation is how to find the right partners and maintain cooperative relationships. This is especially challenging for horizontally transferred bacterial symbionts where relationships must be repeatedly established anew. In the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum farming symbiosis, two species of inedible Burkholderia bacteria (Burkholderia agricolaris and Burkholderia hayleyella) initiate stable associations with naive D. discoideum hosts and cause carriage of additional bacterial species. However, it is not clear how the association between D. discoideum and its carried Burkholderia is formed and maintained. Here, we look at precisely how Burkholderia finds its hosts. We found that both species of Burkholderia clones isolated from D. discoideum, but not other tested Burkholderia species, are attracted to D. discoideum supernatant, showing that the association is not simply the result of haphazard engulfment by the amoebas. The chemotactic responses are affected by both partners. We find evidence that B. hayleyella prefers D. discoideum clones that currently or previously carried Burkholderia, while B. agricolaris does not show this preference. However, we find no evidence of Burkholderia preference for their own host clone or for other hosts of their own species. We further investigate the chemical differences of D. discoideum supernatants that might explain the patterns shown above using a mass spectrometry based metabolomics approach. These results show that these bacterial symbionts are able to preferentially find and to some extent choose their unicellular partners. In addition, this study also suggests that bacteria can actively search for and target phagocytic cells, which may help us better understand how bacteria interact with immune systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Shu
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
| | - Bojie Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - David C Queller
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Joan E Strassmann
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
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21
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Tashyreva D, Prokopchuk G, Votýpka J, Yabuki A, Horák A, Lukeš J. Life Cycle, Ultrastructure, and Phylogeny of New Diplonemids and Their Endosymbiotic Bacteria. mBio 2018; 9:e02447-17. [PMID: 29511084 PMCID: PMC5845003 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02447-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Diplonemids represent a hyperdiverse and abundant yet poorly studied group of marine protists. Here we describe two new members of the genus Diplonema (Diplonemea, Euglenozoa), Diplonema japonicum sp. nov. and Diplonema aggregatum sp. nov., based on life cycle, morphology, and 18S rRNA gene sequences. Along with euglenozoan apomorphies, they contain several unique features. Their life cycle is complex, consisting of a trophic stage that is, following the depletion of nutrients, transformed into a sessile stage and subsequently into a swimming stage. The latter two stages are characterized by the presence of tubular extrusomes and the emergence of a paraflagellar rod, the supportive structure of the flagellum, which is prominently lacking in the trophic stage. These two stages also differ dramatically in motility and flagellar size. Both diplonemid species host endosymbiotic bacteria that are closely related to each other and constitute a novel branch within Holosporales, for which a new genus, "Candidatus Cytomitobacter" gen. nov., has been established. Remarkably, the number of endosymbionts in the cytoplasm varies significantly, as does their localization within the cell, where they seem to penetrate the mitochondrion, a rare occurrence.IMPORTANCE We describe the morphology, behavior, and life cycle of two new Diplonema species that established a relationship with two Holospora-like bacteria in the first report of an endosymbiosis in diplonemids. Both endosymbionts reside in the cytoplasm and the mitochondrion, which establishes an extremely rare case. Within their life cycle, the diplonemids undergo transformation from a trophic to a sessile and eventually a highly motile swimming stage. These stages differ in several features, such as the presence or absence of tubular extrusomes and a paraflagellar rod, along with the length of the flagella. These morphological and behavioral interstage differences possibly reflect distinct functions in dispersion and invasion of the host and/or prey and may provide novel insight into the virtually unknown function of diplonemids in the oceanic ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Tashyreva
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Galina Prokopchuk
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Jan Votýpka
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
- Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Akinori Yabuki
- Department of Marine Diversity, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokosuka, Japan
| | - Aleš Horák
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
| | - Julius Lukeš
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice (Budweis), Czech Republic
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22
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Volland JM, Schintlmeister A, Zambalos H, Reipert S, Mozetič P, Espada-Hinojosa S, Turk V, Wagner M, Bright M. NanoSIMS and tissue autoradiography reveal symbiont carbon fixation and organic carbon transfer to giant ciliate host. THE ISME JOURNAL 2018; 12:714-727. [PMID: 29426952 PMCID: PMC5854253 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0069-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The giant colonial ciliate Zoothamnium niveum harbors a monolayer of the gammaproteobacteria Cand. Thiobios zoothamnicoli on its outer surface. Cultivation experiments revealed maximal growth and survival under steady flow of high oxygen and low sulfide concentrations. We aimed at directly demonstrating the sulfur-oxidizing, chemoautotrophic nature of the symbionts and at investigating putative carbon transfer from the symbiont to the ciliate host. We performed pulse-chase incubations with 14C- and 13C-labeled bicarbonate under varying environmental conditions. A combination of tissue autoradiography and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry coupled with transmission electron microscopy was used to follow the fate of the radioactive and stable isotopes of carbon, respectively. We show that symbiont cells fix substantial amounts of inorganic carbon in the presence of sulfide, but also (to a lesser degree) in the absence of sulfide by utilizing internally stored sulfur. Isotope labeling patterns point to translocation of organic carbon to the host through both release of these compounds and digestion of symbiont cells. The latter mechanism is also supported by ultracytochemical detection of acid phosphatase in lysosomes and in food vacuoles of ciliate cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of freshly collected ciliates revealed that the vast majority of ingested microbial cells were ectosymbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Marie Volland
- Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Arno Schintlmeister
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Research Network "Chemistry meets Microbiology" and Large-Instrument Facility for Advanced Isotope Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Helena Zambalos
- Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Siegfried Reipert
- Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research (CIUS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patricija Mozetič
- National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station, Piran, Slovenia
| | | | - Valentina Turk
- National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station, Piran, Slovenia
| | - Michael Wagner
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Research Network "Chemistry meets Microbiology" and Large-Instrument Facility for Advanced Isotope Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika Bright
- Department of Limnology and Bio-Oceanography, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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23
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Grimonprez A, Molza A, Laurent MC, Mansot JL, Gros O. Thioautotrophic ectosymbiosis in Pseudovorticella sp., a peritrich ciliate species colonizing wood falls in marine mangrove. Eur J Protistol 2018; 62:43-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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24
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25
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Lobanov AV, Heaphy SM, Turanov AA, Gerashchenko MV, Pucciarelli S, Devaraj RR, Xie F, Petyuk VA, Smith RD, Klobutcher LA, Atkins JF, Miceli C, Hatfield DL, Baranov PV, Gladyshev VN. Position-dependent termination and widespread obligatory frameshifting in Euplotes translation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2017; 24:61-68. [PMID: 27870834 PMCID: PMC5295771 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.3330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The ribosome can change its reading frame during translation in a process known as programmed ribosomal frameshifting. These rare events are supported by complex mRNA signals. However, we found that the ciliates Euplotes crassus and Euplotes focardii exhibit widespread frameshifting at stop codons. 47 different codons preceding stop signals resulted in either +1 or +2 frameshifts, and +1 frameshifting at AAA was the most frequent. The frameshifts showed unusual plasticity and rapid evolution, and had little influence on translation rates. The proximity of a stop codon to the 3' mRNA end, rather than its occurrence or sequence context, appeared to designate termination. Thus, a 'stop codon' is not a sufficient signal for translation termination, and the default function of stop codons in Euplotes is frameshifting, whereas termination is specific to certain mRNA positions and probably requires additional factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei V. Lobanov
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusets, USA
| | - Stephen M. Heaphy
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Anton A. Turanov
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusets, USA
| | - Maxim V. Gerashchenko
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusets, USA
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Raghul R. Devaraj
- School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Fang Xie
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | | | - Richard D. Smith
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA
| | - Lawrence A. Klobutcher
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - John F. Atkins
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Dolph L. Hatfield
- Molecular Biology of Selenium Section, Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Pavel V. Baranov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Vadim N. Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusets, USA
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26
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Predators catalyze an increase in chloroviruses by foraging on the symbiotic hosts of zoochlorellae. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:13780-13784. [PMID: 27821770 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1613843113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus population growth depends on contacts between viruses and their hosts. It is often unclear how sufficient contacts are made between viruses and their specific hosts to generate spikes in viral abundance. Here, we show that copepods, acting as predators, can bring aquatic viruses and their algal hosts into contact. Specifically, predation of the protist Paramecium bursaria by copepods resulted in a >100-fold increase in the number of chloroviruses in 1 d. Copepod predation can be seen as an ecological "catalyst" by increasing contacts between chloroviruses and their hosts, zoochlorellae (endosymbiotic algae that live within paramecia), thereby facilitating viral population growth. When feeding, copepods passed P. bursaria through their digestive tract only partially digested, releasing endosymbiotic algae that still supported viral reproduction and resulting in a virus population spike. A simple predator-prey model parameterized for copepods consuming protists generates cycle periods for viruses consistent with those observed in natural ponds. Food webs are replete with similar symbiotic organisms, and we suspect the predator catalyst mechanism is capable of generating blooms for other endosymbiont-targeting viruses.
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27
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A Novel Colonial Ciliate Zoothamnium ignavum sp. nov. (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) and Its Ectosymbiont Candidatus Navis piranensis gen. nov., sp. nov. from Shallow-Water Wood Falls. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162834. [PMID: 27683199 PMCID: PMC5040259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbioses between ciliate hosts and prokaryote or unicellular eukaryote symbionts are widespread. Here, we report on a novel ciliate species within the genus Zoothamnium Bory de St. Vincent, 1824, isolated from shallow-water sunken wood in the North Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea), proposed as Zoothamnium ignavum sp. nov. We found this ciliate species to be associated with a novel genus of bacteria, here proposed as “Candidatus Navis piranensis” gen. nov., sp. nov. The descriptions of host and symbiont species are based on morphological and ultrastructural studies, the SSU rRNA sequences, and in situ hybridization with symbiont-specific probes. The host is characterized by alternate microzooids on alternate branches arising from a long, common stalk with an adhesive disc. Three different types of zooids are present: microzooids with a bulgy oral side, roundish to ellipsoid macrozooids, and terminal zooids ellipsoid when dividing or bulgy when undividing. The oral ciliature of the microzooids runs 1¼ turns in a clockwise direction around the peristomial disc when viewed from inside the cell and runs into the infundibulum, where it makes another ¾ turn. The ciliature consists of a paroral membrane (haplokinety), three adoral membranelles (polykineties), and one stomatogenic kinety (germinal kinety). One circular row of barren kinetosomes is present aborally (trochal band). Phylogenetic analyses placed Z. ignavum sp. nov. within the clade II of the polyphyletic family Zoothamniidae (Oligohymenophorea). The ectosymbiont was found to occur in two different morphotypes, as rods with pointed ends and coccoid rods. It forms a monophyletic group with two uncultured Gammaproteobacteria within an unclassified group of Gammaproteobacteria, and is only distantly related to the ectosymbiont of the closely related peritrich Z. niveum (Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1831) Ehrenberg, 1838.
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Mordret S, Romac S, Henry N, Colin S, Carmichael M, Berney C, Audic S, Richter DJ, Pochon X, de Vargas C, Decelle J. The symbiotic life of Symbiodinium in the open ocean within a new species of calcifying ciliate (Tiarina sp.). THE ISME JOURNAL 2016; 10:1424-36. [PMID: 26684730 PMCID: PMC5029185 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Symbiotic partnerships between heterotrophic hosts and intracellular microalgae are common in tropical and subtropical oligotrophic waters of benthic and pelagic marine habitats. The iconic example is the photosynthetic dinoflagellate genus Symbiodinium that establishes mutualistic symbioses with a wide diversity of benthic hosts, sustaining highly biodiverse reef ecosystems worldwide. Paradoxically, although various species of photosynthetic dinoflagellates are prevalent eukaryotic symbionts in pelagic waters, Symbiodinium has not yet been reported in symbiosis within oceanic plankton, despite its high propensity for the symbiotic lifestyle. Here we report a new pelagic photosymbiosis between a calcifying ciliate host and the microalga Symbiodinium in surface ocean waters. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy, together with an 18S rDNA-based phylogeny, showed that the host is a new ciliate species closely related to Tiarina fusus (Colepidae). Phylogenetic analyses of the endosymbionts based on the 28S rDNA gene revealed multiple novel closely related Symbiodinium clade A genotypes. A haplotype network using the high-resolution internal transcribed spacer-2 marker showed that these genotypes form eight divergent, biogeographically structured, subclade types that do not seem to associate with any benthic hosts. Ecological analyses using the Tara Oceans metabarcoding data set (V9 region of the 18S rDNA) and contextual oceanographic parameters showed a global distribution of the symbiotic partnership in nutrient-poor surface waters. The discovery of the symbiotic life of Symbiodinium in the open ocean provides new insights into the ecology and evolution of this pivotal microalga and raises new hypotheses about coastal pelagic connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solenn Mordret
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Sarah Romac
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Nicolas Henry
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Sébastien Colin
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Margaux Carmichael
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Cédric Berney
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Stéphane Audic
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Daniel J Richter
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Xavier Pochon
- Coastal and Freshwater Group, Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
- Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Colomban de Vargas
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | - Johan Decelle
- EPEP—Evolution des Protistes et des Ecosystèmes Pélagiques—team, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
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29
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Yang A, Narechania A, Kim E. Rickettsial endosymbiont in the "early-diverging" streptophyte green alga Mesostigma viride. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2016; 52:219-229. [PMID: 27037587 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A bacterial endosymbiont was unexpectedly found in the "axenic" culture strain of the streptophyte green alga Mesostigma viride (NIES-995). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the symbiont belongs to the order Rickettsiales, specifically to the recently designated clade "Candidatus Megaira," which is closely related to the well-known Rickettsia clade. Rickettsiales bacteria of the "Ca. Megaira" clade are found in a taxonomically diverse array of eukaryotic hosts, including chlorophycean green algae, several ciliate species, and invertebrates such as Hydra. Transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence in situ hybridi-zation, and SYBR Green I staining experiments revealed that the endosymbiont of M. viride NIES-995 is rod shaped, typically occurs in clusters, and is surrounded by a halo-like structure, presumably formed by secretory substances from the bacterium. Two additional M. viride strains (NIES-296 and NIES-475), but not SAG50-1, were found to house the rickettsial endosymbiont. Analyses of strain NIES-995 transcriptome data indicated the presence of at least 91 transcriptionally active genes of symbiont origins. These include genes for surface proteins (e.g., rOmpB) that are known to play key roles in bacterial attachment onto host eukaryotes in related Rickettsia species. The assembled M. viride transcriptome includes transcripts that code for a suite of predicted algal-derived proteins, such as Ku70, WASH, SCAR, and CDC42, which may be important in the formation of the algal-rickettsial association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Yang
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York, 10024, USA
| | - Apurva Narechania
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York, 10024, USA
| | - Eunsoo Kim
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York, 10024, USA
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York, 10024, USA
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30
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Senra MVX, Dias RJP, Castelli M, Silva-Neto ID, Verni F, Soares CAG, Petroni G. A House for Two--Double Bacterial Infection in Euplotes woodruffi Sq1 (Ciliophora, Euplotia) Sampled in Southeastern Brazil. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2016; 71:505-517. [PMID: 26381539 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-015-0668-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Several ciliated protists form symbiotic associations with a diversity of microorganisms, leading to drastic impact on their ecology and evolution. In this work, two Euplotes spp. sampled in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were identified based on morphological and molecular features as Euplotes woodruffi strain Sq1 and E. encysticus strain Sq2 and investigated for the presence of endosymbionts. While E. woodruffi Sq1 stably hosts two bacterial populations, namely Polynucleobacter necessarius (Betaproteobacteria) and a new member of the family "Candidatus Midichloriaceae" (Alphaproteobacteria, Rickettsiales), here described as "Candidatus Bandiella woodruffii," branching with a broad host range bacterial group found in association with cnidarians, sponges, euglenoids, and some arthropods; in E. encysticus Sq2 no symbiotic bacterium could be detected. The dispersion ability of this novel bacterium was tested by co-incubating E. woodruffi Sq1 with three different ciliate species. Among the tested strains "Ca. B. woodruffii" could only be detected in association with E. encysticus Sq2 with a prevalence of 20 % after 1 week and 40 % after 2 weeks, maintaining this level for up to 6 months. Nevertheless, this apparent in vitro association was abolished when E. woodruffi Sq1 donor was removed from the microcosm, suggesting that this bacterium has the capacity for at least a short-term survival outside its natural host and the aptitude to ephemerally interact with other organisms. Together, these findings strongly suggest the need for more detailed investigations to evaluate the host range for "Ca. B. woodruffii" and any possible pathogenic effect of this bacterium on other organisms including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus V X Senra
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373 - CCS A2-120, Rio de Janeiro, 21.944-970, Brazil
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, UFJF, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Roberto J P Dias
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, UFJF, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via A. Volta 4/6, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Inácio D Silva-Neto
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Franco Verni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via A. Volta 4/6, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Carlos A G Soares
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, UFRJ, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373 - CCS A2-120, Rio de Janeiro, 21.944-970, Brazil.
| | - Giulio Petroni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, via A. Volta 4/6, Pisa, 56126, Italy.
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31
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Hirakata Y, Oshiki M, Kuroda K, Hatamoto M, Kubota K, Yamaguchi T, Harada H, Araki N. Identification and Detection of Prokaryotic Symbionts in the Ciliate Metopus from Anaerobic Granular Sludge. Microbes Environ 2015; 30:335-8. [PMID: 26639580 PMCID: PMC4676557 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me15154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the prokaryotic community structure of the anaerobic ciliate, Metopus sp. using rRNA sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Metopus sp. was physically separated from anaerobic granular sludge in a domestic wastewater treatment plant and anoxically cultivated for 7 d. 16S rRNA gene sequences from the prokaryotes Methanoregula boonei and Clostridium aminobutyricum were abundantly detected in Metopus ciliates. The FISH analysis using the oligonucleotide probes Mg1200b and Cla568 demonstrated that these prokaryotes were localized within Metopus cells. These results identify M. boonei- and C. aminobutyricum-like prokaryotes as novel endosymbionts of Metopus ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuga Hirakata
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Nagaoka College
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32
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Cluster dynamics in Maristentor dinoferus, a gregarious benthic ciliate with zooxanthellae and a hypericin-like pigment, in relation to biofilm grazing by the fish Ctenochaetus striatus. Symbiosis 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-014-0295-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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33
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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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34
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Oikonomou A, Pachiadaki M, Stoeck T. Protistan grazing in a meromictic freshwater lake with anoxic bottom water. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2013; 87:691-703. [DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2013] [Revised: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Oikonomou
- Department of Ecology; University of Kaiserslautern; Kaiserslautern Germany
| | - Maria Pachiadaki
- Department of Ecology; University of Kaiserslautern; Kaiserslautern Germany
| | - Thorsten Stoeck
- Department of Ecology; University of Kaiserslautern; Kaiserslautern Germany
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35
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Gong J, Qing Y, Guo X, Warren A. "Candidatus Sonnebornia yantaiensis", a member of candidate division OD1, as intracellular bacteria of the ciliated protist Paramecium bursaria (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea). Syst Appl Microbiol 2013; 37:35-41. [PMID: 24231291 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2013.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2013] [Revised: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
An intracellular bacterium was discovered in an isolate of Paramecium bursaria from a freshwater pond in Yantai, China. The bacteria were abundant and exclusively found in the cytoplasm of the host which, along with the green alga Chlorella, formed a three-partner consortium that could survive in pure water for at least one week. Cloning, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene showed that the bacterium belonged to the uncultured candidate division OD1, which usually forms part of the rare biosphere. Transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with specific probes showed that the bacteria were usually located close to the perialgal membranes of endosymbiotic Chlorella cells, and occasionally irregularly distributed throughout the host cytoplasm. The name "Candidatus Sonnebornia yantaiensis" gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for the new bacterium. A strongly supported monophyletic subclade, OD1-p, which included the new species, was recognized and this study highlights that protists can be important hosts for rare bacterial taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Gong
- Microbial Ecology Group, Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China; College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
| | - Yao Qing
- Microbial Ecology Group, Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China; College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Xiaohong Guo
- Microbial Ecology Group, Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Bioresource Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
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Grossart HP, Riemann L, Tang KW. Molecular and functional ecology of aquatic microbial symbionts. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:59. [PMID: 23509443 PMCID: PMC3597942 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Grossart
- Department of Experimental Limnology, IGB-Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Germany ; Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University Potsdam, Germany
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