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Marine Life Science & Technology May 2023Ciliates in the class Prostomatea play an important role in the global microbial loop due to their significant abundances and broad feeding strategies at the foundation...
Morphological and molecular examination of the ciliate family Lagynusidae (Protista, Ciliophora, Prostomatea) with descriptions of two new genera and two new species from China.
Ciliates in the class Prostomatea play an important role in the global microbial loop due to their significant abundances and broad feeding strategies at the foundation of food webs. Despite their importance in ecosystems, the taxonomy and systematics of this group of ciliates has long been poorly understood, with this being especially true for members of the family Lagynusidae. Here we examine four lagynusids collected from sandy beaches in China, using silver-staining and 18S rRNA gene sequencing techniques. These investigations revealed two new genera and two new species and provided details for two little known forms: gen. nov., sp. nov., (as reported by Penard. Études sur les infusoires d'eau douce. Georg and Cie, Genève, 1922) gen. nov., comb. nov., sp. nov., and (Engelmann in Z Wiss Zool 11:347-393, 1862) Quennerstedt (Acta Univ Lund 4:1-48, 1867). gen. nov. can be morphologically distinguished by having more than three dikinetidal perioral kineties. gen. nov. differs from the closely related genus in the absence of a conspicuous neck-like region. The ciliature of is revealed here for the first time, which demonstrates the classification of this species within Lagynusidae. Furthermore, (Jiang et al., 2021) comb. nov. is established according to the new finding. The results of our phylogenetic analyses based on the 18S rRNA gene support the establishment of two new genera and indicate that Lagynusidae is monophyletic, which further strengthens its valid taxonomic status.
PubMed: 37275546
DOI: 10.1007/s42995-023-00174-1 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Strombidiids are common free-living ciliates that have colonized coastal and open oceanic waters across the world. In recent years, numerous new taxa and gene sequences...
Strombidiids are common free-living ciliates that have colonized coastal and open oceanic waters across the world. In recent years, numerous new taxa and gene sequences of strombidiids have been reported, revealing a large diversity of both their morphologic and genetic features. Here, we compare the taxonomic characters of all genera in the family Strombidiidae, provide a key to their identification, and investigate their molecular phylogeny. In addition, we analyze their regional distribution based on faunal data accumulated in China and attempt to infer their global distribution based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data. The current work revises the systematics of strombidiids based on morphologic, phylogenetic, and biogeographic evidence and provides a genus-level review of marine strombidiids.
PubMed: 34603227
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.700940 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2020Hypotrichs are the most complex and highly differentiated ciliate lineages and have great potential for evolutionary novelties. Problems in hypotrich systematics are...
Taxonomy, Ontogenesis and Evolutionary Relationships of the Algae-Bearing Ciliate () comb. nov., With Establishment of a New Genus and New Family (Protista, Ciliophora, Hypotrichia).
Hypotrichs are the most complex and highly differentiated ciliate lineages and have great potential for evolutionary novelties. Problems in hypotrich systematics are mainly due to discordance between the morphological and genetic data (mainly small subunit rRNA gene). Species with morphologies that are characteristic of two or more higher rank taxa are probably a major contributing factor to these conflicts. The present study describes a Chinese population of a poorly known organism with numerous endosymbiotic zoochlorellae, the morphology of which corresponds well with the type population of (Kahl, 1932) Li et al., 2017. Newly obtained information shows this species has a zigzag midventral cirral pattern that is diagnostic of urostylids, whereas the dorsal ciliature shares features (presence of dorsomarginal kinety and dorsal kinety 3 fragmentation) that are typical of oxytrichids. Molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal a close relationship with oxytrichids. An integrative approach combining morphological, morphogenetic, phylogenetic and ecological analyses indicates that represents a new genus and new family which might be an intermediate form between uorstylids and dorsomarginalians. Thus, Bourlandellidae fam. nov. and gen. nov. are here established. Lastly, we speculate that phenotypic convergence and mixtrophy might confer on the new combination, (Kahl, 1932) comb. nov., the ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions.
PubMed: 33584556
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.560915 -
Marine Life Science & Technology Feb 2021As an important component of microzooplankton, ciliates play a key role in matter cycling and energy flow in marine planktonic ecosystems. Studies of planktonic ciliate... (Review)
Review
As an important component of microzooplankton, ciliates play a key role in matter cycling and energy flow in marine planktonic ecosystems. Studies of planktonic ciliate have been extensive in the South China Sea (SCS) over the last 20 years. Here, we summarize the recent progress on the diversity and distribution of this group in the SCS. This includes that in: (1) the waters covering the intertidal zone of the northern SCS, most studies have focused on taxonomy, with 71 species collected, identified, and described (with ~ 40% new species); (2) neritic waters distribution patterns have been examined at a regional scale, with ciliates displaying significant spatial variations and seasonal dynamics; (3) in oceanic waters, there has been a focus on ciliate distribution in north, centre, and south regions, where mesoscale physical processes play roles in controlling distributions, and noticeable vertical variations occur. More generally, some studies examine the influences of environment variables on ciliates, and indicate that chlorophyll concentration is commonly positively correlated with ciliates abundance. In addition, some significant findings are summarized, the limitations of past studies are considered, and recommendations are made for future work on planktonic ciliates in SCS.
PubMed: 37073391
DOI: 10.1007/s42995-020-00070-y -
Scientific Reports Jul 2019Assembling composite DNA modules from custom DNA parts has become routine due to recent technological breakthroughs such as Golden Gate modular cloning. Using Golden...
Assembling composite DNA modules from custom DNA parts has become routine due to recent technological breakthroughs such as Golden Gate modular cloning. Using Golden Gate, one can efficiently assemble custom transcription units and piece units together to generate higher-order assemblies. Although Golden Gate cloning systems have been developed to assemble DNA plasmids required for experimental work in model species, they are not typically applicable to organisms from other kingdoms. Consequently, a typical molecular biology laboratory working across kingdoms must use multiple cloning strategies to assemble DNA constructs for experimental assays. To simplify the DNA assembly process, we developed a multi-kingdom (MK) Golden Gate assembly platform for experimental work in species from the kingdoms Fungi, Eubacteria, Protista, Plantae, and Animalia. Plasmid backbone and part overhangs are consistent across the platform, saving both time and resources in the laboratory. We demonstrate the functionality of the system by performing a variety of experiments across kingdoms including genome editing, fluorescence microscopy, and protein interaction assays. The versatile MK system therefore streamlines the assembly of modular DNA constructs for biological assays across a range of model organisms.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Cloning, Molecular; Female; Gene Editing; Humans; Oocytes; Organisms, Genetically Modified; Plants; Plasmids; Proteins; Recombinant Proteins; Transcription, Genetic; Transgenes; Trypanosoma; Xenopus laevis; Yeasts
PubMed: 31300661
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46171-2 -
DNA and Cell Biology Jun 2009Apicomplexa is a phylum within the kingdom Protista that contains some of the most significant threats to public health. One of the members of this phylum, Toxoplasma... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Apicomplexa is a phylum within the kingdom Protista that contains some of the most significant threats to public health. One of the members of this phylum, Toxoplasma gondii, is amenable to molecular genetic analyses allowing for the identification of factors critical for colonization and disease. A pathway found to be important for T. gondii pathogenesis is the Ran network of nuclear trafficking. Bioinformatics analysis of apicomplexan genomes shows that while Ran is well conserved, the key regulators of Ran--Regulator of Chromosome Condensation 1 and Ran GTPase activating protein--are either highly divergent or absent. Likewise, several import and export receptor molecules that are crucial for nuclear transport are either not present or have experienced genetic drift such that they are no longer recognizable by bioinformatics tools. In this minireview we describe the basics of nuclear trafficking and compare components within apicomplexans to defined systems in humans and yeast. A detailed analysis of the nuclear trafficking network in these eukaryotes is required to understand how this potentially unique cellular biological pathway contributes to host-parasite interactions.
Topics: Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; Animals; Apicomplexa; Cell Cycle Proteins; Cell Nucleus; Cryptosporidium parvum; GTPase-Activating Proteins; Guanosine Triphosphate; Humans; Karyopherins; Models, Biological; Nuclear Proteins; Plasmodium falciparum; Protozoan Proteins; Species Specificity; Toxoplasma; beta Karyopherins; ran GTP-Binding Protein
PubMed: 19348590
DOI: 10.1089/dna.2009.0853 -
Marine Life Science & Technology Nov 2022The subclass Peritrichia, containing two orders Sessilida and Mobilida, is a major group of ciliates with worldwide distribution and high species diversity. Several...
The subclass Peritrichia, containing two orders Sessilida and Mobilida, is a major group of ciliates with worldwide distribution and high species diversity. Several studies have investigated the phylogeny of peritrichs; however, the evolutionary relationships and classification of some families and genera within the Sessilida remain unclear. In the present study, we isolated and identified 22 peritrich populations representing four families and six genera and obtained 64 rDNA sequences to perform phylogenetic analyses and assess their systematic relationships. Ancestral character reconstruction was also carried out to infer evolutionary routes within the Sessilida. The results indicate: (1) family Vaginicolidae is monophyletic and acquisition of the typical peritrich lorica represents a single evolutionary divergence; (2) core epistylidids evolved from a -like ancestor and experienced spasmoneme loss during evolution; (3) clusters with species in the basal clade and shows stable morphological differences with other epistylidids, supporting its assignment to a separate family; (4) the structure of the peristomial lip may be a genus-level character rather than a diagnostic character for discriminating Epistylididae and Operculariidae, thus a redefinition of Operculariidae should be carried out when more species have been investigated; (5) some characters, such as lifestyle (solitary or colonial), spasmoneme and living habit (sessile or free-swimming), evolved repeatedly among sessilids indicating that species with non-contractile stalks or that are free-swimming have multiple evolutionary routes and might derive from any sessilid lineage without a lorica. The close phylogenetic relationships of some morphologically distinct sessilids imply that the diagnoses of some genera and families should be improved.
PubMed: 37078081
DOI: 10.1007/s42995-022-00155-w -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021During an investigation on freshwater peritrichs, a new colonial sessilid ciliate, n. sp., was isolated from aquatic plants in an artificial freshwater pond in Qingdao,...
Integrative Studies on a New Ciliate n. sp. (Protista, Ciliophora, Peritrichia) Based on the Morphological and Molecular Data, With Notes on the Phylogeny and Systematics of the Family Epistylididae.
During an investigation on freshwater peritrichs, a new colonial sessilid ciliate, n. sp., was isolated from aquatic plants in an artificial freshwater pond in Qingdao, China. Specimen observations of this species were performed both and using silver staining. n. sp. is characterized by the appearance of the mature colony, which is up to 2 cm high and contains more than 1,000 zooids, the asymmetric horn-shaped zooids, strongly everted and multi-layered peristomial lip, the slightly convex peristomial disc, and the well-developed haplokinety and polykinety, which make more than four circuits of the peristome before descending into the infundibulum. The small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA), 5.8s rDNA and its flank internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8s rDNA-ITS2), and large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA) are sequenced and used for phylogenetic analyses which reveal that the family Epistylididae Kahl, 1933 is non-monophyletic whereas the genus is monophyletic and nests within the basal clade of the sessilids. The integrative results support the assertion that the genus represents a separate lineage from other epistylidids, suggesting a further revision of the family Epistylididae is needed. We revise including the transfer into this genus of a taxon formerly assigned to , which we raise to species rank, i.e., (Nenninger, 1948) n. grad. & n. comb. (original combination f. Nenninger, 1948). In addition, we provide a key to the identification of the species of .
PubMed: 34394066
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.718757 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2022Systemic arterial hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular risks, corresponding to 45% of deaths involving CVDs. The use of natural products, such as... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Systemic arterial hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular risks, corresponding to 45% of deaths involving CVDs. The use of natural products, such as medicinal plants, belongs to a millennial part of human therapeutics history and has been employed as an alternative anti-hypertensive treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The present review aims to prospect some natural products already experimentally assayed against arterial hypertension through scientific virtual libraries and patent documents over the past 20 years. . This is a systematic review of the adoption of the PRISMA protocol and a survey of the scientific literature that synthesizes the results from published articles between 2001 and 2020 concerning the use of medicinal plants in the management of hypertension, including which parts of the plant or organism are used, as well as the mechanisms of action underlying the anti-hypertensive effect. Furthermore, a technological prospection was also carried out in patent offices from different countries in order to check technologies based on natural products claimed for the treatment or prevention of hypertension. . Scientific articles where a natural product had been experimentally assayed for anti-hypertensive activity (part of plants, plant extracts, and products derived from other organisms) were included. . The selected abstracts of the articles and patent documents were submitted to a rigorous reading process. Those articles and patents that were not related to anti-hypertensive effects and claimed potential applications were excluded from the search.
RESULTS
Eighty specimens of biological species that showed anti-hypertensive activity were recovered, with 01 representative from the kingdom Fungi and 02 from the kingdom Protista, with emphasis on the families Asteraceae and Lamiaceae, with 6 representatives each. Leaves and aerial parts were the most used parts of the plants for the extraction of anti-hypertensive products, with maceration being the most used extraction method. Regarding phytochemical analyses, the most described classes of biomolecules in the reviewed works were alkaloids, terpenes, coumarins, flavonoids, and peptides, with the reduction of oxidative stress and the release of NO among the mechanisms of action most involved in this process. Regarding the number of patent filings, China was the country that stood out as the main one, with 813 registrations.
CONCLUSION
The anti-hypertensive activity of natural products is still little explored in Western countries. Besides, China and India have shown more results in this area than other countries, confirming the strong influence of traditional medicine in these countries.
PubMed: 35769156
DOI: 10.1155/2022/8499625 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021Members of the genus are apex predators in microbial food webs. They are often encountered in freshwater biotopes and have been used in research on water quality...
Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Dileptid Ciliate Genus (Protista: Ciliophora), With a Brief Review and Redescriptions of Two Species Isolated From a Wetland in Northern China.
Members of the genus are apex predators in microbial food webs. They are often encountered in freshwater biotopes and have been used in research on water quality monitoring and ecology. Nevertheless, our understanding of the biodiversity of , especially its ecological and genetic diversities, is very poor which hinders our ability to understand the ecosystem services it provides. The present study gives a detailed account of two Chinese populations of and including their living morphology, infraciliature, and molecular phylogenies based on 18S, 5.8S, and ITS ribosomal DNA sequences. The phylogenetic relationships between these two species and other rhynchostomatians are investigated. We also explore the potential contribution of differentiation of the proboscis (e.g., extrusomes, dorsal brush, and differentiated kineties) to niche partitioning and speciation in . The global distribution of is summarized based on published data. Finally, a key to the identification of the valid species of is provided.
PubMed: 34621248
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.709566