New Contributions to the Diversity of Hypotrichous Ciliates: Description of a New Genus and Two New Species (Protozoa, Ciliophora)

Ciliated protists (ciliates) are extremely diverse and play important ecological roles in almost all kinds of habitats. In this study, two new hypotrichs, Wilbertophrya sinica n. g. and n. sp. and Bakuella xianensis n. sp., from China are investigated. Wilbertophrya n. g. can be separated from related genera mainly by the combination of lacking a buccal cirrus, pretransverse cirri, and caudal cirri, while possessing frontoterminal cirri. Analyses based on morphological and molecular data confirm the validity of the species, W. sinica n. sp., which is characterized as follows: body 50–115 μm × 15–35 μm in vivo; midventral complex comprises four or five cirral pairs only and terminates above mid-body; three frontal, two frontoterminal cirri, and two to four transverse cirri; about 15 macronuclear nodules; colorless cortical granules sparsely distributed. Another new species, B. xianensis n. sp., was isolated from a freshwater wetland and is defined as follows: body 115–150 μm × 40–65 μm in vivo; about 70 macronuclear nodules; dark-brownish cortical granules in groups; midventral complex comprises 8–12 cirral pairs forming a row that terminates posteriorly in mid-body region and two or three short midventral rows that are continuous with the row of midventral pairs; three frontal, four to six frontoterminal, and three to five fine transverse cirri; three bipolar dorsal kineties. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequence data suggest that the new genus Wilbertophrya n. g. belongs to an isolated clade, which might represent an undescribed taxon at the family level, whereas B. xianensis n. sp. groups with several congeners and members of other related genera are within the core urostylids.

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Morphology and Morphogenesis of A New Soil Ciliate, Holostichides Songi Nov. Spec. with Notes on the Phylogeny of Holostichides (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia)

10.21203/rs.3.rs-33941/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jingyi Wang ◽

Jingbao Li ◽

Yurui Wang ◽

Chen Shao

Keyword(s):

De Novo ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Posterior Part ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Cortical Granules ◽

Close Relationship ◽

Soil Ciliate

Abstract Background: Hypotrichia are a group with the most complex morphology and morphogenesis within the ciliated protists. The classification of the genus Holostichides is poorly understood particularly due to the lack of molecular data. Hence, the systematic relationship between this genus and other taxa in the subclass Hypotrichia remains unresolved. In this paper, the morphology and morphogenesis of Holostichides songi nov. spec. were studied, in addition, genomic DNA was extracted in order to sequence the small subunit rDNA. The main aims of this study were to document morphogenesis in H. songi nov. spec. and investigate the systematics of Holostichides based on morphology, morphogenetic, and molecular data.Results: A new bakuellid ciliate, Holostichides songi nov. spec. isolated from China, is investigated in terms of its morphology, ontogenesis, and molecular phylogenesis. It is characterized by size in vivo 150–180 µm × 45–60 µm; 27–46 macronuclear nodules; cortical granules dark, spherical, about 0.5 µm across, clustered in groups and then arranged longitudinally; three frontal cirri with one to four smaller cirri below the middle one, one buccal cirrus, 9–15 frontoterminal cirri, and midventral complex composed of five to eight cirral pairs and two long midventral rows. The main events during binary fission are as follows: (1) in the proter, the undulating membrane anlage is formed from both the dedifferentiation of old undulating membranes and the basal bodies developing de novo, and the posterior part of the parental adoral zone of membranelles is renewed by new structure formed from the oral primordium; (2) in the opisthe, the oral primordium is formed intrakinetally; (3) Besides the second frontal cirrus and buccal cirrus, the frontoventral-transverse cirral anlage II produces the extra one to four cirri. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequence data suggest a close relationship between Holostichides songi nov. spec. and its congeners, indicating that the genus Holostichides is monophyletic.Conclusions: The new bakuellid ciliate, Holostichides songi nov. spec. was studied using standard methods. In addition, the monophyly of the genus Holostichides is well supported in the phylogenetic tree.

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Phasmarhabditis kenyaensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from the slug, Polytoxon robustum, in Kenya

Nematology ◽

10.1163/15685411-bja10040 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Annika Pieterse ◽

Ben Rowson ◽

Louwrens Tiedt ◽

Antoinette P. Malan ◽

Solveig Haukeland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Ribosomal Subunit ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Infective Juvenile ◽

Bootstrap Support ◽

Body Region ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Small Subunit Rrna

Summary A new species of Phasmarhabditis was isolated from the slug, Polytoxon robustum, from Nairobi, Kenya. The nematode was identified using morphological, morphometric, molecular and phylogenetic analyses. Phasmarhabditis kenyaensis n. sp. is characterised by an infective juvenile with the longest body length in the genus, measuring 1232 (1107-1336) μm, by the presence of males with a bursa bearing nine bilateral pairs of genital bursal papillae and one pair of papilliform phasmids flanking the tail, cephalate paired spicules, with an arc length of 71 (57-81) μm, as well as by females with a vulva located at the mid-body region and a conoid tail shape, with two phasmids located at ca 40% of the tail length. The molecular phylogeny of the new species, as inferred from its SSU (small subunit) rRNA gene, places P. kenyaensis n. sp. genetically close to undescribed phasmarhabditids from South Africa, suggesting an African grouping, while the D2-D3 (large ribosomal subunit) and ITS region analyses relate P. kenyaensis n. sp. to P. meridionalis, with weak bootstrap support. This is the third new Phasmarhabditis species described from the African continent, the new species bringing the total known complement of the genus to 14 species. A morphometric compendium to all species cultured in vivo is supplied.

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Morphology and phylogenies of two hypotrichous brackish-water ciliates from China, Neourostylopsis orientalis n. sp. and Protogastrostyla sterkii (Wallengren, 1900) n. comb., with establishment of a new genus Neourostylopsis n. gen. (Protista, Ciliophora, Hypotrichia)

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY ◽

10.1099/ijs.0.049403-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 63 (Pt_3) ◽

pp. 1197-1209 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Xiangrui Chen ◽

Chen Shao ◽

Xihan Liu ◽

Jie Huang ◽

Khaled A. S. Al-Rasheid

Keyword(s):

New Genus ◽

Southern China ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Ssu Rrna ◽

Cortical Granules ◽

Ssu Rrna Gene ◽

Shape Ratio

This paper investigates the morphology, infraciliature and small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences of two hypotrichous ciliates, Neourostylopsis orientalis n. sp., and Protogastrostyla sterkii (Wallengren, 1900) n. comb. (basionym Gastrostyla sterkii), collected from coastal waters in southern China. Neourostylopsis orientalis n. sp. is diagnosed mainly by the arrangement of brownish cortical granules, the numbers of adoral membranelles and frontal and transverse cirri and the characteristics of its midventral cirral pairs. The SSU rRNA gene phylogeny strongly supports the establishment of the new genus Neourostylopsis n. gen., which is characterized mainly by the following features: frontal and transverse cirri clearly differentiated, buccal cirri present, two frontoterminal cirri, midventral complex composed of midventral pairs only and not exceeding the halfway point of the cell, more than one row of marginal cirri on each side which derive from individual anlagen within each parental row, caudal cirri lacking. Thus, two new combinations are required: Neourostylopsis songi (Lei et al., 2005) n. comb., and Neourostylopsis flavicana (Wang et al., 2011) n. comb. Additionally, improved diagnoses for both Metaurostylopsis and Apourostylopsis are supplied in this study. Protogastrostyla sterkii (Wallengren, 1900) n. comb. differs from the similar congener Protogastrostyla pulchra mainly in body shape, ratio of buccal field to body length in vivo and molecular data. Based on the present studies, we conclude that the estuarine population of P. pulchra collected by J. Gong and others [Gong et al., J Eukaryot Microbiol (2007) 54, 468–478] is a population of P. sterkii.

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Morphological and phylogenetic studies on three members of the genus Pseudochilodonopsis (Ciliophora, Cyrtophoria) isolated from brackish waters in China, including a novel species, Pseudochilodonopsis quadrivacuolata sp. nov.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY ◽

10.1099/ijsem.0.000580 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 65 (Pt_12) ◽

pp. 4323-4334 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Zhishuai Qu ◽

Hongbo Pan ◽

Khaled A. S. Al-Rasheid ◽

Xiaozhong Hu ◽

Shan Gao

Keyword(s):

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Dorsal Side ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Ssu Rrna ◽

Ssu Rrna Gene ◽

Ssu Rrna Gene Sequence

Three cyrtophorian ciliates isolated from brackish biotopes in China, Pseudochilodonopsis quadrivacuolata sp. nov., Pseudochilodonopsis fluviatilis Foissner, 1988 and Pseudochilodonopsis mutabilis Foissner, 1981, were investigated using living observation and protargol-staining methods. P. quadrivacuolata sp. nov. can be characterized as follows: cell size 50–70 × 30–40 μm in vivo; body oval with posterior end rounded; four tetragonally positioned contractile vacuoles; 12–15 nematodesmal rods; five right and six left somatic kineties; terminal fragment positioned apically on dorsal side, consisting of 11–14 basal bodies; four or five fragments in preoral kinety. P. fluviatilis and P. mutabilis were generally consistent with previous descriptions. In addition, a brief revision and a key to Pseudochilodonopsis are presented. The small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene was also sequenced to support the identification of these species. Phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data indicate that the genera Pseudochilodonopsis and Chilodonella are closely related and both are well outlined; that is, all known congeners for which SSU rRNA gene sequence data are available group together, forming the core part of the family Chilodonellidae.

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Reconsideration of the ‘well-known’ hypotrichous ciliate Pleurotricha curdsi (Shi et al., 2002) Gupta et al., 2003 (Ciliophora, Sporadotrichida), with notes on its morphology, morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY ◽

10.1099/ijs.0.000377 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 65 (Pt_9) ◽

pp. 3216-3225 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Xiaoteng Lu ◽

Chen Shao ◽

Yuhe Yu ◽

Alan Warren ◽

Jie Huang

Keyword(s):

Sequence Data ◽

Southern China ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Large Body ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Variable Number ◽

Ssu Rdna ◽

Intermediate Form ◽

Rdna Sequence Data

The oxytrichid species Pleurotricha curdsi (Shi et al., 2002) Gupta et al., 2003, isolated from a tributary of the Yangtze River in the Mudong district of Chongqing, southern China, was reinvestigated with emphasis on its morphology, morphogenesis and small-subunit (SSU) rDNA-based phylogeny. Compared with three previously described populations, the Mudong population of P. curdsi is characterized by its large body size, 170–295 × 65–110 μm in vivo, and by having a variable number of right marginal rows, either two or three. Likewise, the number of right marginal rows anlagen (RMA) is also variable, i.e. usually two, but sometimes several small extra anlagen that give rise to the formation of the third row, are present to the left of the RMAs. We posit that the Mudong population is an intermediate form between the three previously described populations. Phylogenetic analyses based on the SSU rDNA sequence data show that all populations of P. curdsi cluster with the type species of the genus, Pleurotricha lanceolata, in a clade nested within the Oxytrichidae.

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Mimaporia, a new genus of Epicopeiidae (Lepidoptera), with description of a new species from Vietnam

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4254.5.3 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4254 (5) ◽

pp. 537 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

CHIA-HSUAN WEI ◽

SHEN-HORN YEN

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

New Genus ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Taxonomic Status ◽

Sister Group ◽

Morphological Evidence ◽

New Taxon ◽

The Family ◽

A New Species

The Epicopeiidae is a small geometroid family distributed in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions. It exhibits high morphological diversity in body size and wing shape, while their wing patterns involve in various complex mimicry rings. In the present study, we attempted to describe a new genus, and a new species from Vietnam, with comments on two assumed congeneric novel species from China and India. To address its phylogenetic affinity, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the family by using sequence data of COI, EF-1α, and 28S gene regions obtained from seven genera of Epicopeiidae with Pseudobiston pinratanai as the outgroup. We also compared the morphology of the new taxon to other epicopeiid genera to affirm its taxonomic status. The results suggest that the undescribed taxon deserve a new genus, namely Mimaporia gen. n. The species from Vietnam, Mimaporia hmong sp. n., is described as new to science. Under different tree building strategies, the new genus is the sister group of either Chatamla Moore, 1881 or Parabraxas Leech, 1897. The morphological evidence, which was not included in phylogenetic analyses, however, suggests its potential affinity with Burmeia Minet, 2003. This study also provides the first, although preliminary, molecular phylogeny of the family on which the revised systematics and interpretation of character evolution can be based.

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Redescription, Morphogenesis, and Molecular Phylogeny of Pseudosincirra longicirrata nov. comb., With Establishment of a New Genus Pseudosincirra nov. gen. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia)

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2021.777540 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Qi Gao ◽

Chen Shao ◽

Qiuyue Tang ◽

Jingbao Li

Keyword(s):

Molecular Phylogeny ◽

New Genus ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Southern China ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Ssu Rdna ◽

Original Population ◽

The Family ◽

Rdna Sequence Data

The morphology and morphogenesis of Pseudosincirra longicirrata nov. gen. and nov. comb., isolated from southern China, were investigated with living observation and protargol staining. Our population is similar to the original population in living characteristics and ciliary patterns. The main determinable morphogenetic features of P. longicirrata nov. comb. are the presence of five frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen (FVT-anlagen) and a dorsomarginal kinety anlage. According to the origin of FVT-anlagen IV and V in proter, it can be determined that P. longicirrata nov. comb. possesses two frontoventral rows and one right marginal row. Hence, a new genus, Pseudosincirra nov. gen., is proposed, and the diagnosis of P. longicirrata nov. comb. is improved. The new genus is diagnosed as follows: adoral zone of membranelles and undulating membranes is in a Gonostomum pattern; there are three enlarged frontal cirri, one buccal cirrus, and one parabuccal cirrus; postperistomial cirrus and transverse cirri are lacking; there are two more or less long frontoventral rows and one right and two or more left marginal rows; cirri within all rows very widely spaced; dorsal kinety pattern is of Urosomoida type, that is, three dorsal kineties and one dorsomarginal kinety; and caudal cirri are present. Phylogenetic analyses based on the small subunit ribosomal (SSU rDNA) sequence data indicate that P. longicirrata nov. comb. clusters with Deviata and Perisincirra. It is considered that Pseudosincirra nov. gen. and Perisincirra paucicirrata should be assigned to the family Deviatidae; fine cirri, and cirri within all rows being relatively widely spaced, should be considered as plesiomorphies of Deviatidae; and Deviatidae is closely related to Dorsomarginalia or Strongylidium–Hemiamphisiella–Pseudouroleptus.

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Introducing Chaetothyriothecium, a new genus of Microthyriales

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.161.2.7 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 161 (2) ◽

pp. 157 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Sinang Hongsanan ◽

Putarak Chomnunti ◽

Pedro W. Crous ◽

Ekachai Chukeatirote ◽

Kevin D. Hyde

Keyword(s):

New Genus ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Plant Host ◽

Dna Sequence Data ◽

Limited Sampling ◽

Black Spots ◽

Gene Data ◽

Central Thailand

The order Microthyriales comprises foliar biotrophs, epiphytes, pathogens or saprobes that occur on plant leaves and stems. The order is relatively poorly known due to limited sampling and few in-depth studies. There is also a lack of phylogenetic data for these fungi, which form small black spots on plant host surfaces, but rarely cause any damage to the host. A "Microthyriaceae"-like fungus collected in central Thailand is described as a new genus, Chaetothyriothecium (type species Chaetothyriothecium elegans sp. nov.). Phylogenetic analyses of LSU gene data showed this species to cluster with other members of Microthyriales, where it is related to Microthyrium microscopicum the type of the order. The description of the new species is supplemented by DNA sequence data, which resolves its placement in the order. Little molecular data is available for this order, stressing the need for further collections and molecular data.

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Morphology, genetic characterization and molecular phylogeny of pinworm Skrjabinema longicaudatum n. sp. (Oxyurida: Oxyuridae) from the endangered Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel) (Artiodactyla: Bovidae)

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-020-04430-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yi-Fan Cao ◽

Hui-Xia Chen ◽

Yang Li ◽

Dang-Wei Zhou ◽

Shi-Long Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Ribosomal Dna ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Large Subunit ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Sister Relationship ◽

Tibetan Antelope ◽

A New Species

Abstract Background The Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel) (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) is an endangered species of mammal endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Parasites and parasitic diseases are considered to be important threats in the conservation of the Tibetan antelope. However, our present knowledge of the composition of the parasites of the Tibetan antelope remains limited. Methods Large numbers of nematode parasites were collected from a dead Tibetan antelope. The morphology of these nematode specimens was observed using light and scanning electron microscopy. The nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences, i.e. small subunit ribosomal DNA (18S), large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), were amplified and sequenced for molecular identification. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum likelihood (ML) inference based on 28S and 18S + 28S + cox1 sequence data, respectively, in order to clarify the systematic status of these nematodes. Results Integrated morphological and genetic evidence reveals these nematode specimens to be a new species of pinworm Skrjabinema longicaudatum (Oxyurida: Oxyuridae). There was no intraspecific nucleotide variation between different individuals of S. longicaudatum n. sp. in the partial 18S, 28S, ITS and cox1 sequences. However, a high level of nucleotide divergence was revealed between the new species and its congeners in 28S (8.36%) and ITS (20.3–23.7%) regions, respectively. Molecular phylogenetic results suggest that the genus Skrjabinema should belong to the subfamily Oxyurinae (Oxyuroidea: Oxyuridae), instead of the subfamily Syphaciidae or Skrjabinemiinae in the traditional classification, as it formed a sister relationship to the genus Oxyuris. Conclusions A new species of pinworm Skrjabinema longicaudatum n. sp. (Oxyurida: Oxyuridae) is described. Skrjabinema longicaudatum n. sp. represents the first species of Oxyurida (pinworm) and the fourth nematode species reported from the Tibetan antelope. Our results contribute to the knowledge of the species diversity of parasites from the Tibetan antelope, and clarify the systematic position of the genus Skrjabinema.

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Morphological studies and molecular data on a new marine ciliate, Apokeronopsis sinica n. sp. (Ciliophora: Urostylida), from the South China Sea

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2005.1.5 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2005 (1) ◽

pp. 57-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

WEIWEI LIU ◽

JIQIU LI ◽

SHAN GAO ◽

CHEN SHAO ◽

JUN GONG ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Data ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Small Subunit Rrna ◽

Cortical Granules ◽

Marine Ciliate ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Small Subunit Rrna Gene ◽

Morphological And Molecular Data

The morphology of a new marine urostylid ciliate, Apokeronopsis sinica n. sp., collected from the Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, was investigated. Additionally, the SSrRNA gene was sequenced in order to make a comparison at molecular level. Based on both morphological and molecular data, descriptions and comparisons with its congeners are provided. Apokeronopsis sinica is characterized by: body size about 150–200 × 50–65 µm in vivo; two kinds of cortical granules; about 20 cirri in frontal area which form the non-typical bicorona; 2 frontoterminal, ca. 4 buccal and 10 transverse cirri; midventral complex consists of 21–32 pairs of cirri; on average 35 right and 30 left marginal cirri; about 50 membranelles; invariably 3 dorsal kineties. A key to the identification of the known Apokeronopsis species was suggested. The small subunit rRNA gene sequence differences between Apokeronopsis sinica and its congeners range from 1.64% to 3.72%.

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