Microscopic and Molecular Description of the Microsporidian Parasite,Heterosporis sp., Infecting Lizardfish, Saurida undosquamis in the Persian Gulf

Background: The lizardfish is an economically important fish in the Persian Gulf with high rates of parasitic infections. Microsporidia species, as opportunistic parasites, cause several disorders, which in turn result in economic problems. Objectives: The main objective was to evaluate Heterosporis sp. infection in Persian Gulf lizardfish using the small subunit ribosomal RNA phylogenetics to describe and classification of the unknown microsporidia species as well as morphological characteristics. Methods: The abdominal cavities of fifty specimens of lizardfish, Saurida undosquamis, were examined using morphological and molecular techniques. Some irregular whitish cyst-like were fixed for histopathological and transmission electron observations. The small subunit ribosomal genomic DNA was studied and a 1,279 bp genomic sequence was amplified and investigated for molecular analysis. Results: Twenty-two (out of fifty) specimens were infected with irregular whitish microsporidian cysts. Light and electron microscopic findings revealed round cysts containing large numbers of monomorphic and ovoid spores with a posterior vacuole. Polar tube coiled between six and eight-times, in one row. The large xenoma (hypertrophied parasitizing host cells) was encapsulated by a host-derived thick connective tissue in pathological samples. The phylogenetic analysis showed that despite some morphological similarity of the Persian Gulf microsporidia sp. to Glugea spp., the most closely related species with minimum genetic distance to Heterosporis anguillarum isolated is Japanese eels (Anguillajaponica). Conclusions: This is the first phylogenetic report of microsporidian infections in mesenteric tissues of lizardfish S. undosquamis in Iran including morphological and molecular markers, to introduce novel species

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Morphological identification and molecular validation of anchovies (Engraulidae) in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4742.2.10 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4742 (2) ◽

pp. 375-391

Author(s):

MAHBOOBEH AFRAND ◽

IMAN SOURINEJAD ◽

SEYED ABOLHASSAN SHAHZADEH FAZELI ◽

ARASH AKBARZADEH ◽

LALEH PARSA YEGANEH ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Persian Gulf ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Morphological Differentiation ◽

Genetic Distances ◽

Morphological Identification ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit ◽

Closely Related Species ◽

Oman Sea ◽

The Persian Gulf ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase

Validation of species using independent lines of evidence is sometimes desirable when their identification using only one approach is difficult or questionable. The identification of anchovies (Engraulidae) are often challenging based on morphology because closely related species exhibit only slight morphological differentiation. This study utilized morphological characteristics and DNA barcodes for identification and validation of anchovies in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. Based on morphology, we identified eight species: Thryssa hamiltonii, T. setirostris, T. vitrirostris, T. whiteheadi, T. dussumieri, Encrasicholina punctifer, E. pseudoheteroloba and Stolephorus indicus. A 658 bp region of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) was generated for 53 specimens from these eight species. From these sequences, we built a Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic tree. In this tree, each species forms a monophyletic group confirming our initial morphological identification. In addition, we provided (and registered in GenBank) the first barcode sequences for T. whiteheadi, an endemic species of this region. Interspecies genetic distances were comprised between 0.168 to 0.275. The largest genetic distance was found between T. vitrirostris and S. indicus and the smallest between T. dussumieri and T. whiteheadi. This study successfully identified eight species of anchovies in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea based on both morphological and molecular characters.

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Glycosylation of the Major Polar Tube Protein of Encephalitozoon hellem, a Microsporidian Parasite That Infects Humans

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.72.11.6341-6350.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 72 (11) ◽

pp. 6341-6350 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Yanji Xu ◽

Peter M. Takvorian ◽

Ann Cali ◽

George Orr ◽

Louis M. Weiss

Keyword(s):

Host Cell ◽

Host Cells ◽

Polar Tube ◽

Microsporidian Parasite ◽

Obligate Intracellular ◽

Species Analysis ◽

Wide Range ◽

Mannose Binding ◽

Microsporidia Species ◽

Increased Susceptibility

ABSTRACT The microsporidia are ubiquitous, obligate intracellular eukaryotic spore-forming parasites infecting a wide range of invertebrates and vertebrates, including humans. The defining structure of microsporidia is the polar tube, which forms a hollow tube through which the sporoplasm is transferred to the host cell. Research on the molecular and cellular biology of the polar tube has resulted in the identification of three polar tube proteins: PTP1, PTP2, and PTP3. The major polar tube protein, PTP1, accounts for at least 70% of the mass of the polar tube. In the present study, PTP1 was found to be posttranslationally modified. Concanavalin A (ConA) bound to PTP1 and to the polar tube of several different microsporidia species. Analysis of the glycosylation of Encephalitozoon hellem PTP1 suggested that it is modified by O-linked mannosylation, and ConA binds to these O-linked mannose residues. Mannose pretreatment of RK13 host cells decreased their infection by E. hellem, consistent with an interaction between the mannosylation of PTP1 and some unknown host cell mannose-binding molecule. A CHO cell line (Lec1) that is unable to synthesize complex-type N-linked oligosaccharides had an increased susceptibility to E. hellem infection compared to wild-type CHO cells. These data suggest that the O-mannosylation of PTP1 may have functional significance for the ability of microsporidia to invade their host cells.

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First Molecular Identification of Symbiotic Archaea in a Sponge Collected from the Persian Gulf, Iran

The Open Microbiology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874285801812010323 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 323-332

Author(s):

Akram Najafi ◽

Maryam Moradinasab ◽

Mohammad Seyedabadi ◽

Mohammad A. Haghighi ◽

Iraj Nabipour

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

Persian Gulf ◽

Molecular Taxonomy ◽

Marine Sponges ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Sponge Species ◽

Ammonium Bromide ◽

Pcr Cloning ◽

The Persian Gulf ◽

Uncultured Archaea

Background: Marine sponges are associated with numerically vast and phylogenetically diverse microbial communities at different geographical locations. However, little is known about the archaeal diversity of sponges in the Persian Gulf. The present study was aimed to identify the symbiotic archaea with a sponge species gathered from the Persian Gulf, Iran. Methods: Sponge sample was collected from a depth of 3 m offshore Bushehr, Persian Gulf, Iran. Metagenomic DNA was extracted using a hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) method. The COI mtDNA marker was used for molecular taxonomy identification of sponge sample. Also, symbiotic archaea were identified using the culture-independent analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and PCR- cloning. Results: In this study, analysis of multilocus DNA marker and morphological characteristics revealed that the sponge species belonged to Chondrilla australiensis isolate PG_BU4. PCR cloning and sequencing showed that all of the sequences of archaeal 16S rRNA gene libraries clustered into the uncultured archaeal group. Conclusion: The present study is the first report of the presence of the genus of Chondrilla in the Persian Gulf. Traditional taxonomy methods, when used along with molecular techniques, could play a significant role in the accurate taxonomy of sponges. Also, the uncultured archaea may promise a potential source for bioactive compounds. Further functional studies are needed to explore the role of the sponge-associated uncultured archaea as a part of the marine symbiosis.

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Diversity of shallow water zoantharians in Hengam and Larak Islands, in the Persian Gulf

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s002531541500079x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 96 (5) ◽

pp. 1145-1155 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Atoosa Noori Koupaei ◽

Pargol Ghavam Mostafavi ◽

Jalil Fallah Mehrabadi ◽

Seyed Mohammad Reza Fatemi ◽

Hamed Dehghani

Keyword(s):

16S Rdna ◽

Dna Sequences ◽

Persian Gulf ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

First Record ◽

Species Group ◽

Coi Gene ◽

Undescribed Species ◽

External Appearance ◽

The Persian Gulf

Zoantharians are one of the least studied orders of benthic cnidarians of the Persian Gulf. A survey and molecular analysis was conducted to determine zoantharian species diversity in the Persian Gulf. For this purpose, 63 colonies of zoantharians were collected from Hengam and Larak Islands in the Strait of Hormuz and some morphological characteristics of each specimen were recorded, i.e. sand encrustation, polyp shape and colour, oral groove, oral zone and oral disc colours as well as tentacle number and colour. After DNA extraction, mitochondrial 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Based on obtained 16S rDNA and COI gene sequences, five putative species-level clades were identified:Zoanthus sansibaricus(N = 30),Palythoa tuberculosa(N = 12),Palythoa mutuki(N = 2),Palythoaaff.mutuki(N = 18) andNeozoanthussp. Iran (N = 1). While the first three are known species, the last two were potentially novel undescribed species.Palythoaaff.mutukihas an external appearance similar toPalythoa mutuki. However, mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from these specimens placed them in a previously undescribed species group. TheNeozoanthusspecimen was morphologically and molecularly different from other describedNeozoanthusspecies. This is the first record of this genus from the Persian Gulf and neighbouring areas. Since there is not much work on zoantharians identification in the Persian Gulf, further sampling and investigation is needed to speculate on the accuracy of these potentially new species and to complete the knowledge of zoantharian diversity in this area.

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A New Genus Of Microsporidian Parasite (Hepatosporidae; Microsporidia) Found In The Oocytes Of Ribbon Worms From The North Pacific Genus Maculaura (Heteronemertea; Nemertea)

10.1101/2021.04.04.438387 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kara M. Robbins ◽

Svetlana A. Maslakova ◽

George von Dassow

Keyword(s):

New Genus ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Host Cells ◽

Microsporidian Parasite ◽

The Public ◽

The North ◽

Sister Clade ◽

The Pacific ◽

Coos Bay ◽

The North Pacific

An intracellular microsporidian parasite was first observed within oocytes of Maculaura alaskensis, a small pilidiophoran nemertean, commonly found on sandflats along the Pacific coast of North America. Infected oocytes have large vesicles containing dozens to hundreds of diplokaryotic, ellipsoid spores measuring 1.3 by 2.3 μm. A partial small subunit nuclear ribosomal 18S gene sequence isolated from the microsporidian does not match any known microsporidian sequences in the public databases. Phylogenetic analysis groups it with Hepatospora eriocheir in a sister clade to the Enterocytozoonidae. All the known life stages of this parasite are contained within a membranous envelope. This microsporidian was identified in M. alaskensis, Maculaura aquilonia, Maculaura oregonensis, and Maculaura cerebrosa in Coos Bay, Oregon, in M. alaskensis from Newport, Oregon, and in M. aquilonia collected in Juneau, Alaska. This is, to our knowledge, the first species of microsporidia found to directly infect nemertean host cells.

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Insights into the Urogymnid whiprays (Chondrichthyes: Batoidea) in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, with an amendment of their diagnostic characteristics and dispersal range

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4819.2.5 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4819 (2) ◽

pp. 316-334 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

KIAVASH GOLZARIANPOUR ◽

MASOUMEH MALEK ◽

MEHDI GOLESTANINASAB ◽

ALIMORAD SARAFRAZI ◽

JUDITH KOCHMANN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bayesian Inference ◽

Persian Gulf ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Morphological Identification ◽

Indian Species ◽

Correct Identification ◽

Morphological Examination ◽

Gulf Of Oman ◽

Diagnostic Characteristics ◽

The Persian Gulf

Correct identification of elasmobranch species is crucial for taxonomic and parasitological research. Although molecular barcoding may be the fastest choice to determine the identity of a given species, robust and fast species level identification in the field using morphological characters is essential. During this study, 389 specimens representing seven stingray species (Brevitrygon walga, Himantura leoparda, H. uarnak, Maculabatis randalli, M. arabica, M. gerrardi and Pateobatis fai) were examined from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. A 1044 bp fragment of the NADH2 gene was generated for 50 specimens with representatives of all species. To verify the initial morphological identification and to compare intra- and interspecific differences a Neighbor-Joining analysis was conducted using uncorrected p-distances, whereas the Bayesian Inference was used to examine the relationships among taxa. Two species (M. arabica and M. gerrardi) are documented from the Persian Gulf for the first time. The molecular results provide the first known evidence of the sympatric distribution of M. randalli and M. arabica in the north and northwestern Indian Ocean. The results of the Bayesian Inference support the recent divergence of both species. Based on morphological comparisons and molecular support we suggest that the descriptions of M. randalli and M. arabica have been carried out on heterogeneous type series which has led to inconsistency between molecular identification and diagnostic morphological characteristics. Detailed morphological examination revealed that there is a relation between the type and number of denticles on the mid-dorsal surface of the disc and the color pattern of the tail. To address this taxonomic conflict all type materials should be re-examined. The Bayesian Inference tree showed that all specimens from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman morphologically resembling B. walga were found to group well outside those of the Indian species (B. imbricata) with an average p-distance of 0.097. The low nucleotide differences among the urogymnid taxa (P. fai and H. leoparda) from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and their conspecific specimens in the Indo-West Pacific region revealed that philopatric behaviors may cause considerable gene flow among populations.

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