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Chen Shao - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Morphology, Morphogenesis, and Molecular Phylogeny of a New Freshwater Ciliate, Quadristicha subtropica n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia)
'Frontiers Media SA', 2021Co-Authors: Chen Shao, Alan Warren, Qi Gao, Jingyi WangAbstract:The morphology and the regulation of cortical pattern associated with the cell size, division, and phylogenetic position of a new hypotrichous ciliate, Quadristicha subtropica n. sp. collected from a freshwater pond in southern China, were investigated. Quadristicha subtropica n. sp. is characterized as follows: size in vivo 60–115 μm × 25–45 μm; 19–21 adoral membranelles; buccal cirrus near anterior end of endoral and paroral; cirrus IV/3 at about level of buccal vertex; right marginal row begins ahead of buccal vertex; 11–16 right and 12–19 left marginal cirri; and dorsal cilia about 5 μm long. The basic morphogenetic process in Q. subtropica n. sp. is consistent with that of the type species, Quadristicha setigera. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence data reveal that the systematic position of Q. subtropica n. sp. is rather unstable with low support values across the tree and the genus Quadristicha is not monophyletic
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the insights into the systematic relationship of gastrostyla affinitive genera with report on a new saline soil ciliate genus and new species protozoa ciliophora
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Yuanyuan Wang, Jie Huang, Saleh A Alfarraj, Hamed A Elserehy, Chen ShaoAbstract:Hypotrichia are a group with the most complex morphology and morphogenesis within the ciliated protists. The classification of Gastrostyla-like species, a taxonomically difficult group of hypotrichs with a common ventral cirral pattern but various dorsal and ontogenetic patterns, is poorly understood. Hence, systematic relationships within this group and with other taxa in the subclass Hypotrichia remain unresolved. 18S rRNA gene sequence of a new Gastrostyla-like taxon was obtained. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 18S rRNA gene sequences indicate that this ciliate represents a new genus that is closely related to Heterourosomoida and Kleinstyla within the oxytrichid clade of the Hypotrichia. However, the position of this cluster remains unresolved. All three genera deviate from the typical oxytrichids by their incomplete (or lack of) dorsal kinety fragmentation during morphogenesis. Morphology and morphogenesis of this newly discovered form, Heterogastrostyla salina nov. gen., nov. spec., are described. Heterogastrostyla nov. gen., is characterised as follows: more than 18 fronto-ventral-transverse cirri, cirral anlagen V and VI develop pretransverse cirri, and dorsal ciliature in Urosomoida-like pattern. Similar to the CEUU-hypothesis about convergent evolution of urostylids and uroleptids, we speculate that the shared ventral cirral patterns of Gastrostyla-like taxa might have resulted from convergent evolution.
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reconsideration of the taxonomy of the marine ciliate neobakuella aenigmatica moon et al 2019 protozoa ciliophora Hypotrichia
Marine Life Science & Technology, 2020Co-Authors: Tengyue Zhang, Jingyi Dong, Ting Cheng, Lili Duan, Chen ShaoAbstract:The morphology and divisional morphogenesis in a Chinese population of Neobakuella aenigmatica Moon et al., 2019 are reinvestigated. The body size, number and arrangement of parabuccal cirri and development of nuclear nodules in this population are discussed in comparison with closely related genera. The 18S rRNA gene sequence of the Chinese population is identical to that of a Korean population, supporting a distant relationship between N. aenigmatica and the cluster of N. flava and Apobakuella fusca. We deduce that this may be caused by the differences in the pattern of the parabuccal cirri and the number of parabuccal rows which are important for the phylogeny of Bakuella-like species.
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morphology morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a novel saline soil ciliate heterourosomoida sinica n sp ciliophora Hypotrichia
European Journal of Protistology, 2020Co-Authors: Jingyi Wang, Chen ShaoAbstract:Abstract The living morphology, infraciliature, morphogenesis and phylogenetic position of a new hypotrichous ciliate, Heterourosomoida sinica n. sp., discovered in saline soil in Northwest of China, were investigated. Heterourosomoida sinica n. sp. is characterized as follows: body size about 70–95 × 20–30 μm in vivo, ellipsoid or elongate; cortical granules dark green, 0.5 μm across, arranged around dorsal cilia and in short irregular rows on ventral side; consistently 18 frontoventral-transverse cirri; left and right marginal rows composed of 17–24 and 13–21 cirri, respectively; two macronuclear nodules and one or two micronuclei. The detailed morphogenesis of a species of Heterourosomoida is reported for the first time. The ontogenesis on dorsal side is basically similar to that in Urosomoida-species and the process on ventral side is characterized by: 18 frontoventral-transverse cirri develop from six anlagen with the anlagen V and VI formed in the primary mode. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequence data reveal that Heterourosomoida sinica n. sp. clusters with Kleinstyla dorsicirrata and forms a clade with the type species H. lanceolata.
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phylogenetic relationship analyses of complicated class spirotrichea based on transcriptomes from three diverse microbial eukaryotes uroleptopsis citrina euplotes vannus and protocruzia tuzeti
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2018Co-Authors: Yalan Sheng, Fangqing Zhao, Chen Shao, Miao MiaoAbstract:Ciliates are one of the eukaryotic unicellular organisms which are thought to be the oldest life forms, and widely geographically distributed. For a variety of reasons, some groups of ciliates have attracted more attention than others, such as the class Spirotrichea and related species with its complicated evolutionary relationships. In this study, we obtained the transcriptome data of three typical ciliates, Uroleptopsis citrina, Euplotes vannus, Protocruzia tuzeti using high throughput sequencing. The genetic relationships were revealed by phylogenomic analysis of 109 genes comprising of 34,882 amino acid residues, and analyses based on SSU rDNA of 55 species, as well as the comparison of gene content among spirotricheans and related species. Our phylogenomic analyses show the Spirotrichea is monophyletic when Protocruzia is excluded, in which four subclasses: Oligotrichia, Choreotrichia, Hypotrichia and Euplotia also formed momophyletic groups respectively. The Hypotrichia was placed as a sister branch to the assemblage, in which two oligotrichs clustered with two choreotrichs. In addition to this, the Protocruziidia was placed in an independent lineage status out of the Spirotrichea. Together with its high binding-related gene content compared to other species and the significant variation in morphological characters, these findings support the removal of Protocruzia from the class Spirotrichea.
Jie Huang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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taxonomy of three oxytrichids protozoa ciliophora Hypotrichia with establishment of the new species rubrioxytricha guangzhouensis spec nov
Frontiers in Marine Science, 2021Co-Authors: Xiaotian Luo, Jie Huang, William A Bourland, Xumiao Chen, Saleh A Alfarraj, Hamed A Elserehy, Weibo SongAbstract:Two oxytrichid ciliates collected from China, Oxytricha lithofera Foissner, 2016 and Rubrioxytricha haematoplasma (Blatterer & Foissner, 1990) Berger, 1999, were investigated based on living observations, protargol preparations, and molecular analyses. The Chinese population of O. lithofera shares highly distinctive features with the type population, e.g., lithosomes, abutting macronuclear nodules, straight undulating membranes, and long dorsal bristles. The morphology and morphogenesis of our new isolate of R. haematoplasma corresponds well with the type population. The 18S rRNA gene sequences of both organisms were obtained and the molecular phylogeny of these two genera was analyzed. In addition, we found that the Guangzhou population of R. haematoplasma sensu Chen et al. (2015) can be distinguished from the type population and our new isolate by having two types of cortical granules, that is, type-I, reddish-brown, type-II, colorless (vs. only one type, lemon yellowish to greenish), as well as the reddish-brown cytoplasm (vs. slightly orange) and the marine or brackish water habitat (vs. freshwater). In addition, 20 bp divergence in their 18S rRNA gene sequences indicate that they are not conspecific. Thus, a new species, Rubrioxytricha guangzhouensis, is established for the R. haematoplasma sensu Chen et al. (2015) in this work.
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the insights into the systematic relationship of gastrostyla affinitive genera with report on a new saline soil ciliate genus and new species protozoa ciliophora
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Yuanyuan Wang, Jie Huang, Saleh A Alfarraj, Hamed A Elserehy, Chen ShaoAbstract:Hypotrichia are a group with the most complex morphology and morphogenesis within the ciliated protists. The classification of Gastrostyla-like species, a taxonomically difficult group of hypotrichs with a common ventral cirral pattern but various dorsal and ontogenetic patterns, is poorly understood. Hence, systematic relationships within this group and with other taxa in the subclass Hypotrichia remain unresolved. 18S rRNA gene sequence of a new Gastrostyla-like taxon was obtained. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 18S rRNA gene sequences indicate that this ciliate represents a new genus that is closely related to Heterourosomoida and Kleinstyla within the oxytrichid clade of the Hypotrichia. However, the position of this cluster remains unresolved. All three genera deviate from the typical oxytrichids by their incomplete (or lack of) dorsal kinety fragmentation during morphogenesis. Morphology and morphogenesis of this newly discovered form, Heterogastrostyla salina nov. gen., nov. spec., are described. Heterogastrostyla nov. gen., is characterised as follows: more than 18 fronto-ventral-transverse cirri, cirral anlagen V and VI develop pretransverse cirri, and dorsal ciliature in Urosomoida-like pattern. Similar to the CEUU-hypothesis about convergent evolution of urostylids and uroleptids, we speculate that the shared ventral cirral patterns of Gastrostyla-like taxa might have resulted from convergent evolution.
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morphology morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a soil ciliate gonostomum kuehnelti foissner 1987 ciliophora Hypotrichia from northwestern china
Journal of Natural History, 2019Co-Authors: Yingzhi Ning, Yalan Sheng, Lingyun Chen, Saleh A Alfarraj, Huiru Zhang, Jie HuangAbstract:ABSTRACTThe morphology and morphogenesis of the hypotrichous soil ciliate Gonostomum kuehnelti Foissner, 1987, isolated from northwestern China, was investigated based on observations of live and p...
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morphology cell division and phylogeny of schmidingerothrix elongata spec nov ciliophora hypotricha and brief guide to hypotrichs with gonostomum like oral apparatus
European Journal of Protistology, 2018Co-Authors: Jie Huang, Chen Shao, Helmut BergerAbstract:The hypotrich Schmidingerothrix elongata spec. nov., discovered in saline (20‰) soil of the Longfeng Wetland, Daqing, northern China, was studied using live observation and protargol impregnation. It is characterized, inter alia, by colorless cortical granules arranged in short rows, three frontoventral cirral rows with the rightmost extending far posteriorly, and 4-8, usually six macronuclear nodules. Cell division proceeds as in congeners and confirms the lack of dorsal ciliature. In phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA, S. elongata is sister of S. salinarum+Paracladotricha salina. A re-investigation of the type slides of P. salina, type of Paracladotricha, revealed a misobservation in the original description. Since P. salina lacks, like Schmidingerothrix spp., a dorsal ciliature, Paracladotricha becomes a junior, subjective synonym of Schmidingerothrix with S. salina comb. nov. as fourth species. A review of the phylogenetic analyses dealing with Schmidingerothrix shows that its position is variable. However, together with the gonostomatid oral apparatus it can be hypothesized that Schmidingerothrix is a member of the Gonostomatidae or a close relative. A list of genera (14) and species (58) which have - like Schmidingerothrix - a gonostomatid oral apparatus, as well as a key to these genera are provided.
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morphology and morphogenesis of a novel saline soil hypotrichous ciliate gonostomum sinicum nov spec ciliophora Hypotrichia gonostomatidae including a report on the small subunit rdna sequence
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 2017Co-Authors: Jie Huang, Chen Shao, Saleh A Alfarraj, Shan GaoAbstract:Morphology, cirral pattern, and morphogenesis of the new saline soil hypotrich, Gonostomum sinicum nov. spec. collected from Longfeng Wetland in Daqing, north China, were studied, using detailed live observations and protargol-stained specimens. The new species is characterized as follows: (i) a size in vivo of 100-125 × 30-40 μm, (ii) colorless cortical granules, 0.5 μm across, arranged in short rows, (iii) an adoral zone composed of 28-33 membranelles, (iv) three or four frontoventral rows, one of which extends onto the postoral area, (v) left and right marginal rows composed of 18-27 and 21-35, cirri, respectively, and (vi) usually two transverse cirri. Morphogenesis is as usual for the genus Gonostomum, i.e. the cirral primordia II-VI are primary primordia which split into two sets for proter and opisthe in division middle stages, except for anlage I which develops independently. However, the number of frontoventral transverse anlagen is either five or six not only in different individuals but even in proter and opisthe of the same divider. The phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequences showed that the genus Gonostomum is nonmonophyletic, indicating that the patterns of cirri and dorsal kineties are homoplasious characters. The new species G. sinicum nov. spec. is perhaps closely related to Cotterillia bromelicola and two congeners.
Weibo Song - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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taxonomy ontogenesis and evolutionary relationships of the algae bearing ciliate bourlandella viridis kahl 1932 comb nov with establishment of a new genus and new family protista ciliophora Hypotrichia
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2021Co-Authors: Weibo Song, Alan Warren, Yan Zhao, Wenya Song, Tengyue Zhang, Xue Zhang, Xiaotian LuoAbstract: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 Limnoholosticha viridis (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 L. viridis represents a new genus and new family which might be an intermediate form between uorstylids and dorsomarginalians. Thus, Bourlandellidae fam. nov. and Bourlandella gen. nov. are here established. Lastly, we speculate that phenotypic convergence and mixtrophy might confer on the new combination, Bourlandella viridis (Kahl, 1932) comb. nov., the ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions.
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taxonomy of three oxytrichids protozoa ciliophora Hypotrichia with establishment of the new species rubrioxytricha guangzhouensis spec nov
Frontiers in Marine Science, 2021Co-Authors: Xiaotian Luo, Jie Huang, William A Bourland, Xumiao Chen, Saleh A Alfarraj, Hamed A Elserehy, Weibo SongAbstract:Two oxytrichid ciliates collected from China, Oxytricha lithofera Foissner, 2016 and Rubrioxytricha haematoplasma (Blatterer & Foissner, 1990) Berger, 1999, were investigated based on living observations, protargol preparations, and molecular analyses. The Chinese population of O. lithofera shares highly distinctive features with the type population, e.g., lithosomes, abutting macronuclear nodules, straight undulating membranes, and long dorsal bristles. The morphology and morphogenesis of our new isolate of R. haematoplasma corresponds well with the type population. The 18S rRNA gene sequences of both organisms were obtained and the molecular phylogeny of these two genera was analyzed. In addition, we found that the Guangzhou population of R. haematoplasma sensu Chen et al. (2015) can be distinguished from the type population and our new isolate by having two types of cortical granules, that is, type-I, reddish-brown, type-II, colorless (vs. only one type, lemon yellowish to greenish), as well as the reddish-brown cytoplasm (vs. slightly orange) and the marine or brackish water habitat (vs. freshwater). In addition, 20 bp divergence in their 18S rRNA gene sequences indicate that they are not conspecific. Thus, a new species, Rubrioxytricha guangzhouensis, is established for the R. haematoplasma sensu Chen et al. (2015) in this work.
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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 Evolutionary Biology, 2019Co-Authors: Weibo Song, Xiaotian Luo, Jie A Huang, William A BourlandAbstract: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. 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. 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.
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morphology ontogeny and molecular phylogeny of two freshwater species of deviata ciliophora Hypotrichia from southern china
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 2016Co-Authors: Xiaotian Luo, Yangbo Fan, Miao Miao, Saleh A Alfarraj, Weibo SongAbstract:The morphology and partial morphogenesis of two freshwater hypotrichous ciliates, Deviata brasiliensis Siqueira-Castro et al., 2009 and Deviata rositae Kuppers et al., 2007, isolated from southern China, were investigated using live observation and protargol staining. Our populations resemble the original ones in terms of their live characters and ciliary patterns. The main determinable morphogenetic features of D. brasiliensis basically correspond with those of the type population. However, the origin of anlage V for either proter or opisthe is ambiguous: whether anlage V for the proter originates from parental frontoventral row 2 (the same as in the original population) or parental frontoventral row 3 (the same as in Deviata abbrevescens) or even de novo is not clear; the anlage V for the opisthe is possibly derived from frontoventral row 3 and further migrates to frontoventral row 2, like that in D. abbrevescens. In addition, the SSU rRNA gene was first sequenced for both species. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that the genus Deviata is non-monophyletic and has a close relationship with Perisincirra paucicirrata.
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taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of two novel ciliates with establishment of a new genus pseudogastrostyla n g ciliophora Hypotrichia oxytrichidae
European Journal of Protistology, 2015Co-Authors: Yangbo Fan, Alan Warren, Xiaolu Zhao, Miao Miao, Weibo SongAbstract:Two novel hypotrichous ciliates, Pseudogastrostyla flava n. g., n. sp. and Urosomoida subtropica n. sp., isolated from Daya Bay Mangrove Park, Huizhou, southern China, were observed in vivo and after protargol staining. Pseudogastrostyla n. g. is diagnosed by having more than 18 frontal-ventral-transverse cirri, an indistinct frontoventral row, undulating membranes in Oxytricha-pattern and dorsomarginal kinety, but lacking dorsal kinety fragmentation during morphogenesis. The monotypic species, P. flava n. sp., is characterized by its brownish body colour, brown-yellowish cortical granules mostly arranged in groups, frontoventral row terminating near mid-body, and one caudal cirrus. Urosomoida subtropica n. sp. can be recognized by having one micronucleus located between two macronuclear nodules, four transverse cirri, pretransverse ventral cirrus (V/2) anteriorly located, four dorsal kineties and three caudal cirri. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data indicate that Pseudogastrostyla n. g. is nested within the oxytrichids and is most closely related to Rubrioxytricha ferruginea, and that Urosomoida subtropica n. sp. clusters with Oxytricha elegans rather than the type species, U. agilis. Nodal support values are, however, too low to draw any conclusions about the molecular systematics of the genus Urosomoida.
Alan Warren - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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taxonomy ontogenesis and evolutionary relationships of the algae bearing ciliate bourlandella viridis kahl 1932 comb nov with establishment of a new genus and new family protista ciliophora Hypotrichia
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2021Co-Authors: Weibo Song, Alan Warren, Yan Zhao, Wenya Song, Tengyue Zhang, Xue Zhang, Xiaotian LuoAbstract: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 Limnoholosticha viridis (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 L. viridis represents a new genus and new family which might be an intermediate form between uorstylids and dorsomarginalians. Thus, Bourlandellidae fam. nov. and Bourlandella gen. nov. are here established. Lastly, we speculate that phenotypic convergence and mixtrophy might confer on the new combination, Bourlandella viridis (Kahl, 1932) comb. nov., the ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions.
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Morphology, Morphogenesis, and Molecular Phylogeny of a New Freshwater Ciliate, Quadristicha subtropica n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia)
'Frontiers Media SA', 2021Co-Authors: Chen Shao, Alan Warren, Qi Gao, Jingyi WangAbstract:The morphology and the regulation of cortical pattern associated with the cell size, division, and phylogenetic position of a new hypotrichous ciliate, Quadristicha subtropica n. sp. collected from a freshwater pond in southern China, were investigated. Quadristicha subtropica n. sp. is characterized as follows: size in vivo 60–115 μm × 25–45 μm; 19–21 adoral membranelles; buccal cirrus near anterior end of endoral and paroral; cirrus IV/3 at about level of buccal vertex; right marginal row begins ahead of buccal vertex; 11–16 right and 12–19 left marginal cirri; and dorsal cilia about 5 μm long. The basic morphogenetic process in Q. subtropica n. sp. is consistent with that of the type species, Quadristicha setigera. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence data reveal that the systematic position of Q. subtropica n. sp. is rather unstable with low support values across the tree and the genus Quadristicha is not monophyletic
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assessing the utility of hsp90 gene for inferring evolutionary relationships within the ciliate subclass hypotricha protista ciliophora
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Qi Zhang, Alan Warren, Ran Yang, Zhuo ShenAbstract:Although phylogenomic analyses are increasingly used to reveal evolutionary relationships among ciliates, relatively few nuclear protein-coding gene markers have been tested for their suitability as candidates for inferring phylogenies within this group. In this study, we investigate the utility of the heat-shock protein 90 gene (Hsp90) as a marker for inferring phylogenetic relationships among hypotrich ciliates. A total of 87 novel Hsp90 gene sequences of 10 hypotrich species were generated. Of these, 85 were distinct sequences. Phylogenetic analyses based on these data showed that: (1) the Hsp90 gene amino acid trees are comparable to the small subunit rDNA tree for recovering phylogenetic relationships at the rank of class, but lack sufficient phylogenetic signal for inferring evolutionary relationships at the genus level; (2) Hsp90 gene paralogs are recent and therefore unlikely to pose a significant problem for recovering hypotrich clades; (3) definitions of some hypotrich orders and families need to be revised as their monophylies are not supported by various gene markers; (4) The order Sporadotrichida is paraphyletic, but the monophyly of the “core” Urostylida is supported; (5) both the subfamily Oxytrichinae and the genus Urosoma seem to be non-monophyletic, but monophyly of Urosoma is not rejected by AU tests. Our results for the first time demonstrate that the Hsp90 gene is comparable to SSU rDNA for recovering phylogenetic relationships at the rank of class, and its paralogs are unlikely to pose a significant problem for recovering hypotrich clades. This study shows the value of careful gene marker selection for phylogenomic analyses of ciliates.
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taxonomic resolution of stylonychia notophora alveolata ciliophora hypotricha sensu sapra and dass 1970 using an integrative approach
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2020Co-Authors: Harpreet Kaur, Alan Warren, Ram Krishan Negi, Komal KamraAbstract:The spirotrichean ciliate Stylonychia notophora has previously been recorded in India although the descriptions are lacking in detail. It has been suggested several times that the Indian population, S. notophora sensu Sapra and Dass, 1970 collected along the Delhi stretch of the River Yamuna, is identical to Tetmemena pustulata, but this has never been confirmed due to insufficient data for the former. The present study includes detailed descriptions (classical and molecular) of populations of Tetmemena isolated from six locations along the River Yamuna, India. These include four from the Delhi stretch including that from which Sapra and Dass, 1970 isolated their population of S. notophora. Due to the lack of a sufficiently detailed description, the taxonomic status of S. notophora sensu Sapra and Dass, 1970 was not clear. Comparisons among the populations isolated in the present study with previous descriptions of T. pustulata and S. notophora sensu Sapra and Dass, 1970 show only minor differences in morphometry, morphogenesis and in 18S rDNA sequences. The 18S rDNA sequences of all six populations had 99% similarity to both T. pustulata and S. notophora. These findings support the contention that S. notophora sensu Sapra and Dass, 1970 was misidentified and is a population of T. pustulata. This study supports the need for adopting an integrative approach based on morphological, morphogenetic and molecular data in order to understand species delimitation in ciliated protists.
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an integrative investigation of parabistichella variabilis protista ciliophora Hypotrichia including its general morphology ultrastructure ontogenesis and molecular phylogeny
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 2020Co-Authors: Xumiao Chen, Jingyi Dong, Yongqiang Liu, Xinpeng Fan, Alan WarrenAbstract:Hypotrichs are a highly differentiated and very diverse group of ciliated protists. Their systematics and taxonomy are challenging and call for detailed investigations on their general morphology, ultrastructure, ontogenesis, and molecular phylogeny. Here, a comprehensive study is conducted on a brackish water population of Parabistichella variabilis using light and electron microscopy and phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence data. Its morphology, including the infraciliature, pellicle, nuclei, buccal seal, and extrusomes, is documented. The present findings indicate that in P. variabilis: (i) the cortical granules are extrusomes, which differ from those of other hypotrichs; (ii) the buccal seal is bounded by the plasma membrane and contains a single layer of longitudinal microtubules; (iii) two contractile vacuoles might be present rather than one; and (iv) the pharyngeal disks are bounded by a single membrane. Early-to-middle stages of ontogenesis are described for the first time, enabling the complete characterization of this process. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Parabistichella variabilis is closely related to several species from different genera, such as Orthoamphisiella breviseries, Uroleptoides magnigranulosus, and Tachysoma pellionellum. However, ultrastructural and gene sequence data for more taxa are needed in order to resolve the systematics of Parabistichella.
Saleh A Alfarraj - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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taxonomy of three oxytrichids protozoa ciliophora Hypotrichia with establishment of the new species rubrioxytricha guangzhouensis spec nov
Frontiers in Marine Science, 2021Co-Authors: Xiaotian Luo, Jie Huang, William A Bourland, Xumiao Chen, Saleh A Alfarraj, Hamed A Elserehy, Weibo SongAbstract:Two oxytrichid ciliates collected from China, Oxytricha lithofera Foissner, 2016 and Rubrioxytricha haematoplasma (Blatterer & Foissner, 1990) Berger, 1999, were investigated based on living observations, protargol preparations, and molecular analyses. The Chinese population of O. lithofera shares highly distinctive features with the type population, e.g., lithosomes, abutting macronuclear nodules, straight undulating membranes, and long dorsal bristles. The morphology and morphogenesis of our new isolate of R. haematoplasma corresponds well with the type population. The 18S rRNA gene sequences of both organisms were obtained and the molecular phylogeny of these two genera was analyzed. In addition, we found that the Guangzhou population of R. haematoplasma sensu Chen et al. (2015) can be distinguished from the type population and our new isolate by having two types of cortical granules, that is, type-I, reddish-brown, type-II, colorless (vs. only one type, lemon yellowish to greenish), as well as the reddish-brown cytoplasm (vs. slightly orange) and the marine or brackish water habitat (vs. freshwater). In addition, 20 bp divergence in their 18S rRNA gene sequences indicate that they are not conspecific. Thus, a new species, Rubrioxytricha guangzhouensis, is established for the R. haematoplasma sensu Chen et al. (2015) in this work.
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the insights into the systematic relationship of gastrostyla affinitive genera with report on a new saline soil ciliate genus and new species protozoa ciliophora
BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2020Co-Authors: Yuanyuan Wang, Jie Huang, Saleh A Alfarraj, Hamed A Elserehy, Chen ShaoAbstract:Hypotrichia are a group with the most complex morphology and morphogenesis within the ciliated protists. The classification of Gastrostyla-like species, a taxonomically difficult group of hypotrichs with a common ventral cirral pattern but various dorsal and ontogenetic patterns, is poorly understood. Hence, systematic relationships within this group and with other taxa in the subclass Hypotrichia remain unresolved. 18S rRNA gene sequence of a new Gastrostyla-like taxon was obtained. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 18S rRNA gene sequences indicate that this ciliate represents a new genus that is closely related to Heterourosomoida and Kleinstyla within the oxytrichid clade of the Hypotrichia. However, the position of this cluster remains unresolved. All three genera deviate from the typical oxytrichids by their incomplete (or lack of) dorsal kinety fragmentation during morphogenesis. Morphology and morphogenesis of this newly discovered form, Heterogastrostyla salina nov. gen., nov. spec., are described. Heterogastrostyla nov. gen., is characterised as follows: more than 18 fronto-ventral-transverse cirri, cirral anlagen V and VI develop pretransverse cirri, and dorsal ciliature in Urosomoida-like pattern. Similar to the CEUU-hypothesis about convergent evolution of urostylids and uroleptids, we speculate that the shared ventral cirral patterns of Gastrostyla-like taxa might have resulted from convergent evolution.
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reevaluation of the well known paraurostyla weissei complex with notes on the ontogenesis of a new paraurostyla species ciliophora Hypotrichia
European Journal of Protistology, 2020Co-Authors: Yuanyuan Wang, William A Bourland, Saleh A Alfarraj, Hamed A Elserehy, Ting Cheng, Xiaotian LuoAbstract:Two hypotrichous ciliates, Paraurostyla wuhanensis nov. spec. from Wuhan (China) and a new North American population of the Paraurostyla weissei complex, were studied based on live observations and protargol impregnation. Paraurostyla wuhanensis nov. spec. differs from the congeners by the combined features of having six or seven frontal cirri, 2-4 frontoventral cirri, 5-7 ventral rows, and yellow-greenish cortical granules. Ontogenesis proceeds as in the type species, except that fewer frontoventral cirri are formed in the new species. The morphology of the new population of the Paraurostyla weissei complex corresponds well with other American populations. In the phylogenetic trees based on the 18S rRNA gene, Paraurostyla sequences nest in a large clade together with Apoamphisiella and Notohymena. Monophyly of Paraurostyla is rejected by the results of the approximately unbiased test analyses. Morphological, morphogenetic, and phylogenetic analyses show a close relationship between the North American populations of the Paraurostyla weissei complex and Apoamphisiella, indicating that the taxonomic position of the former needs to be reassigned. A new combination, viz. Apoamphisiella polymicronucleata (Merriman, 1937) comb. nov., a reevaluation of the Paraurostyla weissei complex, and emended diagnoses of Paraurostyla and Apoamphisiella, are provided.
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morphology morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a soil ciliate gonostomum kuehnelti foissner 1987 ciliophora Hypotrichia from northwestern china
Journal of Natural History, 2019Co-Authors: Yingzhi Ning, Yalan Sheng, Lingyun Chen, Saleh A Alfarraj, Huiru Zhang, Jie HuangAbstract:ABSTRACTThe morphology and morphogenesis of the hypotrichous soil ciliate Gonostomum kuehnelti Foissner, 1987, isolated from northwestern China, was investigated based on observations of live and p...
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morphology and morphogenesis of a novel saline soil hypotrichous ciliate gonostomum sinicum nov spec ciliophora Hypotrichia gonostomatidae including a report on the small subunit rdna sequence
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 2017Co-Authors: Jie Huang, Chen Shao, Saleh A Alfarraj, Shan GaoAbstract:Morphology, cirral pattern, and morphogenesis of the new saline soil hypotrich, Gonostomum sinicum nov. spec. collected from Longfeng Wetland in Daqing, north China, were studied, using detailed live observations and protargol-stained specimens. The new species is characterized as follows: (i) a size in vivo of 100-125 × 30-40 μm, (ii) colorless cortical granules, 0.5 μm across, arranged in short rows, (iii) an adoral zone composed of 28-33 membranelles, (iv) three or four frontoventral rows, one of which extends onto the postoral area, (v) left and right marginal rows composed of 18-27 and 21-35, cirri, respectively, and (vi) usually two transverse cirri. Morphogenesis is as usual for the genus Gonostomum, i.e. the cirral primordia II-VI are primary primordia which split into two sets for proter and opisthe in division middle stages, except for anlage I which develops independently. However, the number of frontoventral transverse anlagen is either five or six not only in different individuals but even in proter and opisthe of the same divider. The phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequences showed that the genus Gonostomum is nonmonophyletic, indicating that the patterns of cirri and dorsal kineties are homoplasious characters. The new species G. sinicum nov. spec. is perhaps closely related to Cotterillia bromelicola and two congeners.