MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'European Journal of Protistology' source. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:34:58 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5620748&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22261279%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the size structure of testate amoebae in distinct habitats, i.e. plankton, aquatic macrophytes and aquatic sediment. The samples were taken from a floodplain lake of the upper Paraná River. The assumptions we strived to scrutinize were that (i) larger mean sizes of testate amoebae would be recorded in the sediment of the lake; and (ii) temporally, smaller individuals would be registered during the high water period in all habitats. The sampling was done monthly, from April 2007 to March 2008, in triplicates for each habitat. Testate amoebae were represented by individuals sized between 20 and 400μm. The smaller individuals predominated in plankton samples, while in the aquatic sediment the larger ones were chiefly represented. Thes... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5620748 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5620748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5577959&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22218370%26dopt%3DAbstract This report expands the known range and diversity of the genus Hyalophysa in the state of Alabama. PMID: 22218370 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5577959 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5577959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5559897&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22209540%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boenigk J, Ereshefsky M, Hoef-Emden K, Mallet J, Bass D Abstract This paper summarises the Symposium 'Concepts in Protistology', during the VI European Congress of Protistology, Berlin, 25-29 July 2011. There is an increasing focus on cataloguing the number of species on earth, species barcoding initiatives, and the increasing need to reconcile molecular with morphological data in protists within a taxonomic framework. We identify several obstructions to defining species in protists, including the high incidence of asexuality, high levels of both morphological conservation and evolutionary convergence, high levels of genetic diversity that cannot so far be correlated with phenotypic characters, conflicting signals between both genetic and phenotypic taxonomic markers, and ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5559897 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5559897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5559896&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22209541%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Guo R, Ki JS Abstract Housekeeping genes (HKGs) are required for the normalization of expression levels in real-time PCR, and their selection is critical for gene expression studies. However, stable expressions of candidate HKGs vary among organisms and tissues and even according to environmental conditions. Here, we evaluated the gene expressions of 10 frequently used HKGs, including 18S rRNA, P2, ACT, TUA, TUB, CYC, eIF4E, MDH, UBQ, and GAPDH, with a total of 17 RNA samples extracted from the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum. All the RNAs were prepared from various cells cultured under different conditions, including thermal shocks, toxic chemical exposures, and different life stages. Via C(T) analyses of the 10 HKGs using the geNorm software, TUA was selected as the ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5559896 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5559896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5559898&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22209425%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shadwick JD, Ruiz-Trillo I Abstract The haloarchaeal-type tyrosyl tRNA synthetase (tyrRS) have previously been proposed to be a molecular synapomorphy of the opisthokonts. To re-evaluate this we have performed a taxon-wide genomic survey of tyrRS in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Our phylogenetic trees group eukaryotes with archaea, with all opisthokonts sharing the haloarchaeal-type tyrRS. However, this type of tyrRS is not exclusive to opisthokonts, since it also encoded by two amoebozoans. Whether this is a consequence of lateral gene transfer or lineage sorting remains unsolved, but in any case haloarchaeal-type tyrRS is not a synapomorphy of opisthokonts. This demonstrates that molecular markers should be re-evaluated once a better taxon sampling becomes available. P... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5559898 Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5559898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512548&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22154141%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brown MW, Silberman JD, Spiegel FW Abstract Sorocarpic protists are organisms that individually aggregate and work together to form a fungus-like fruiting body (sorocarp). The amoeboid forms are often colloquially referred to as "cellular slime molds" or "acrasids". We argue the latter term should be used only to refer to members of Acrasidae in Heterolobosea. Here we study the diversity of two Acrasidae genera, Acrasis and the closely similar Pocheina, using a combination of morphological characteristics and small subunit rRNA gene sequences. A total of eight isolates of Acrasis and an example of Pocheina were examined. Acrasis/Pocheina form a well-supported monophyletic group that is the highly supported sister to a clade containing Allovahlkampfia and several other amoe... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512548 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5512549&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22153895%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fujishima M, Kodama Y Abstract Paramecium species are extremely valuable organisms to enable experiments for the reestablishment of endosymbiosis. This is investigated in two different systems, the first with Paramecium caudatum and the endonuclear symbiotic bacterium Holospora species. Although most endosymbiotic bacteria cannot grow outside the host cell as a result of their reduced genome size, Holospora species can maintain their infectivity for a limited time. We found that an 89-kDa periplasmic protein has an important function for Holospora's invasion into the target nucleus, and that Holospora alters the host gene expression; the host thereby acquires resistance against various stresses. The second system is the symbiosis between P. bursaria and symbiotic Chlorella... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5512549 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5512549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379344&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22030401%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Meng Z, Xu K, Dai R, Lei Y Abstract We investigated the community structure, diversity and trophic role of ciliates in the sediments from 48 stations in the Yellow Sea using Ludox density centrifugation and quantitative protargol stain. The ciliate abundance ranged from 1 to 221cellscm(-3) and biomass from 0.0001 to 0.47μgCcm(-3) in the upper 8cm of the sediments. On average, 77% of ciliate abundance and 81% of biomass were distributed in the 0-2cm sediment layers, while the respective proportions were only about 6% and 3% in the 5-8-cm layers. Among the 198 morphospecies, Prostomatea was the most dominant group accounting for 45% of the total abundance and 58% of the total biomass. Carnivorous ciliates constituted the primary feeding type, occupying about 64% of the tota... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379344 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379343&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22030402%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Issi IV, Tokarev YS, Seliverstova EV, Voronin VN Abstract We did a comparative analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (rDNA) for two species of Microsporidia, Semenovaia chironomi and Neoperezia chironomi, both parasites of Chironomus plumosus (Diptera, Chironomidae). These two microsporidial species have been described previously on the basis of light and electron microscopic studies. The former species is dimorphic, producing both single diplokaryotic spores and uninucleate spores in sporophorous vesicles (SPVs) in packets of 16, while the latter species is monomorphic, disporoblastic, producing only uninucleate spores in SPVs. Based on their life cycles, S. chironomi and N. chironomi were assigned to two different families, Burenellidae and Neopereziidae. However, ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379343 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379345&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22024461%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zlatogursky VV Abstract Centrohelid heliozoans form a monophyletic group with uncertain affinities to other groups of protists. Except for a number of naked species, they have either siliceous scales or organic spicules covering the cell. According to the phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rDNA gene, it is hypothesized that scales are the ancestral form of cell coverings, while spicules are derived structures. The present paper describes a new species of centrohelids, Raphidiophrys heterophryoidea, isolated from the inner lakes of Valamo Island (North-Western Russia). This species has tangential scales, consisting of two plates, connected with radial, sometimes branched septa. Raphidiophrys heterophryoidea also has radially oriented spindle-shaped spicules. The organic natur... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379345 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5344416&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22014411%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gerasimov ES, Kostygov AY, Yan S, Kolesnikov AA Abstract Mitochondrial ND8 gene is pan-edited in most known trypanosomatid species and 5'-edited only in a few trypanosomatid species. In this work, the ND8 nucleotide sequences from three species of insect trypanosomatids ("Wallaceina" sp. Wsd, Leptomonas rigidus and Leptomonas collosoma) were obtained and compared with previously known ND8 cryptogene sequences and mature mRNA sequences from other trypanosomatid species. We found a new pattern of editing: only 18 U residues are inserted in the 5' region of the primary transcript in all investigated species and the potential start codon is encoded on the DNA level. This is the first case when a pre-edited ND8 sequence is found to contain a putative ORF. Previously, a 5'-edite... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5344416 Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5344416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5246210&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21930365%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen X, Hu X, Gong J, Al-Rasheid KA, Al-Farraj SA, Song W Abstract The morphology and infraciliature of two new marine cyrtophorid ciliates, Paracyrtophoron tropicum nov. gen., nov. spec. and Aegyria rostellum nov. spec., isolated from tropical waters in southern China, were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation methods. Paracyrtophoron nov. gen. differs from the closely related Cyrtophoron by lack of fragment kinety at anterior ends of right somatic kineties and thigmotactic cilia in posterior portion of ventral surface, while from the well-defined Chlamydodon by lack of the cross-striped band around the periphery of the somatic field. Paracyrtophoron tropicum nov. spec., the type of the new genus, can be recognized by the combination of the follo... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5246210 Sat, 17 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5246210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5246211&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21925850%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: da Silva-Neto ID, da Silva Paiva T, Pedroso Dias RJ, Alexandre Campos CJ, Migotto AE Abstract Licnophora chattoni, found in association with Zyzzyzus warreni, a tubulariid hydroid epizoic in sponges from São Sebastião (SP, Brazil), is redescribed and illustrated using light and electron microscopy. The ciliate has a flexible, transparent body formed by an oval anterior region linked to the posterior basal disc via a flexible neck region. Numerous cortical granules are observed scattered throughout the body and densely packed along the neck. The adoral zone is formed by about 81 external and 24 infundibular paramembranelles. The paroral membrane, formed by a row of long cilia arranged in monokinetids, extends through a groove in the body to the adhesive disc. Two dorsal k... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5246211 Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5246211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5192551&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21872456%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kudryavtsev A Abstract I have re-investigated the light-microscopic features of Parvamoeba rugata Rogerson, 1993, type strain CCAP 1556/1. The major characters of amoebae correspond to the initial description of this species. However, one peculiarity demonstrated by the cells during adhesion to the substratum, seems to have been partly underestimated previously. At the same time it is crucial for the explanation of this species' position in the molecular phylogenetic trees and the recent system of Amoebozoa. This feature is the formation of a thin sheet of hyaloplasm on the ventral side of the cell that is used for adhesion to the substratum and locomotion, shared between Parvamoeba and members of the order Himatismenida. This explains the position of Parvamoeba as a siste... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5192551 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5192551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5157152&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21862298%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Paul M Abstract A new acanthoecid choanoflagellate species, Acanthocorbis mongolica sp. nov. was found in preserved phytoplankton samples from the freshwater lake Bayan Nuur (Uvs Nuur Basin, NW Mongolia) in concentrations of up to 1.8×10(5)cellsL(-1). It is the first well-documented species of the mainly marine order Acanthoecida to be found in a freshwater lake. The lorica structures were studied with scanning electron microscopy. Key morphological features of the vase-shaped lorica are spine bases that are composed of multiple (2-4) parallel costal strips, and the existence of two transverse costae. The ecological implications of this find are discussed. PMID: 21862298 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5157152 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5157152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5175024&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21855306%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ito A, Mishima T, Nataami K, Ike K, Imai S Abstract Intestinal ciliates excreted in the feces of Asian elephants were surveyed. Fourteen species in the order Entodiniomorphida were detected. Nine Triplumaria species in the family Cycloposthiidae were found. Using the silver impregnation, two known species, T. antis and T. dvoinosi, were redescribed and six new species, T. sukuna n. sp., T. zuze n. sp., T. solea n. sp., T. suwako n. sp., T. fulgora n. sp., and T. harpagonis n. sp., were described. T. sukuna, T. zuze, T. solea, and T. suwako have the perivestibular polybrachykinety along the vestibular opening. The buccal infraciliary bands of T. suwako are similar to those of T. selenica found from elephants and the buccal infraciliary bands of T. sukuna, T. zuze, and T. so... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5175024 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5175024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5175025&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21855305%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Omar A, Foissner W Abstract Using standard morphological methods, we describe one new Leptopharynx species and a new subspecies of L. costatus, both from soil of the neotropic region. Further, we studied two populations of L. costatus costatus. Leptopharynx brasiliensis nov. spec., which was discovered in the Mato Grosso, Brazil, is a large member (60μm) of the genus with an enormous oral basket. It differs from similar congeners in having six monokinetids in kinety 6, widely spaced kinetids in kinety 1, and an average of 294 kinetids. Leptopharynx costatus gonohymen nov. subspec., which was discovered in southern Florida, makes a small (35μm) and a large morph (55μm) both with narrow oral basket. The small morph is inseparable from the small morph of L. costatus costat... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5175025 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5175025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097641&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21802913%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aimed to determine the relationship between activated sludge microfauna, the sludge biotic index (SBI) and the effluent quality of a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) working with shock organic and ammonium loadings caused by periodic wastewater delivery from septic tanks. Irrespective of high/low effluent quality in terms of COD, BOD(5), ammonium and suspended solids, high SBI values (8-10), which correspond to the first quality class of sludge, were observed. High SBI values were connected with abundant taxonomic composition and the domination of crawling ciliates with shelled amoebae and attached ciliates. High SBI values, even at a low effluent quality, limit the usefulness of the index for monitoring the status of an activated sludge system and the effl... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097641 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5097641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5001344&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21700436%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yashchenko VV, Gavrilova OV, Rautian MS, Jakobsen KS Paramecium bursaria Chlorella viruses were observed by applying transmission electron microscopy in the native symbiotic system Paramecium bursaria (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) and the green algae Chlorella (Chlorellaceae, Trebouxiophyceae). Virus particles were abundant and localized in the ciliary pits of the cortex and in the buccal cavity of P. bursaria. This was shown for two types of the symbiotic systems associated with two types of Chlorella viruses - Pbi or NC64A. A novel quantitative stereological approach was applied to test whether virus particles were distributed randomly on the Paramecium surface or preferentially occupied certain zones. The ability of the virus to form an association with the ciliate was in... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5001344 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5001344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5001343&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21700437%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dubber D, Gray NF The protozoan community in eleven activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the greater Dublin area has been investigated and correlated with key physio-chemical operational and effluent quality parameters. The plants represented various designs, including conventional and biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems. The aim of the study was to identify differences in ciliate community due to key design parameters including anoxic/anaerobic stages and to identify suitable bioindicator species for performance evaluation. BNR systems supported significantly different protozoan communities compared to conventional systems. Total protozoan abundance was reduced in plants with incorporated anoxic and anaerobic stages, whereas species diversity was eith... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5001343 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5001343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5001345&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21696928%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Aleya L, Dauta A, Reynolds CS The paper presents a laboratory investigation of the temperature- and light- dependence of autotrophic growth of the alga Chlorella minutissima. It was isolated from the storage basin of a spring in the mountains of the Massif Central, France. The alga was grown at temperatures between (10 and 35°C) and under irradiances from 30 to 550μmolm(-2)s(-1), under a light/dark cycle. The results were fitted to selected descriptive models, seeking to express, as far as possible, the observed physiological behaviour of the strain and the minimum irradiance required to sustain net growth. At all temperatures, the maximum rates of growth observed are strikingly slower than those of other Chlorella strains and of other small algae, reported in the literature... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5001345 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5001345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4908837&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21641778%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, medium M would appear to be the best choice for cultivating these three species in one medium. PMID: 21641778 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4908837 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4908837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4908833&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21641779%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gürelli G, Göçmen B Species composition and distribution of large intestinal ciliates were investigated in the feces from 15 Turk rahvan horses, living in the vicinity of Izmir, Turkey. Twenty-two ciliate genera consisting of 36 species were identified. This is the first report on intestinal ciliates in Turk rahvan horses and no previously unknown species were observed. The mean number of ciliates was 14.2±13.9×10(4)cellsml(-1) of feces and the mean number of ciliate species per host was 9.9±7.1. No ciliates were observed in 2 horses. Bundleia and Blepharocorys were considered to be the major genera since these ciliates were constantly found in high proportions. In contrast, Paraisotricha, Didesmis and Gassovskiella were only observed at low frequencies. The ciliates fou... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4908833 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4908833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4908826&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21641780%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vďačný P, Orsi W, Bourland WA, Shimano S, Epstein SS, Foissner W Dileptid and tracheliid ciliates have been traditionally classified within the subclass Haptoria of the class Litostomatea. However, their phylogenetic position among haptorians has been controversial and indicated that they may play a key role in understanding litostomatean evolution. In order to reconstruct the evolutionary history of dileptids and tracheliids, and to unravel their affinity to other haptorians, we have used a cladistic approach based on morphological evidence and a phylogenetic approach based on 18S rRNA gene sequences, including eight new ones. The molecular trees demonstrate that dileptids and tracheliids represent a separate subclass, Rhynchostomatia, that is sister to the subclasses Hapt... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4908826 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4908826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4908848&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21632222%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Han BP, Wang T, Xu L, Lin QQ, Jinyu Z, Dumont HJ Four planktonic species of Difflugia co-occurring in a south Chinese reservoir were found to be carnivorous, but the diet was widest in the largest species (D. tuberspinifera) and narrowest in the smallest (D. hydrostatica). It included rotifers, ciliates, dinoflagellates, floating eggs, and small particles associated with organic debris. Scavenging and cannibalism were also observed. Species with a collared test (D. biwae, D. mulanensis) showed a form of suction-feeding, while species with teeth on the pseudostome used these, together with their pseudopods, as "inverted crown corks", providing leverage for opening the lorica of their (rotifer) prey. Predators of Difflugia included cyclopoid copepods. In addition, the rotifers A... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4908848 Sun, 29 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4908848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4908843&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21632223%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sogame Y, Kinoshita E, Matsuoka T Encystment induction of Colpoda cucullus is promoted by an increase in external Ca(2+) and overpopulation of Colpoda vegetative cells. Using phos-tag detection assays, the present study revealed that the in vivo phosphorylation level in several proteins [33kDa, 37kDa, 37.5kDa, 43kDa, 47kDa, 49kDa, etc.] was raised when the vegetative cells were stimulated by overpopulation to encyst in a medium containing 0.1mM Ca(2+) or without the addition of Ca(2+). Both overpopulation-mediated encystment induction and protein phosphorylation were suppressed by the addition of EGTA. Ca(2+)/overpopulation-stimulated encystment induction and protein phosphorylation were also suppressed by the addition of BAPTA-AM. These results suggest that the Ca(2+) inflow ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4908843 Sun, 29 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4908843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4856396&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21602035%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Han BP, Wang T, Xu L, Lin QQ, Dumont HJ We studied a long time series of the dynamics in space and time of four species of Difflugia (thecamoebae) that co-exist in the pelagic plankton of Liuxihe Reservoir, an oligo-mesotrophic impoundment in southern China, during 8-9 months ("summer" form March to November), and retreat to the benthos during the rest of the year ("winter"). We discuss the reasons for the winter retreat, and suggest that predator evasion may be involved, although temperature-linked physiological effects (like the rate of gas bubble production) appear more probable. Clear diel vertical migration of Difflugia was not observed, but patchiness was common. We found no evident lake edge-effects in the spatial pattern either, but the abundances were strongly influen... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4856396 Thu, 19 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4856396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4856397&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21570267%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fan X, Hu X, Al-Farraj SA, Clamp JC, Song W Three marine scuticociliates, Falcicyclidium fangi nov. gen., nov. spec., Falcicyclidium atractodes nov. spec., and Cristigera media Kahl, 1928 were investigated using live observation and silver impregnation methods. The genus Falcicyclidium is distinguished by the combination of: (i) dorsoventrally flattened body, (ii) hook-like (falciform) paroral membrane, (iii) anterior end of paroral membrane posterior to anterior end of membranelle 1, and (iv) multiple caudal cilia. Falcicyclidium fangi nov. spec., the type of the new genus, can be recognized by the combination of its large size, extremely dorsoventrally flattened (3:1) body, consistently 10 somatic kineties, and the broad, elongate buccal area occupying 60% of the body length... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4856397 Tue, 10 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4856397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4856399&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21565476%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pan H, Hu X, Gong J, Lin X, Al-Rasheid KA, Al-Farraj SA, Warren A The morphology and infraciliature of four marine cyrtophorid ciliates isolated from Qingdao, China, were investigated. Based on the present work and on previous data, improved diagnoses for three rarely known species are provided: (1) Mirodysteria decora; small-sized marine Mirodysteria about 35-60×25-35μm in vivo, oval in outline; body surface with two or three conspicuous dorsal spines and one caudal spine; three right kineties, the rightmost one extending dorso-apically; left frontal kineties reduced, each consisting of three basal bodies only; podite subcaudally positioned; two ventrally located contractile vacuoles. (2) Dysteria legumen; body oval with two longitudinal grooves on different plates; six rig... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4856399 Mon, 09 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4856399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4856398&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21565477%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Xu Y, Huang J, Warren A, Al-Rasheid KA, Al-Farraj SA, Song W The morphology and infraciliature of three karyorelictean ciliates, Geleia sinica spec. nov. and two poorly known Kentrophoros species, K. flavus and K. gracilis, isolated from the intertidal zone of a beach at Qingdao, China, were investigated. Geleia sinica spec. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: body medium-sized and slender-cylindrical; with a conspicuous prebuccal fossa; 28-34 somatic kineties; about 40 short adoral polykineties; intrabuccal kinety composed of 25-34 dikinetids; paroral kineties composed of closely spaced dikinetids. The comparison with similar congeners clearly supports the validity of this new species based on morphological and small subunit (S... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4856398 Mon, 09 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4856398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4856400&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21561747%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhang Q, Liu G, Hu Z In 2008-2010, several freshwater dinoflagellate blooms caused by Peridiniopsis spp. were observed in China. P. penardii and P. niei sampled from various geographical localities were examined by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. After comparing morphological and molecular differences, the new freshwater variety Peridiniopsis penardii var. robusta var. nov. (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae) found in Manwan Reservoir, Yunnan Province was described. The new variety differed from P. penardii since it possessed numerous robust antapical spines and a conspicuous apical spine. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on SSU, LSU and ITS indicated P. niei, P. penardii and P. penardii var. robusta were closely related with P. kevei, and clustered into a monoph... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4856400 Sun, 08 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4856400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4804348&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21497073%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gao X, Shi X, Yang X During conjugation of Paramecium caudatum, there are two well-known stages when nuclear migration occurs. What happens to the nuclei is closely related to their localisations in cells. The first of these stages is the entrance of one meiotic product into the paroral region. This nucleus survives, while the remaining three outside this area degenerate. The second stage is the antero-posterior localisation of eight synkaryon division products. Four posterior nuclei are differentiated into macronuclear anlagen, whereas four anterior nuclei remain as the presumptive micronuclei. In this experiment, the process of the third prezygotic division of P. caudatum was studied with the help of protargol staining. Here, a third nuclear migration was discovered. By two ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4804348 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4804348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4804349&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21459562%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Küppers GC, Paiva TD, Borges BD, Harada ML, Garraza GG, Mataloni G The ciliate Parasterkiella thompsoni (Foissner, 1996) nov. gen., nov. comb. was originally described from Antarctica. In the present study, we report the morphology, morphogenesis during cell division, and molecular phylogeny inferred from the 18S-rDNA sequence of a population isolated from the Rancho Hambre peat bog, Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina). The study is based on live and protargol-impregnated specimens. Molecular phylogeny was inferred from trees constructed by means of the maximum parsimony, neighbor joining, and Bayesian analyses. The interphase morphology matches the original description of the species. During the cell division, stomatogenesis begins with the de novo proliferation of two fie... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4804349 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4804349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4638212&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21429718%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Smirnov AV, Bedjagina OM, Goodkov AV The genus Dermamoeba unifies oblong, flattened amoebae of lingulate morphotype, possessing a thick multilayered cell coat. It includes two species, D. granifera and D. minor. In this paper we describe a third species of this genus, D. algensis n. sp. This species is algivorous; engulfing a large algal cell, it destroys part of the cell coat liberating the plasma membrane, which forms the food vacuole. Thus the glycocalyx never appears inside the phagosome. This observation confirms that some of the thick-coated amoebae may use this way to avoid energetically costly digestion of their own glycocalyx. Studies of the physiology of this organism show that it feeds most actively at a temperature of 22-25°C. Below and above this temperature the ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4638212 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4638212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4638213&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21398102%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fokam Z, Ngassam P, Strüder-Kypke MC, Lynn DH To more confidently assess phylogenetic relationships among astome ciliates, we obtained small subunit (SSU) rRNA sequences from nine species distributed in six genera and three families: Almophrya bivacuolata, Eudrilophrya complanata, Metaracoelophrya sp. 1, Metaracoelophrya sp. 2, Metaracoelophrya intermedia, Metaradiophrya sp., Njinella prolifera, Paraclausilocola constricta n. gen., n. sp., and Paraclausilocola elongata n. sp. The two new species in the proposed new clausilocolid genus Paraclausilocola n. gen. are astomes with no attachment apparatus, two files of contractile vacuoles, and an arc-like anterior suture that has differentiations of thigmotactic ciliature on the anterior ends of the left kineties of the upper surf... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4638213 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4638213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4638214&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21397475%26dopt%3DAbstract Occurrence of the lobose testate amoeba Pseudonebela africana (Amoebozoa, Arcellinida) in the Brazilian "cerrado" Eur J Protistol. 2011 Mar 10; Authors: Lahr DJ, Souza MB Flagship species are defined as microbial eukaryote species with characteristic morphologies and restricted geographic distributions. These are proposed as ideal systems to elucidate patterns of geographical distribution in microbial eukaryotes. Here we present new records of the putative flagship species Pseudonebela africana, a lobose testate amoeba (Arcellinida) characterized by a cross or clover-shaped aperture and geographic distribution previously believed to be restricted to Africa. We have sampled P. africana from 5 separate ponds in the Central and Southwest Brazillian "cerrado", and characterized ind... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4638214 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4638214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4580073&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21353502%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this study was to identify the impact of nutrient enrichment on the diversity of the ciliate community associated with the roots of the aquatic macrophyte Eichhornia crassipes. The experiment was performed in the Garças Lake, located in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil. We conducted two treatments (fertilized and control) with three replicates each. To increase the initial nutrient concentrations in each mesocosm of the fertilized treatment, we added 1000μgL(-1) of KNO(3) and 200μgL(-1) of KH(2)PO(4) during each sampling date. We found a relative high number of ciliate species (85 species) and a predominance of hypotrichs. Among the recorded species, about 25% occurred exclusively in the fertilized treatment. Moreover, detrended correspondence analysis demonst... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4580073 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4580073 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525472&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21334865%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Moser M, Weisse T We investigated the effect of pH on the competition of two closely related chrysomonad species, Poterioochromonas malhamensis originating from circumneutral Lake Constance, and Ochromonas sp. isolated from a highly acidic mining lake in Austria (pH ∼2.6). We performed pairwise growth experiments between these two species at four different pH ranging from 2.5 to 7.0. Heterotrophic bacteria served as food for both flagellates. Results were compared to growth rates measured earlier in single species experiments over the same pH range. We tested the hypothesis that the acidotolerant species benefits from competitive release under conditions of acid stress. The neutrophilic strain numerically dominated over the acidotolerant strain at pH 7.0, but was the inferio... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525472 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470850&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21282046%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aimed at assessing genetic polymorphism within P. pentaurelia including new strains recently found in Poland (originating from two water bodies, different years, seasons, and clones of one strain) as well as strains collected from distant habitats (USA, Europe, Asia), and strains representing other species of the complex. We compared two DNA fragments: partial sequences (349bp) of the LSU rDNA and partial sequences (618bp) of cytochrome B gene. A correlation between the geographical origin of the strains and the genetic characteristics of their genotypes was not observed. Different genotypes were found in Kraków in two types of water bodies (Opatkowice-natural pond; Jordan's Park-artificial pond). Haplotype diversity within a single water body was not recorded. Likewise, season... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470850 Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470851&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21277756%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, temperature reaction norms of natural isolates of the freshwater protist Paramecium caudatum were investigated, considering nearly the entire temperature range. These reaction norms were used to estimate thermal performance curves by applying a set of commonly used model functions. An information theory approach was used to compare models and to identify the best ones for describing these data. Our results indicate that the models which can describe negative growth at the high- and low-temperature branch of an optimum curve are preferable. This is a prerequisite for accurately calculating the critical upper and lower thermal limits. While we detected a temperature optimum of around 29°C for all investigated clonal strains, the critical thermal limits were considerably diffe... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470851 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470852&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21276719%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Girard V, Néraudeau D, Adl SM, Breton G The mid-Cretaceous amber of France contains thousands of protist-like inclusions similar in shape to some ciliates, flagellates and amoebae. The sheer abundance of these inclusions and their size variation within a single amber piece are not concordant with true fossil protists. French amber is coniferous in origin, which generally does not preserve well protists without cell walls. Thus, it would be surprising if French Cretaceous amber had preserved millions of protists. Here, we present a survey of the protist-like inclusions from French amber and attempt to elucidate their origins. Diverse Cretaceous ambers (from Spain, Germany and Lebanon), also derived from conifer resins, contain thousands of protist-like inclusions. In contrast,... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470852 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4185218&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21074391%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Qin Y, Xie S, Smith HG, Swindles GT, Gu Y Testate amoebae are a group of shelled protozoa that occur in high density populations in wet environments. More than 1900 testate amoebae species or subspecies have been reported in published literature over the last 200 years, from many regions of the world. Testate amoebae are classified as Lobosea or Filosea respectively, according to the presence of lobose or filiform pseudopodia. Testate amoebae have proved an interesting group of indicator organisms in palaeoenvironmental studies and have also been used as bioindicators of human impact on ecosystems. Until recently, the testate amoebae of China were unknown to most western scientists, but our knowledge has improved greatly over the past 20 years. This paper summarizes the testat... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4185218 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4185218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4166239&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21071191%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kamikawa R, Yabuki A, Nakayama T, Ishida KI, Hashimoto T, Inagaki Y Elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) and elongation factor-like protein (EFL) are considered to be functionally equivalent proteins involved in peptide synthesis. Eukaryotes can be fundamentally divided into 'EF-1α-containing' and 'EFL-containing' types. Recently, EF-1α and EFL genes have been surveyed across the diversity of eukaryotes to explore the origin and evolution of EFL genes. Although the phylum Cercozoa is a diverse group, gene data for either EFL or EF-1α are absent from all cercozoans except chlorarachniophytes which were previously defined as EFL-containing members. Our survey revealed that two members of the cercozoan subphylum Filosa (Thaumatomastix sp. and strain YPF610) are EFL-containing member... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4166239 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4166239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4107924&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20971620%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Foissner W, Stoeck T Cotterillia bromelicola nov. gen., nov. spec. was discovered in the tanks of the Mexican bromeliad Tillandsia heterophylla. Its morphology, ontogenesis, and 18S rDNA were studied with standard methods. Cotterillia has many cirral rows on both sides of the body. Uniquely, and thus used to diagnose the new genus Cotterillia, it has dorsal kineties originating de novo, producing neokinetal waves where the parental dorsal kineties reorganize to "combined rows", consisting of dorsal bristles anteriorly and of cirri posteriorly. Thus, up to four generations of bristles and cirri occur on the dorsal body surface. Cotterillia bromelicola has a gonostomatid body and adoral zone of membranelles, while the dense ciliature and the neokinetal waves resemble kahliellid ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4107924 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4107924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4088329&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20961741%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Agatha S The two recently established genera ApostrombidiumXu et al., 2009 and VaristrombidiumXu et al., 2009 and the analysis of ontogenetic data in Strombidium constrictum, S. montagnesi, S. wilberti, Omegastrombidium elegans, and Paratontonia gracillima necessitated a revision of the hypothesis about the somatic ciliary pattern evolution in oligotrichid ciliates. As a consequence, the species-rich genus Strombidium was split, establishing two genera for species with a horizontal girdle kinety posterior to the oral primordium: Opisthostrombidium nov. gen. with the extrusome attachment sites along the anterior margin of the girdle kinety and posterior to the oral primordium and Foissneridium nov. gen. with the extrusome attachment sites distinctly apart from the girdle kinety... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4088329 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4088329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4062535&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20934313%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cepicka I The genus Rhizomastix contains five species of amoeboflagellates with a single anterior flagellum, which live as intestinal symbionts of insects and amphibians. Though established in 1911, Rhizomastix has been neglected for decades and its phylogenetic position is uncertain. This paper describes the morphology of the first cultivated strain of Rhizomastix. The organism was isolated from an argentine horned frog and differs from the known Rhizomastix species by the presence of biflagellate cells. The isolate is described as Rhizomastix biflagellata sp. nov. A possible relationship of Rhizomastix to Archamoebae is discussed. PMID: 20934313 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4062535 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4062535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4062537&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20932726%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: De Jonckheere JF, Baumgartner M, Eberhardt S, Opperdoes FR, Stetter KO An amoeba strain was isolated from marine sediment taken from the beach near a fumarole in Italy. The trophozoites of this new marine species transforms into flagellates with variable numbers of flagella, from 2 to 10. The strain forms round to oval cysts. This thermophilic amoeboflagellate grows at temperatures up to 54°C. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) places the amoeboflagellate in the Heterolobosea. The closest relatives are Stachyamoeba sp. ATCC50324, a strain isolated from an ocean sample, and Vrihiamoeba italica, a recent isolate from a rice field. Like some other heterolobosean species, this new isolate has a group I intron in the SSU rDNA. Because of ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4062537 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4062537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4062536&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20932727%26dopt%3DAbstract Eur J Protistol. 2010 Oct 5; Authors: Weisse T PMID: 20932727 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4062536 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4062536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4042950&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20889318%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zhang Q, Yi Z, Song W, Al-Rasheid KA, Warren A Traditionally the unusual ciliate Paraspathidium has been regarded as a gymnostome haptorid (Litostomatea) based on its morphological features. In order to test this placement, the small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene was sequenced for two isolates of Paraspathidium apofuscum and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Furthermore, the putative structure of the variable regions 2 and 4 of the SSU rRNA gene were predicted and compared with those of other ciliates. Our analyses of SSU rRNA gene sequences revealed (i) a clear separation of Paraspathidium from the haptorids and indeed the class Litostomatea, rejecting its systematic position based on morphological characters and (ii) an equally clear association with the assemblage comprising t... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4042950 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4042950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4042949&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20889319%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we showed that 2-arachidonoylglycerol and 2-oleoylglycerol are hydrolyzed by the combined actions of MAGL and FAAH. MAGL-like activity was examined in the presence of FAAH specific inhibitors, URB597 or AM374 and showed optimum pH of 8-9, apparent K(M) of 14.1μM and V(max) of 5.8nmol/min×mg. The enzyme was present in membrane bound and cytosolic isoforms; molecular mass was determined at ∼45 and ∼40kDa. MAGL and FAAH could also inactivate endogenous signaling lipids, which might play an important role in Tetrahymena as suggested in mammals. Tetrahymena could be used as a model system for testing drugs targeting enzymes of the endocannabinoid system. PMID: 20889319 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4042949 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4042949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003619&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20869856%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aimed to investigate the testate amoebae (Arcellinida and Eugliphida) species diversity in plankton, macrophytes and aquatic sediment samples from a shallow lake of the Upper Paraná River floodplain. Samples were carried out from April 2007 to March 2008. We recorded 89 taxa, belonging to 10 families. Eighty-two taxa were found in the aquatic sediment, 71 in the macrophytes and 53 in the plankton. Highest values of alpha diversity were observed in the aquatic sediment. Although the plankton had the highest number of accidental species, accessory and constant species were also observed in this habitat. Most of the species classified as constant for the plankton belonged to the genus Arcella. Most of the constant species in the macrophytes and aquatic sediment belonged to the g... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003619 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4003619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003821&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20863674%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vďačný P, Tirjaková E, Tóthová T, PristaÅ¡ P, Javorský P The morphology, ontogenesis, encystment, and 18S rRNA gene sequence of a new soil hypotrich ciliate, Kahliella matisi, were studied. Main characteristics of K. matisi are: (1) two short and six longitudinal cirral rows right of the adoral zone of membranelles and four longitudinal rows left of it; (2) three dorsal kineties, of which kinety 1 extends along the left cell margin, kinety 2 runs in a slightly sigmoidal line, and kinety 3 is distinctly shortened posteriorly. Ontogenesis is similar to that in congeners, especially in the development of the marginal rows and long dorsal kineties, the preservation of some old cirral rows after division, and the direction of the neokinetal wave. However, the... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003821 Sun, 19 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4003821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003902&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20843673%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Xu K, Du Y, Lei Y, Dai R Methodological impediments have long been the main problem in estimating the ecological role of marine benthic ciliates. Percoll density centrifugation is currently the most efficient technique for extracting ciliates from fine-grained sediments, while the high cost and low density of Percoll limit its wide application. We developed a protocol of density gradient centrifugation using the cheap sol Ludox HS 40 in combination with the quantitative protargol stain (QPS) to enumerate and identify marine benthic ciliates. The combined Ludox-QPS method involves sample collection and salt reduction, extraction with Ludox centrifugation, and preparation with the QPS technique. The recovery efficiency of Ludox was first tested with azoic sandy and muddy sedimen... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003902 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4003902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003959&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20832264%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen X, Wang Y, Long H, Al-Rasheid KA, Warren A, Song W Recent studies have revealed that the "lower" marine ciliates are far more diverse than previously suspected. During a survey on the ciliate fauna in coastal waters of Qingdao, northern China, we have isolated about 30 new or poorly known taxa. In the present study two colepid species are investigated, Nolandia orientalis spec. nov. and Pinacocoleps similis (Kahl, 1933) comb. nov. (basionym: Coleps similis Kahl, 1933). Their morphology and infraciliature are documented based on living observations and silver impregnations. The new species Nolandia orientalis differs from the type species N. nolandi mainly in the structure of tier plates. The structure of the tier plates was also the basis for transferring Coleps similis K... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003959 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4003959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3962364&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20829002%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vd'ačný P, Orsi W, Foissner W Based solely on the localization of the cytostome, Cavalier-Smith (2004) divided the ciliate subphylum Intramacronucleata into three infraphyla: the Spirotrichia, including Armophorea and Spirotrichea; the Rhabdophora, containing exclusively Litostomatea; and the Ventrata, comprising the remaining six intramacronucleate classes. This scheme is supported largely by 18S rRNA phylogenetic analyses presented here, except for the placement of the Armophorea. We argue that this group does not belong to the Spirotrichia but forms a lineage together with the Litostomatea because the molecular sister relationship of the Armophorea and Litostomatea is supported by two morphological and morphogenetic synapomorphies: (i) plate-like arranged postciliary ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3962364 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3962364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3915863&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20801008%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dehority BA When fed equal amounts of substrate, two Epidinium caudatum clone cultures of markedly different size produced similar volumes of microbial protoplasm. Addition of up to 50% volume of 72h culture medium had no inhibitory effects on growth of Epidinium. Two clone cultures of Epidinium caudatum from Australia had longer generation times and showed less substrate attachment when compared to Ohio clones of this same species. Substitution of alfalfa for orchardgrass in the normal substrate increased Epidinium concentrations, while feeding only ground orchardgrass or alfalfa resulted in a marked decrease or disappearance of the protozoa. Eudiplodinium impalae, isolated from rumen contents of a steer in Australia, was successfully cultured, with generation times for this ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3915863 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3915863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599989&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20494561%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Murase J, Kawasaki M, De Jonckheere JF A heterolobosean amoeba strain 6_5F was isolated from an Italian rice field soil. Although 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that the new isolate was closely related to Stachyamoeba sp. ATCC 50324, further molecular analysis and morphological observation showed distinct differences amongst the two. The 5.8S rRNA gene was successfully amplified and sequenced for strain 6_5F but not for strain ATCC 50324. Trophozoites of strain ATCC 50324 transform into flagellate forms in the late stage of incubation before encystment, while strain 6_5F do not show flagellate forms under different conditions of the flagellation test. Light and electron microscopic observation showed the structural difference of cysts of strain 6_5F from strain A... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599989 Wed, 19 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3599989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599988&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20494562%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, some direct evidence was found to show that the meiotic nuclear degeneration in P. caudatum is of apoptotic nature, which further confirmed our previous study (Yang et al. 2007) and indicated that morphological apoptotic characteristics discovered in multicellular organisms do exist in unicellular eukaryotic ciliate protozoa. PMID: 20494562 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599988 Wed, 19 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3599988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599987&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20494563%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bourland WA, Strüder-Kypke MC Morphology, ontogeny and the molecular phylogeny of Agolohymena aspidocauda nov. gen., nov. spec., a new freshwater tetrahymenid ciliate from Idaho, U.S.A, are described. The ontogeny and histophagous mode of nutrition are similar to those of Deltopylum rhabdoidesFauré-Fremiet and Mugard, 1946. The new genus is placed with Deltopylum in the resurrected family Deltopylidae Song and Wilbert, 1989. We emend the diagnostic features of the family to include division by polytomy, right and left somatic kineties extending into the preoral suture, crook-shaped or sigmoid adoral membranelles 1 and 2, markedly reduced adoral membranelle 3 and a tetrahymenid silverline pattern. The main diagnostic features of the new genus are a disc-shaped caudal cili... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599987 Wed, 19 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3599987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522406&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20430600%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fan X, Chen X, Song W, Al-Rasheid KA, Warren A Two new marine scuticociliates, Sathrophilus planus n. sp. and Pseudoplatynematum dengi n. sp., isolated from coastal waters of Qingdao, northern China, were investigated using live observation and silver impregnations. Sathrophilus planus can be recognized by its elongate and conspicuously flattened body, ca. 16 somatic kineties, single postoral kinety, extremely elongated first kinety row of membranelle 1, and its marine habitat. Among these features, the structure of membranelle 1 is the most characteristic and enables this species to be easily distinguished from its congeners. Pseudoplatynematum dengi is characterized by the following features: cell surface conspicuously strengthened and notched; prominent spines both at anter... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522406 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3522406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522407&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20427163%26dopt%3DAbstract This study demonstrates that fluorescence emission combined with bacterial and protozoal cultures could be a reliable method for quantifying bacterial predation and viability in vitro. PMID: 20427163 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522407 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3522407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420921&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20347279%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Corsaro D, Michel R, Walochnik J, Müller KD, Greub G An amoeba isolated from an aquatic biotope, identified morphologically as Saccamoeba limax, was found harbouring mutualistic rod-shaped gram-negative bacteria. During their cultivation on agar plates, a coinfection also by lysis-inducing chlamydia-like organisms was found in some subpopulations of that amoeba. .Here we provide a molecular-based identification of both the amoeba host and the two bacterial endosymbionts. Analysis of the 18S rRNA gene revealed that this strain is the sister-group to Glaeseria, for which we proposed the name Saccamoeba lacustris. The rod-shaped endosymbiont was identified as a member of Variovorax paradoxus group (Comamonadaceae, Beta-Proteobacteria). No growth on bacteriological agars was ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420921 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3420921 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420920&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20347580%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ki JS Noctiluca scintillans (Macartney) Kofoid et Swezy, 1921 is an unarmoured heterotrophic dinoflagellate with a global distribution, and has been considered as one of the ancestral taxa among dinoflagellates. Recently, 18S rDNA, actin, alpha-, beta-tubulin, and Hsp90-based phylogenies have shown the basal position of the noctilucids. However, the relationships of dinoflagellates in the basal lineages are still controversial. Although the nuclear rDNA (e.g. 18S, ITS-5.8S, and 28S) contains much genetic information, DNA sequences of N. scintillans rDNA molecules were insufficiently characterized as yet. Here the author sequenced a long-range nuclear rDNA, spanning from the 18S to the D5 region of the 28S rDNA, of N. scintillans. The present N. scintillans had a nearly identic... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420920 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3420920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420919&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20347581%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dyková I, Kostka M, Pecková H A strain of naked amoeba isolated from pikeperch (Sander lucioperca (L.)) kidney tissue has been characterized using light- and transmission electron microscopy. Sequencing of SSU rDNA and phylogenetic analysis based on a broad dataset of sequences completed our study. All data obtained suggest that this strain belongs to a species that has not been described before. As none of the existing genera of amoebae is applicable to this organism, the new genus Grellamoeba is established and the type species Grellamoeba robusta is described. Although the phylogenetic position of the SSU rDNA sequence of the type strain of G. robusta is sensitive to the method of analysis applied, a tendency to group with Acramoeba dendroida Smirnov, Nassonova et... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420919 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3420919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3399876&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20303717%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shen Z, Huang J, Lin X, Yi Z, Li J, Song W The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Aspidisca hongkongensis spec. nov., a large marine form isolated from the coastal waters near Hong Kong, were investigated. It differs from the congeners by the combination of cell size (about 90x60mum in vivo), 9-11 conspicuous dorsal ridges, one fine and seven strong frontoventral cirri, six membranelles in anterior portion of adoral zone, and 17-23 membranelles in posterior portion of adoral zone. The comparison with similar congeners clearly supports the distinction of this new species based on morphological and small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequence studies. The SSU rRNA gene sequence similarity within the genus is about 75.3-92.1% which indicates that this is a distinct form. P... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3399876 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3399876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3373042&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20227255%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Leadbeater BS, Cheng R Diaphanoeca grandis posseses a voluminous flask-shaped lorica comprising an outer layer of 12 longitudinal costae and an inner layer of four transverse costae. The cell is suspended just above the centre of the lorica chamber by tentacles that are attached to the anterior transverse ring. The component costal strips are superficially similar although four different strip categories can be distinguished on the basis of length and morphology. Costal strips are produced 'upside-down' within the parent cell and accumulated in a close-packed horizontal ring at the top of the inner surface of the collar. The order in which costal strips are produced is consistent, starting with those for the transverse rings, basal to anterior, and then the longitudinal costae... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3373042 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3373042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3373043&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20226640%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bartsch I, Dovgal IV Copidognathus nautileiBartsch, 1997, from a hydrothermal vent field of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at about 13 degrees N, 45 degrees W and 4090m depth, was infested with the suctorian Corynophrya abyssalis n. sp., with up to 58 epizoans per mite. The new suctorian has a sacciform body with seven longitudinal ribs, a compact macronucleus and up to 40 non-retractile tentacles. The budding is exogenous. The systematic position of the new species and the genus Corynophrya is discussed, as well as infestation rates and sites of suctorians on their halacarid hosts. PMID: 20226640 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3373043 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3373043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3362759&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20219335%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ito A, Honma H, Gürelli G, Göçmen B, Mishima T, Nakai Y, Imai S Triplumaria selenicaLatteur, Tuffrau and Wespes, 1970 was redescribed from pyridinated silver carbonate-impregnated specimens. Triplumaria selenica has a slit of the vestibular opening extending posteriorly along the left side of the vestibulum. The wide C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety extends along the ventral side of the vestibular opening. The narrow perivestibular polybrachykinety extends laterally along the dorsal side of the vestibular opening from the right end of the adoral polybrachykinety and forms a loop extending posteriorly along the vestibular slit to join to the left end of the adoral polybrachykinety. The 18SSU rRNA gene of T. selenica as well as those of six other entodiniomorphid ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3362759 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3362759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3303236&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20172700%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jiang J, Zhang Q, Warren A, Al-Rasheid KA, Song W The living morphology, infraciliature and silverline system of two small marine Euplotes species, E. orientalis spec. nov. and E. raikoviAgamaliev, 1966, isolated from a sandy beach near Qingdao, China, were investigated. Euplotes orientalis is characterized by a combination of features including their small size (35-45mum long), five or six conspicuous dorsal ridges, two cilia-free basal plaques, eight normal-sized frontoventral cirri (FVC), and a double-patella-I type of silverline system. Euplotes raikovi is redescribed based on a Chinese population and includes the first detailed description of its morphology in vivo. It can be recognized by having one highly reduced and seven normal-sized frontoventral cirri, a single marg... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3303236 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3303236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3303237&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20171851%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Müller H, Achilles-Day UE, Day JG The survival of ciliate resting cysts, in the presence and absence of soil, was studied under two environmental stresses: desiccation and freezing. Laboratory strains of the common species Colpoda inflata and the rare species Meseres corlissi were used in these experiments, which yielded the following results: 1) Freezing of cysts in soil with a residual moisture level exceeding approximately 30% was destructive for both species. 2) Survival of Meseres corlissi cysts depended largely on the presence of soil. 3) In the absence of soil, Colpoda inflata cysts had greater tolerance to desiccation and freezing than Meseres corlissi cysts. Possible consequences for the distribution of natural populations are discussed. PMID: 20171851 [PubMe... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3303237 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3303237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3291444&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20167456%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we show that mating-type II cells accumulate near the site where gamone 1 secreted by mating-type I cells is present at a high concentration. We also show that the behaviour of individual cells changes when exposed to the complementary mating-type gamone; cells begin to rotate and swim slowly, thus shortening their minimum path length (final displacement of a cell from its origin). These results suggest that gamones 1 and 2 induce behavioural changes in type II and I cells, respectively, and that gamone-stimulated cells may accumulate at the site with the highest activity of the complementary gamone, after repetition of swimming changes in the gradient of gamone concentration. This reciprocal induction of the changes in behaviour may increase the probability of sexual encoun... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3291444 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3291444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3291445&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20163938%26dopt%3DAbstract First report of Calyptospora sp. (Apicomplexa, Calyptosporidae) in forage characid fish from the Três Marias Reservoir, São Francisco Basin, Brazil. Eur J Protistol. 2010 Feb 15; Authors: de Albuquerque MC, de Carvalho Brasil-Sato M Coccidians are parasitic protozoans, and Calyptospora is an important genus of coccidia found in freshwater and marine fish of the Americas. This paper describes Calyptospora sp. that were found parasitizing the liver and intestine of Triportheus guentheri and the intestine of Tetragonopterus chalceus, two forage fish species from the Três Marias Reservoir, Upper São Francisco River, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Apicomplexa found in the São Francisco Basin are reported here for the first time. PMID: 20163938 [PubMed - ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3291445 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3291445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3277306&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20153611%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zlatogursky VV Three new species of centrohelid heliozoans Acanthocystis crescenta, A. kirilli, and Choanocystis minima from two freshwater lakes of Valamo Island (North-Western Russia) were studied using light- and scanning electron microscopy. The main apomorphy of A. kirilli are slightly branched radial scales. Acanthocystis crescenta has characteristic radial scales with crescent-like structures on their tips. Cell diameter of these two species does not exceed 10mum. Radial scales of C. minima have truncated tips and lack apical teeth; plate scales of this species are oviform, without lateral notches or central rib. The latter organism is the smallest heliozoan species known; the diameter of its body is about 3mum. The possible domination of small heliozoans in the cryptic... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3277306 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3277306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105604&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20018499%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Foissner W, Hess S, Al-Rasheid K Using standard methods, we describe two new Semispathidium species from semiterrestrial habitats of tropical Africa and central Europe. Semispathidium fraterculum nov. spec. and S. pulchrum nov. spec. differ from each other and from two Namibian (Southwest African) congeners by body size, the shape and location of the extrusomes; the shape of the macronucleus, the number of ciliary rows, the number of cilia within the rows, and the number of dikinetids comprising the dorsal brush rows. The globular resting cyst of S. fraterculum is unique in having countless granules on the inside of the external layer, forming sharp-angled rows. The distribution of these and two further, not yet described south African species indicates that the genus Semispat... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105604 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3105604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015801&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19926460%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hamilton KM, Morritt D, Shaw PW In the absence of distinct morphological characteristics, knowledge of genetic relationships within and between protist parasite species is important for determining reservoir hosts and understanding the biology of the causative agents of emerging diseases. The genus Hematodinium is a member of Syndinea, an ubiquitous alveolate group found in all oceanic environments. Hematodinium parasites cause epizootics in crustaceans, yet their life cycle, genotypic variety and their phylogeny is poorly understood. By combining phylogenetic methods with analyses of secondary structures of variable ribosomal RNA genes we show that Hematodinium from the east and west North-Atlantic is comprised of distinct ribotypes or clades. These did not correspond to a sp... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015801 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3015801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912736&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19836214%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gürelli G, Göçmen B Species composition and distribution of large intestinal ciliates was investigated in the feces from 13 Cypriot wild donkeys, free-living in the Karpaz national park, Northern Cyprus. We identified 16 ciliate genera and 22 species. This is the first report on intestinal ciliates in Cypriot wild donkeys, and no endemic species were observed. The genus Cycloposthium occurred in all animals. The mean number of ciliates was 3.0+/-2.5x10(4)cellsml(-1) of feces and the mean number of ciliate species per host was 6.5+/-4.8. Characteristics of the wild donkey ciliates was almost identical to those reported in other equids from various regions around the world. We thus conclude that there is no pronounced geographic variation in the intestinal ciliate... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912736 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2912736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832418&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19775875%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen X, Li Z, Hu X, Kusuoka Y The urostyloid freshwater ciliate Pseudourostyla cristata was recorded for the first time from Lake Biwa, a 4-million-year-old lake located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Its morphology and morphogenesis were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation, and the SSU ribosomal RNA gene was sequenced. Based on the current observations and previous descriptions, this species is readily recognized mainly by the following characters: body slender or broadly oval to elliptical, and dark grey in color; size in vivo about 170-400x40-150mum; pellicle flexible and contractile, with extrusomes forming a hyaline seam underneath; ciliature comprising about 60-130 adoral membranelles, usually 1 buccal cirrus, 20-24 frontal, 2 frontoterminal, 17-2... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832418 Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2832418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2824643&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19767183%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shao C, Song W, Warren A, Al-Rasheid KA Recent studies suggested that the marine ciliate Kiitricha Nozawa, 1941 represents a basal branch in the spirotrichs. The present study reflects the morphogenetical investigation of Kiitricha marina Nozawa, 1941. The results listed below show an extremely unusual developmental pattern compared with all other known forms in the class Spirotrichea or hypotrichs s. l. PMID: 19767183 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2824643 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2824643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2824642&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19767184%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we report the first ultrastructural data for this species and demonstrate that Ph. hartmannii has all of the features that characterize the genus Polykrikos, including the synapomorphic "taeniocyst-nematocyst complex". We also demonstrate that the ultrastructure of the chloroplasts in Ph. hartmannii conforms to the usual peridinin-containing chloroplasts of most photosynthetic dinoflagellates, which improves inferences about the origin(s) and evolution of photosynthesis within the genus. After taking into account all of the ultrastructural data on polykrikoids presented here and in the literature, this species is re-classified to its original status as Polykrikos hartmannii. PMID: 19767184 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2824642 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2824642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2824641&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19767185%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yaman M, Radek R, Weiser J, Toguebaye BS The microsporidium Unikaryon phyllotretae sp. n., a new pathogen of Phyllotreta undulata, is described based on light microscopic and ultrastructural characteristics. Microscopic examination of parasitized individuals revealed two types of spores. The majority of the spores were of the first type, which are oval and measured 2.74+/-0.17x1.93+/-0.17mum when fresh. Fresh spores of the second type (very rare) are elongated and measured 4.39+/-0.18x1.61+/-0.20mum. All life stages have single nuclei. Sporogony ends with uninucleate single sporoblasts and spores. The spores were only observed in Malpighian tubules. The isofilar polar filament of the parasite has six to eight coils, and a well-developed polaroplast was of the lamellated type, ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2824641 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2824641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2675335&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19651498%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Smirnov A, Nassonova E, Fahrni J, Pawlowski J A new species of Leptomyxida, named Rhizamoeba neglecta was found during studies of the amoeba fauna of the inner Lake Leshevoe located at Valamo archipelago (The Lake Ladoga, North-Western Russia). Light-microscopical and ultrastructural studies indicated that it represents a new species of Leptomyxida. The partial 18S rDNA sequence of this amoeba is very similar to that of Leptomyxa reticulata.. These organisms, however, are very different in LM morphology and biology. Organisms assigned to the genus Rhizamoeba do not form a single clade in the 18S rDNA tree. This may indicate that the genus is an artificial grouping or that a number of studied strains were misidentified. The phylogeny and the systematics of leptomyxids require f... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2675335 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2675335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556849&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19559359%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Weisse T PMID: 19559359 [PubMed - in process] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556849 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:46:05 +0100 2556849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2549326&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19525098%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lei Y, Xu K, Ki Choi J, Pyo Hong H, Wickham SA The ciliate community structure and seasonal dynamics in a solar saltern of the Yellow Sea were studied based on 4 sampling dates and 8 stations with salinities from 27.7 per thousand to 311.0 per thousand. The effects of the type and concentration of the fixative used (Lugol's and Bouin's) were tested at the first sampling date. Fixative type and fixative concentration had significant effects on ciliate abundance and biovolume, with 1% Lugol's giving the best results. A detailed investigation using live observations and protargol staining techniques revealed a total of 98 morphospecies from 8 sampling stations. There was obvious seasonal variation in species composition at most of the stations, but this tended to be less distinct... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2549326 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2549326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2474231&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19500955%26dopt%3DAbstract Eur J Protistol. 2009 Jun 3; Authors: Hausmann K PMID: 19500955 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2474231 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2474231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2474255&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19497717%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Foissner W, Kusuoka Y, Shimano S We investigated a Histiobalantium natans viridis population from the ancient Lake Biwa in Japan, using live observation, silver impregnation, and the small subunit rRNA gene sequence. The morphological and molecular data show, with high support, a close relationship of Histiobalantium, Schizocalyptra and Pleuronema, supporting the family Pleuronematidae Kent, whose nearest relatives are the Cyclidiidae Ehrenberg. A family Histiobalantiidae Puytorac and Corliss is not supported, either by the nucleotide sequences or the morphologic data, except for the curious dorsal location of the cytopyge. Likewise, the data do not support inclusion of Histiobalantium in the family Sulcigeridae Gajewskaja, as very recently suggested by Jankowski, whose classi... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2474255 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2474255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2474256&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19457647%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: da Silva Paiva T, da Silva-Neto ID The morphology and divisional morphogenesis of a Brazilian strain of Nudiamphisiella interrupta were characterized. The organisms were investigated after protargol impregnation. Interphase cells of N. interrupta fitted the original description. Stomatogenesis in dividing cells occurred apokinetally, left of the amphisiellid cirral row, and the ventral ciliature was derived from five ventral primordia; primordium IV was absent. The dorsal kineties replicated intrakinetally, with the exception of kinety 4, which is interpreted as a dorso-marginal row, since it originates in association with the right marginal row. The nuclear apparatus divided as usual in non-urostylid stichotrichs, exhibiting complete fusion of the macronuclear nodules in midd... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2474256 Mon, 18 May 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2474256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2474257&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19346110%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hu X, Fan X, Lin X, Gong J, Song W The morphology and morphogenesis of a marine ciliate, Epiclintes auricularis rarisetus nov. sspec., collected from Qingdao, northern China were studied on live and protargol-impregnated specimens. This isolate can be recognized by its elongate, contractile and tripartite body with a size of 200-400x20-40mum in vivo, about 30 ventrally located adoral membranelles, short undulating membranes, 2-3 frontal and 10-18 transverse cirri as well as 8-9 fronto-midventral rows, 22-31 left and 35-54 right marginal cirri, but no caudal cirri, invariably 3 dorsal kineties, of which kineties 1 and 3 link together anteriorly, 24-70 macronuclear nodules, marine habitat, and contribution of almost all frontal-midventral transverse cirral anlagen (FVT anlagen) ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2474257 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2474257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2474258&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19339165%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: De Jonckheere JF, Baumgartner M, Opperdoes FR, Stetter KO Two amoeba strains were isolated from marine sediment taken at the same place with 18 months interval from a region of the sea floor heated by extended submarine hot springs and fumaroles. These thermophilic amoebae grow at temperatures up to 50 degrees C. Sequences of the internal transcribed spacer demonstrated that the two strains belong to the same species and are different from any genus for which sequences are known. Phylogeny using small subunit ribosomal RNA places the amoeba in the Heterolobosea. Their closest relatives are the hypersaline flagellate Pleurostomum flabellatum and the hypersaline amoeba Tulamoeba peronaphora. The freshwater amoeboflagellate genera Naegleria and Willaertia belong to the same phylo... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2474258 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2474258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2284215&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19297137%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Foissner W, Oertel A We investigated three rare haptorid ciliates, viz., Lagynophrya gibba Kahl (1935), Enchelys lajacola nov. spec., and Spathidium implicatum Kahl (1930), using live observation, silver impregnation, morphometry, and scanning electron microscopy. Lagynophrya gibba, which was rediscovered in peatland soil from Iceland, is referred to a new genus, Kamburophrys, and a new family, Kamburophryidae, based on a unique organelle, the brush membranoid. This structure is near the dorsal brush and composed of very narrowly spaced cilia, about 5mum long. The genus Kamburophrys has a unique combination of features, viz., an oral cone on the oral bulge, an oblique circumoral kinety, and a subapical hump carrying the three-rowed dorsal brush and the brush membranoid. The Ka... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2284215 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2284215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2274451&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19285382%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kiss AK, Acs E, Kiss KT, Török JK Seasonal dynamics of all major protozoan groups were investigated in the plankton of the River Danube, upstream of Budapest (Hungary), by bi-weekly sampling over a 1-year long period. Sixty-one heterotrophic flagellate, 14 naked amoeba, 50 testate amoeba, 4 heliozoan and 83 ciliate morphospecies were identified. The estimated abundance ranges of major groups throughout the year were as follows: heterotrophic flagellates, 0.27-7.8x10(6)ind.l(-1); naked amoebae, max. 3300ind.l(-1); testaceans, max. 1600ind.l(-1); heliozoans, max. 8500ind.l(-1); ciliates, 132-34,000ind.l(-1). In terms of biovolume, heterotrophic flagellates dominated throughout the year (max. 0.58mm(3)l(-1)), and ciliates only exceeded their biovolume in summer (max. 0.... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2274451 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2274451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2259718&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19278842%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Li L, Zhang Q, Hu X, Warren A, Al-Rasheid KA, Al-Khedheiry AA, Song W The morphology and infraciliature of the marine hypotrichous ciliate Nothoholosticha fasciola (Kahl, 1932) nov. gen., nov. comb., isolated from mariculture waters near Qingdao, China, are redescribed based on live and protargol-impregnated specimens. Features reported for the first time include the possession of more than 50 macronuclear nodules and details of the infraciliature, i.e. 50-60 adoral membranelles, shortened paroral and endoral membranes, six frontal, one buccal and two to seven transverse cirri, ca. 40 pairs of midventral cirri, ca. 60-120 left and 70-120 right marginal cirri, three dorsal kineties, caudal and frontoterminal cirri absent. In addition, brief details of two stages of cellular reo... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2259718 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2259718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249346&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19264464%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bourland WA The morphology and infraciliature of Larvulina variabilis collected from freshwater Gammarus near Boise, Idaho (USA) were investigated using live observation and silver impregnation. Larvulina variabilis was collected from three sites in Idaho and one site in Michigan, indicating a wide distribution. Larvulina variabilis is a small (21-25x14-19mum in vivo) hymenostome ectocommensal on freshwater amphipods. Distinguishing morphologic features include an inflexible cortex with a prominent notch in the left posterior margin, a single globular macronucleus, a single posterior contractile vacuole, a somatic ciliature with 10 kineties all consisting of ciliated dikinetids, a "6"-shaped paroral membrane of the stichodyad type, long ( approximately 20mum), immobile cilia a... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249346 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2249346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249345&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19264465%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Esteban GF, Bradley MW, Finlay BJ A 1mm-long Spirostomum with symbiotic chlorellae has been found in the oxygen-depleted sediment of a shallow fen pond in the South of England (UK). The ciliate lives amongst sediment debris, where it builds a lorica that covers about half the length of the ciliate. It is common to find several of the green Spirostomum cells sharing the same patch of sediment particles. PMID: 19264465 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249345 Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2249345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2233330&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19251405%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Grim JN, Buonanno F Members of the ciliate genus Balantidium possess a specialized "Villeneuve-Brachon's" field of somatic cilia to the right of the vestibule, or in a dextroral location. Specimens of the type species were collected in Italy and fixed for study by light microscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The presence of the field in the type species and several other species of the genus indicates a need to re-describe the genus by including details of the ultrastructure of that field. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the field consists of one row of relatively short cilia of uniform length flanked on each side by 2-3 rows, or more, of very short cilia. Their kinetids have typical litostome structure in transmission electron micrographs. We s... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2233330 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2233330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182831&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19211235%26dopt%3DAbstract A multivariate statistical evaluation of the "acolla-complex" of Corythionella species, including a description of C. darwini n. sp. (Rhizopoda: Filosea or Rhizaria: Cercozoa). Eur J Protistol. 2009 Feb 9; Authors: Nicholls KH The testate amoebid genus Corythionella inhabits beach sands and includes three marine and two freshwater species of the "acolla-complex", all characterized by a poorly developed flared collar surrounding the pseudostomal aperture. Multivariate statistical methods (cluster analysis, principal coordinates analysis, non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination and discriminant analyses) were applied to morphologic characters of the test (shell) of the members of this complex in order to visualize and assess the degree of similarity among them. Graphical d... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2182831 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2182831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182830&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19211236%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Casal G, Garcia P, Matos P, Monteiro E, Matos E, Azevedo C A myxosporidian was found in the urinary bladder of the teleost Menticirrhus americanus Linnaeus, 1758 (Sciaenidae) collected from the South Atlantic coast of Brazil. Polysporic amoeboid plasmodia containing sporoblasts, developing pansporoblasts and spores were free in the bladder lumen. The prevalence of infection was 17.64% (15/85). Unfixed spores were spherical to subspherical, on average 10.5mum long, 9.8mum wide and 10.1mum thick (n=25), and fixed spores measured 10.1x9.5x9.7mum. The two spore valves were of equal size and each possessed prominent sutural lines and about 41 (37-45) surface ridges aligned parallel with the suture line. These ridges gave transverse sections a cog-wheel-like outline. The spores cont... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2182830 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2182830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2129096&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19157810%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yoshida M, Nakayama T, Inouye I A new species of unicellular opisthokont protist, Nuclearia thermophila sp. nov., was isolated from the warm spring water of Yunoko Lake, Japan, and has been described using light and electron microscopy. It exists as a spherical floating form and a flattened amoeboid form showing various shapes. The cells occasionally extended as branches or knobbed filopodia. The spherical form when suspended in medium measured 20-40mum in diameter (excluding filopodia). The amoeboid form may exceed 65mum along the longest axis. A nucleus with an obvious spherical nucleolus, dictyosomes, mitochondria with flat cristae, food vacuoles, and lipid droplet-like vacuoles with homogeneous contents were observed; no extracellular matrix or bacterial endosymbionts were... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2129096 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2129096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2125419&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19155165%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, a sensitive dual-radioactive tracer technique was developed to simultaneously assess the ingestion rate, and carbon- and phosphorus-specific assimilation efficiencies, of the marine planktonic ciliate Strobilidium neptuni feeding on the autotrophic dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra. Dinoflagellate prey were simultaneously 16h pulse labelled with NaH(14)CO(3) and H(3)(33)PO(4) before being fed to the ciliate, and radioactive labels were traced into ciliate biomass and the experimental medium, as well as being monitored in the prey cells. Rates measured in short-term (10min) incubations, as commonly used to estimate protist uptake of fluorescently labelled prey, were approximately 6 times higher and 3-6 times more variable than rates measured in longer 3-5h incubations. The... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2125419 Sun, 18 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2125419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2052955&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19091532%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Foissner W, Wolf KW Platyophrya bromelicola nov. spec. was discovered in tanks of bromeliads from Jamaica. Its morphology, ontogenesis, and small-subunit rDNA were studied using standard methods. Platyophrya bromelicola differs from its congeners mainly by the pyriform, unflattened body (vs. reniform and flattened); the free-swimming (planktonic) habit (vs. biofilm creepers); and the unique ability to form two distinct morphs, i.e., small, bacteriophagous microstomes and large, predaceous macrostomes. Microstomes and macrostomes can be distinguished not only by body size and feeding preferences but also by the postoral pseudomembrane composed of two vs. three to four dikinetids per kinety. The ability to form macrostomes is considered as an adaptation to the highly competitive... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2052955 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2052955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047145&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19070999%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Krause M, Bräucker R Bursaria truncatella is a giant ciliate. Its volume of 3x10(7)mum(3) and a sedimentation rate of 923mums(-1) would induce the cell to rapidly sink to the bottom of a pond unless compensating mechanisms exist. The upward swimming behaviour of a cell population (negative gravitaxis) may be either a result of reorientations of the cells (graviorientation) and/or direction-dependent changes in propulsion rate (gravikinesis). The special statocyst hypothesis assumes a stimulation of mechanosensitive ion channels by forces of the cytoplasmic mass acting on the lower membrane. Here, we present basic electrophysiological data on B. truncatella. Investigation of the mechanosensitivity reveals a polar distribution of depolarising and hyperpolarising mechanosens... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047145 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100 2047145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1964204&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19008084%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wang Y, Song W, Warren A, Al-Rasheid KA, Al-Quraishy SA, Al-Farraj SA, Hu X, Pan H Two new marine scuticociliates, Pleuronema sinica n. sp. and P. wilberti n. sp., collected from the sand beach of Qingdao, China, were investigated in vivo and following protargol impregnation. Ciliates of the genus Pleuronema are normally recognizable by their large sail-like paroral membrane although one species, P. grolierei, has shorter cilia in the paroral membrane. Neither of the new forms has the conspicuous paroral membrane in vivo so in this respect they are not typical members of this genus. Pleuronema sinica is characterized by its large, conspicuously flattened body, the possession of only one preoral kinety, the irregular-shaped macronucleus and the rather unusual structure of the o... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1964204 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1964204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1960995&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19004624%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Risse-Buhl U, Küsel K The impact of flow velocity on initial ciliate colonization dynamics on surfaces were studied in the third order Ilm stream (Thuringia, Germany) at a slow flowing site (0.09ms(-1)) and two faster flowing sites (0.31ms(-1)) and in flow channels at 0.05, 0.4, and 0.8ms(-1). At the slow flowing stream site, surfaces were rapidly colonized by ciliates with up to 60 cellscm(-2) after 24h. In flow channels, the majority of suspended ciliates and inorganic matter accumulated at the surface within 4.5h at 0.05ms(-1). At 0.4ms(-1) the increase in ciliate abundance in the biofilm was highest between 72 and 168h at about 3 cellscm(-2)h(-1). Faster flow velocities were tolerated by vagile flattened ciliates that live in close contact to the surface. Vagile flatt... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1960995 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1960995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1960994&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19004625%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mishima T, Katamoto H, Horii Y, Kakengi VA, Ito A Rumen ciliates of ten Tanzanian short horn zebu cattle were examined. A total of 15 genera and 46 species were identified, including a new Entodinium species. The ciliate density was 22.2x10(4)ml(-1). The number of species per host and the diversity index showed high values, 33.8 and 2.80, respectively. Rumen ciliates had a low percentage composition of the genus Entodinium (7.0-25.0%) and a slightly higher percentage composition of the genera, Eudiplodinium (19.3%), Diplodinium (14.1%), and Ostracodinium (13.1%). Entodinium palmare n.sp., Eudiplodinium kenyensis, and Enoploplastron stokyi were found in all cattle examined. The former two species have been found only in African zebu cattle. Entodinium palmare n. sp. has a chara... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1960994 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1960994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1960993&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19004626%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Song W, Shao C, Yi Z, Li L, Warren A, Al-Rasheid K, Yang J The morphology, morphogenesis and small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) gene sequence of a new marine euplotid ciliate, Diophrys apoligothrix spec. nov., isolated from a sandy beach near Qingdao, north China, were investigated. This organism is characterized as follows: rigid body with a sculptured surface; size in vivo about 60-110x40-70mum; adoral zone comprising about 28 membranelles; five frontal, two ventral, five transverse, one left marginal and three caudal cirri; five dorsal kineties with sparsely distributed dikinetids; two ellipsoid macronuclear nodules; marine habitat. Although the main morphogenetic events are similar to those reported in other congeners, three features are noteworthy: (1) the parental adoral zone i... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1960993 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1960993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895238&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18929468%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ji D, Kusuoka Y This paper includes the proposal of a new genus for a new species of peritrichous ciliate, Apocarchesium rosettum n. gen., n. sp., as well as the first description by modern techniques of another peritrich, Ophrydium eichornii Ehrenberg, 1838. The genus Apocarchesium is separated from the related genus Carchesium by the appearance of the stalk and the arrangement of zooids, and diagnosed as follows: colonial vorticellid, with all zooids attached in rosette fashion to the tip of their common stalk, which is unbranched and contracts spirally; pellicle with parallel silverlines. The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of both species were investigated by observation in vivo and silver-staining methods. PMID: 18929468 [PubMed - as supplied by publ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895238 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1895238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895237&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18929469%26dopt%3DAbstract Conjugation in the spirotrich ciliate Halteria grandinella (Müller, 1773) Dujardin, 1841 (Protozoa, Ciliophora) and its phylogenetic implications. Eur J Protistol. 2008 Oct 15; Authors: Agatha S, Foissner W The conjugation of Halteria grandinella was studied in protargol preparations. The isogamontic conjugants fuse partially with their ventral sides to a homopolar pair. The first maturation division generates dramatic transformations: (i) the partners obtain an interlocking arrangement; (ii) the number of bristle kineties decreases from seven to four in each partner; and (iii) the right conjugant loses its buccal membranelles, the left the whole adoral zone. The remaining collar membranelles arrange around the pair's anterior end and are shared by both partners; finally, ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895237 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1895237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895236&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18929470%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: de la Fuente G, Belanche A, Abecia L, Dehority BA, Fondevila M Rumen protozoal diversity in the Spanish ibex (SI) was studied in males (n=4), females (n=7) and young (n=4) from the Maestrazgo (Spain) and contrasted with domestic goats (n=3; DG) of the same region. There were no differences among SI types in protozoal concentration or in the number of protozoal species. Only protozoa from the genus Entodinium were observed in SI (seven species), the highest numbers corresponding to E. damae, E. ovibos and E. parvum. DG harboured threefold more species than SI. Nine to 10 Entodinium spp. were observed, but E. ovibos was absent from the rumen of DG, and E. damae was in only one animal. E. caudatum (caudatum, dubardi and lobospinosum morphotypes) occurred in the highest percentage... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895236 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1895236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1664457&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18657404%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we describe Haplozoon praxillellae n. sp. from the intestine of the Pacific maldanid polychaete Praxillella pacifica Berkeley. The parasites are relatively small, oblong and about 35-125mum in length, consisting of the trophocyte (anterior-most compartment), rectangular gonocytes and bulbous sporocytes. The trophocyte bears an attachment apparatus with a prominent 'suction disc' and numerous stylets. We were able to detect spherical vesicles near the ventral surface of each gonocyte. The whole organism is covered with thecal barbs of different shape and size, except for the caudal end of the posterior-most sporocyte, which is instead covered with hexagonal or pentagonal alveoli. A continuous membrane encloses the whole pseudocolony. Molecular phylogenetic data, host specific... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1664457 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1664457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655589&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18650073%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Simakova AV, Tokarev YS, Issi IV The ultrastructure of a new microsporidian, Pankovaia semitubulata gen. et sp. n. (Microsporidia: Tuzetiidae), from the fat body of Cloeon dipterum (L.) (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) is described. The species is monokaryotic throughout the life cycle, developing in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm. Sporogonial plasmodium divides into 2-8 sporoblasts. Each sporoblast, then spore, is enclosed in an individual sporophorous vesicle. Fixed and stained spores of the type species P. semitubulata are 3.4x1.9mum in size. The polaroplast is bipartite (lamellar and vesicular). The polar filament is isofilar, possessing 6 coils in one row. The following features distinguish the genus Pankovaia from other monokaryotic genera of Tuzetiidae: (a) exospo... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655589 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1655589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1631271&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18619822%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dyková I, Fiala I, Dvořáková H, Pecková H Two protists isolated simultaneously from the same sample of gill tissue of Psetta maxima (L.) were identified as Thecamoeba hilla Schaeffer, 1926 and Labyrinthula sp. A Labyrinthula strain (LTH) derived from a mixed culture of both organisms was well established in a short time, while subcultures of T. hilla continued to be associated with Labyrinthula cells despite all efforts to eliminate them. Ultrastructural examination, repeated several times in the course of long-lasting subculturing of amoebae, revealed that trophozoites of T. hilla host in their cytoplasm multiplying labyrinthulid cells. Comparison of SSU rDNA sequences of the Labyrinthula strain LTH and those from labyrinthulid endosymbionts from T. ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631271 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1631271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1616269&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18617376%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nézan E, Chomérat N A new species of the genus Fragilidium, F. duplocampanaeforme sp. nov., is described from examinations by LM and SEM. This species has been recorded in summer on the French Atlantic coast, over a number of years. It was never abundant in the plankton and was very often associated with Fragilidium subglobosum, Pyrophacus horologium and also with toxigenic species of the genera Alexandrium and Dinophysis. Phagotrophy of F. duplocampanaeforme on Dinophysis prey is shown, and sexual reproduction is suggested by the observation of gamete-like small forms. The size and the peculiar shape of its cells do not correspond to any known taxon, but the plate arrangement fits the genus Fragilidium. The plate formula is Po, Pc, 4', 8'', 10c, 6s?, 7''', 2, 1p. A ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1616269 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1616269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1518790&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18550346%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gómez F The distribution and morphology of the dinoflagellate Erythropsidinium (=Erythropsis) was studied in the vicinity of the Kuroshio and Oyashio Currents, the Philippine, Celebes, Sulu and South China Seas, western and central equatorial and southeast Pacific Ocean. Ninety-four specimens were observed, most of them collected from depths of less than 90m. The highest abundance (15cellsL(-1)) was recorded in the north Philippine Sea in May (32 degrees N, 138 degrees E, 30-m depth). Twenty-four specimens were found in a station in the offshore Perú-Chile Current (31 degrees 52'S, 91 degrees 24'W). The transition regions between open warm waters and productive currents or upwellings seem to favour the abundance of Erythropsidinium. Specimens with duplicate pistons, ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1518790 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1518790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1518789&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18550347%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Grisvard J, Lemullois M, Morin L, Baroin-Tourancheau A Under unfavourable environmental conditions, many ciliates transform into resting cysts through a developmental process called encystment. Excystment is the reverse transformation of the resting cyst into a vegetative cell when favourable conditions are restored. In the oxytrichid Sterkiella histriomuscorum, the encystment - excystment (E-E) cycle involves extensive morphological changes since the whole cytoskeleton is disassembled during encystment. Assuming that these changes in cellular organization may be significantly reflected in the gene expression pattern, we used a "DNA macroarray" strategy to measure the transcript levels of 37 selected genes present at four distinct cellular stages (starved, encysted, excysting ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1518789 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1518789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1516630&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18547792%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Qin Y, Xie S, Swindles GT, Gu Y, Zhou X The morphology of a new testate amoeba Pentagonia zhangduensis nov. spec. was investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species was discovered in the sediments of Lake Zhangdu, Hubei Province, China. The low coefficients of variation and normal size frequency distribution suggest that P. zhangduensis is a size-monomorphic species. P. zhangduensis differs from the one other species in this genus (P. maroccana), by its larger size and its quadrangular cross section with two parallel longitudinal ridges on each of the two flattened sides of the test. PMID: 18547792 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516630 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1516630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1508736&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18538552%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ammermann D It was investigated whether (1) the number of cilia of the dorsal kineties 3 and 4 and (2) the cell length are species-specific characters which can be used to distinguish the sibling species S. mytilus and S. lemnae. The number of cilia of the dorsal kineties 3 and 4 is a relatively constant, reliable species-specific character in all investigated strains of both species and rather independent from the origin and the nutritional condition of the cells. The cell length is also a reliable species character, if strains of both species from Germany are compared (under identical nutritional conditions). However, all S. mytilus strains from China, Australia and Peru are significantly smaller forming one (or some) "small" subpopulations or subspecies, compared with a "bi... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1508736 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1508736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1508735&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18538553%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yi Z, Song W, Shao C, Warren A, Al-Rasheid KA, Roberts DM, Miao M, Al-Quraishy SA, Chen Z The small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) genes of seven species of urostyloids representing four genera were sequenced. These were: Apokeronopsis crassa, A. bergeri, Anteholosticha sp-QD-1, Metaurostylopsis sp-QD-1, M. sp-QD-2, M. sp-QD-3 and Thigmokeronopsis sp-QD-1. Gene trees were constructed in order to investigate their phylogenetic relationships. The results indicate that: (1) Apokeronopsis, Thigmokeronopsis and Metaurostylopsis form a well-supported, clearly isolated, monophyletic group; (2) Metaurostylopsis species analysed consistently group together indicating that it is a well-outlined genus; (3) the validity of the genus Apokeronopsis is supported; (4) the separation of Holosticha and ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1508735 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1508735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1382471&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18417325%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nitsche F, Arndt H A new species of acanthoecid choanoflagellate isolated from brackish waters of the Danshui estuary in North Taiwan has a mineralized lorica that consists of two chambers with a total length of 19-36mum. It shares with Diplotheca costata the features of a posterior lorica chamber formed from broad and flattened costal strips and an anterior chamber with spatula-shaped costal strips. The new species has therefore been placed in the same genus and named Diplotheca elongata. A phylogenetic analysis of partial SSU rDNA sequences from Diplotheca costata and D. elongata supports this taxonomic affiliation. This is a large and distinctive choanoflagellate which has not been reported in any previous study, suggesting that it may be an endemic species of restricted di... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1382471 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1382471 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1382470&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18417326%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Li L, Song W, Warren A, Al-Rasheid KA, Roberts D, Yi Z, Al-Farraj SA, Hu X The morphology and morphogenesis of a new marine hypotrich ciliate, Apokeronopsis bergeri nov. spec., collected from mussel-farming waters near Qingdao, China, are described from living and protargol-impregnated specimens. This ciliate has characteristics that place it in the family Pseudokeronopsidae, namely, two long rows of frontal cirri (bicorona), which are continuous with the long midventral rows, and a single row of marginal cirri on each side of the body. It shares with its only congener, Apokeronopsis crassa, the long rows of buccal and transverse cirri and the wide spacing between the midventral rows of cirri. These characters separate the genus Apokeronopsis from Pseudokeronopsis, which has a... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1382470 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1382470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1368458&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18403187%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Leadbeater BS, Hassan R, Nelson M, Carr M, Baldauf SL A new genus, Helgoeca gen. nov., has been designated to accommodate a nudiform loricate choanoflagellate (American Type Culture Collection strain ATCC 50073) that was incorrectly attributed to the tectiform genus Acanthoecopsis (=Acanthocorbis). The first indication that this species might be nudiform came from a four-gene phylogeny of the choanoflagellates which recovered ATCC 50073 within a strongly supported monophyletic clade comprising two other nudiform taxa. Fortunately an isolate of the species in question was available from the ATCC and when observed in rapidly growing culture it was immediately apparent that this species divided with the production of 'naked' motile cells; a typically nudiform character. The beake... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1368458 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1368458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1368457&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18403188%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yubuki N, Leander BS Although Stephanopogon was described as a putative ciliate more than a century ago, its phylogenetic position within eukaryotes has remained unclear because of an unusual combination of morphological characteristics (e.g. a highly multiflagellated cell with discoidal mitochondrial cristae). Attempts to classify Stephanopogon have included placement with the Ciliophora, the Euglenozoa, the Heterolobosea and the Rhizaria. Most systematists have chosen, instead, to conservatively classify Stephanopogon as incertae sedis within eukaryotes. Despite the obvious utility of molecular phylogenetic data in resolving this issue, DNA sequences from Stephanopogon have yet to be published. Accordingly, we characterized the molecular phylogeny and ultrastructure of Steph... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1368457 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1368457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1360823&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18396388%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dyková I, Fiala I, Pecková H The molecular phylogeny of Neoparamoeba spp. based on SSU rDNA was updated by including new sequences of strains isolated from an invertebrate and an alga. In total, 59 sequences of strains representating N. pemaquidensis, N. branchiphila, N. aestuarina and N. perurans were analysed. Sequences of SSU rDNA of eukaryotic endosymbionts (Perkinsela amoebae-like organisms) were prepared from 34 samples of genomic DNA of strain-representatives of N. pemaquidensis, N. branchiphila and N. aestuarina. Comparison of phylograms reconstructed from corresponding SSU rDNA sequences of host amoebae and their symbionts revealed a high level of congruence, which argues very strongly for coevolution of these two eukaryotic organisms. PMID: 18396388 [Pu... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1360823 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1360823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1360824&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18394870%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pisani KA, Landers SC, Pappanastos E The apostome ciliate Hyalophysa chattoni, a symbiont of the estuarine grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio, was tested for its growth and reproductive ability in a wide range of salinities from 0.1 to 55ppt. Shrimp, with their attached ciliates, were slowly acclimated to different salinities in order to assess protozoan cell size and division. The trophont and tomont stages of the ciliate life cycle were analyzed. In both stages, cell size increased with salinity from 0.1 to 20ppt. Cell size leveled in the 20-35ppt range, and decreased at higher salinities. The number of daughter cells produced per tomont cyst correlated with increased cell size, and also correlated with increased salinity. Additionally, increased salinity correlated with an inc... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1360824 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1360824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268489&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18304787%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Valigurová A, Koudela B Morphological features of the eugregarine Gregarina garnhami (Canning, 1956) parasitic in the caeca and mid-gut of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, have been studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, with particular attention to the epimerite and the relationship between the epimerite and the host epithelium. The cytoplasmic core of the globular epimerite is overlain by a distinct cortical zone, limited on its cytoplasmic face by a membrane-like structure, with an underlying layer of mitochondria. The periphery of the cortical zone is strengthened by a mass of fine filaments, especially at its base. Fine tubular structures, apparently arising from the membrane-like structure, pass through the cortical zone and attach to the... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268489 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1268489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268488&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18304788%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ciancio A, Scippa S, Finetti-Sialer M, De Candia A, Avallone B, De Vincentiis M Cardiosporidium cionae (Apicomplexa), from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis L., is redescribed with novel ultrastructural, phylogenetic and prevalence data. Ultrastructural analysis of specimens of C. intestinalis collected from the Gulf of Naples showed sporonts and plasmodia of C. cionae within the host pericardial body. Several merogonic stages and free merozoites were found in the pericardial body, together with sexual stages. All stages showed typical apicomplexan cell organelles, i.e. apicoplasts, rhoptries and subpellicular microtubules. Merogonic stages of C. cionae were also produced inside haemocytes. A fragment of the rSSU gene of C. cionae was amplified by PCR using DNA extracted from th... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268488 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1268488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268487&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18304789%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Guggiari M, Peck R A strain of Cyclidium isolated from a sewage treatment plant in Geneva, Switzerland, was cloned and cultured under laboratory conditions before being characterized cytologically and molecularly. Information about the classical morphology and also about new molecular sequences has been obtained permitting its identification as Cyclidium glaucoma. The molecular description includes the 18S rRNA sequence, and for the first time for C. glaucoma the ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2 sequence, and the mitochondrial Cytochrome oxidase C subunit 1 sequence. Three divergence groups were identified for C. glaucoma using a short rDNA sequence for evolutionary distance analysis. These groups correspond to the three ribotype lineages previously described for C. glaucoma. We discuss the... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268487 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1268487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1152641&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18191388%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ito A, Van Hoven W, Miyazaki Y, Imai S Two new species of Triplumaria in the order Entodiniomorphida, T. alluvia n. sp. and T. grypoclunis n. sp., are described from the large intestine of the wild African white rhinoceros. T. alluvia has three bud-shaped caudalia, one broad skeletal plate with a wavy left dorsal edge, and an axe-shaped tail flap. T. grypoclunis has three short arched caudalia, two broad skeletal plates, and a pointed and ventrally curved tail flap. These two new species have a C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety, a slender perivestibular polybrachykinety, and paralabial kineties in their retractable adoral ciliary zone. In T. alluvia, the perivestibular polybrachykinety is joined to both ends of the adoral polybrachykinety and paralabial kineties along the ventr... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1152641 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1152641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1137005&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18178392%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kakuta S, Suzaki T Exocytosis of extrusomes, secretory granules found in protozoa, is involved in prey capture by the heliozoon Actinophrys sol. Here, we show that extracellular Ca(2+) is necessary for exocytosis and prey capture in A. sol. We found that A. sol could not capture prey cells in a Ca(2+)-free solution. L-type Ca(2+) channel blockers and a calmodulin antagonist also inhibited the capture of prey. These results suggest that Ca(2+) influx via L-type Ca(2+) channels plays a crucial role in exocytosis in A. sol. Concanavalin A (Con A) also inhibited prey capture, and the inhibition was relieved by the addition of its hapten sugar, alpha-mannoside, suggesting that Con A-binding glycoconjugates are implicated in exocytosis of extrusomes and the adhesion of prey cells. ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1137005 Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1137005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1041615&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18023157%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hu X The morphology and morphogenesis of Diophrys japonicus spec. nov., isolated from the Mie Port, Nagasaki, Japan, were investigated from life and following impregnation with protargol. The new species is recognized by the following characters: Body elliptical in outline and slightly greyish to yellowish in color; size in vivo about 80-120x50-70mum; pellicle flexible, with underlying granules densely arranged in lines; ciliature comprising about 30-46 adoral membranelles, 4-7 frontal, 1-4 ventral and 4-7 transverse cirri, always 1 left marginal and 3 caudal cirri, and 4 dorsal kineties; usually two macronuclear nodules; fragment kinety with 2-5 dikinetids; marine habitat. The main morphogenetic events are: (1) the opisthe's oral primordium develops de novo in a subsurface po... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1041615 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1041615 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1041614&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18023158%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wang Y, Hu X, Long H, Al-Rasheid KA, Al-Farraj SA, Song W The morphology, infraciliature and silverline system of two marine scuticociliates, Pleuronema grolierei nov. spec. and Pleuronema coronatum Kent, 1881, isolated from the sand beaches along the coast of Qingdao, China, were investigated using live observation and silver impregnation methods. Ciliates of the genus Pleuronema are normally easily recognized by their large sail-like paroral membrane. In this respect, P. coronatum is a typical member of the genus, whereas P. grolierei is unique in having much shorter cilia in the paroral membrane, which, in consequence, is rather inconspicuous. Nevertheless, details of the infraciliature confirm that P. grolierei belongs to the genus Pleuronema. Within the genus Pleuronema, ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1041614 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1041614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1041613&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18023159%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Selina M, Hoppenrath M Cells of a taxon similar to the type species of Amphidiniopsis, Amphidiniopsis kofoidii, were found during the course of a study of marine sand-dwelling dinoflagellates in Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan, Russia. These specimens were examined in detail using light and scanning electron microscopy and were identified as Amphidiniopsis arenaria, a species known so far only from the North Sea, Germany. Morphological variability within the species and details of its sulcal construction are described here for the first time. PMID: 18023159 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Protistology) European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1041613 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0100 1041613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=962640&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17942292%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Santos AL, Soares RM, Alviano CS, Kneipp LF Proteolytic enzymes play a central role in the physiology of all living organisms, participating in several metabolic pathways and in different phases of parasite-host interactions. We have identified cell-associated peptidase activities in 33 distinct flagellates, including representatives of almost all known trypanosomatid genera parasitizing insects (Herpetomonas, Crithidia, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Leptomonas, Phytomonas, Blastocrithidia and Endotrypanum) as well as the biflagellate kinetoplastid Bodo, by using SDS-PAGE containing gelatin as co-polymerized substrate and proteolytic inhibitors. Under the alkaline pH (9.0) conditions employed, all the flagellates presented at least one peptidase, with the exception of Crithidia aca... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=962640 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 962640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=954194&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17936599%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lin X, Li J, Gong J, Warren A, Song W The morphology and infraciliature of three pleurostomatid ciliates, Litonotus bergeri nov. spec., L. blattereri nov. spec. and L. petzi nov. spec., collected from mariculture ponds near Qingdao (Tsingtao), China, were investigated using live observations and the protargol impregnation method. These new species are distinguished from their congeners by a combination of characters including the typical distribution of extrusomes, i.e., along entire ventral margin, the number of macronuclear nodules, features and number of somatic kineties, living morphology, number and position of contractile vacuoles and their marine biotopes. Considering the distribution of extrusomes and general morphology, five new combinations are suggested, Litonotus v... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=954194 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 954194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=954193&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17936600%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Leander BS, Hoppenrath M We have characterized the intracellular development and ultrastructure of a novel parasite that infected the marine benthic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum fukuyoi. The parasite possessed a combination of features described for perkinsids and syndineans, and also possessed novel characters associated with its parasitic life cycle. Reniform zoospores, about 4mum long, possessed a transverse flagellum, alveoli, a refractile body, a mitochondrion with tubular cristae, a syndinean-like nucleus with condensed chromatin, micronemes, bipartite trichocysts with square profiles (absent in perkinsids) and oblong microbodies. Like Parvilucifera, the zoospores also possessed a shorter posterior flagellum, a heteromorphic pair of central microtubules in the anterior ax... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=954193 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 954193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=948003&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17931843%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pes˘tová D, Macek M, Elena Martínez Pérez M The impact of feeding on autotrophic picoplankton (APP) on the ciliate composition of the assemblage was surveyed monthly along a depth gradient in the maar crater, athalassohaline, warm monomictic Lake Alchichica (Puebla, Mexico) from June 2003 to December 2005. Numbers of APP were evaluated from their autofluorescence. DAPI staining and the Fluorescently Labeled Bacteria technique were employed to count ciliates and estimate their feeding rates. A total of 38 taxa of ciliates have been identified using Quantitative Protargol Staining. Peritrichs followed by minute spirotrichs (particularly Halteria grandinella) often numerically dominated the ciliate assemblage and emerged as the most efficient APP feeders. A m... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=948003 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 +0100 948003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=921915&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17905574%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Smirnov AV, Nassonova ES, Cavalier-Smith T Morphological identification of protists remains an expert task, especially for little known and poorly described species. Culture collections normally accept organisms under the name provided by depositors and are not responsible for identification. Uncritical acceptance of these names by molecular phylogeneticists may result in serious errors of interpretation of phylogenetic trees based on DNA sequences, making them appear more incongruent with morphology than they really are. Several cases of misidentification in a major culture collection have recently been reported. Here we provide evidence for misidentifications of two more gymnamoebae. The first concerns "Gephyramoeba sp." ATCC 50654; it is not Gephyramoeba, a leptomyxid with ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=921915 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 921915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914230&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17900880%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yi Z, Song W, Warren A, Roberts DM, Al-Rasheid KA, Chen Z, Al-Farraj SA, Hu X The gene coding for the small subunit ribosomal RNA molecule was sequenced in three marine spirotrichs: Pseudoamphisiella lacazei, P. alveolata, and Parabirojimia similis, the systematic positions of which remain unclear in spite of recent progress. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by means of neighbor-joining (NJ), least-squares (LS), maximum parsimony (MP), and Bayesian inference (BI) methods in order to test previously inferred phylogenetic assignments of Pseudoamphisiella and Parabirojimia based on morphological and morphogenetic data. The main results are that: (1) all trees constructed have similar topologies in which the genus Parabirojimia derives at the base of the class Stichotrichia, wh... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914230 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 914230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=914229&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17900881%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we isolated beta-tubulin and heat shock protein 90 genes from N. scintillans to examine this relationship further. The deduced amino acid sequences share commonly substituted amino acids and a deletion with other dinoflagellates, but not with Perkinsus marinus or other alveolates. Although Hsp90 analysis did not give robust support, beta-tubulin analysis including an AU test, as well as combined analysis of these two amino acid sequences showed that N. scintillans is the next earliest branch after Oxyrrhis marina, within the dinoflagellates. Given the phylogenetic position of N. scintillans, its extremely specialized diploid trophont, and the primitive dinoflagellate-like characteristics of its haploid zoospore, we propose that noctilucids are a possible evolutionary link be... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=914229 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 914229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882761&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17870426%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ognibene M, Della Giovampaola C, Trielli F, Focarelli R, Rosati F, Umberta Delmonte Corrado M In Paramecium primaurelia mating interactions take place immediately after mixing mating-competent cells of opposite mating types. The cells clump in clusters (mating reaction) and then separate in pairs. Previous results have shown that sialic acid-containing glycoconjugates are present on the cell surface and are involved in mating-cell pairing. In order to identify the sialic acid-containing glycoprotein(s), we first metabolically radiolabelled non-mating-competent cells with d-[6-(3)H]galactose, and then analyzed the radiolabelled proteins by anion exchange chromatography. We characterized a 38kDa (gp38) sialic acid-containing glycoprotein and raised the corresponding polyclonal a... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882761 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=882760&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17870427%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shao C, Song W, Yi Z, Gong J, Li J, Lin X The cortical development during binary fission of the relatively poorly known stichotrich ciliate, Trachelostyla pediculiformis (Cohn, 1866) Borror, 1972, found in coastal waters near Qingdao, China, was investigated using the protargol impregnation method. The morphogenetic process reveals some pretty unusual characteristics, which do not follow the Oxytricha-pattern: (1) the parental oral apparatus is entirely renewed from an oral primordium formed de novo in the proter; (2) in the proter, the parental undulating membranes are not involved in the formation of the newly formed oral primordium; both undulating membrane-anlagen (UM-anlage) and frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen (FVT-anlagen) develop from the oral primordium in the ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=882760 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 882760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=852599&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17822886%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Leonor Teles-Grilo M, Duarte SM, Tato-Costa J, Gaspar-Maia A, Oliveira C, Rocha AA, Marques A, Cordeiro-da-Silva A, Azevedo C Perkinsus atlanticus is a pathogenic protist that infects the clam Ruditapes decussatus. Although it was recently proposed that the genus Perkinsus belongs to a new phylum, Perkinsozoa, in the infra-kingdom Alveolata, there remain different opinions about whether this genus should form a phylum on its own and consequently divergent views about its taxonomic characterization. In this work, we have identified nine chromosomes by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) combined with densitometry analysis. The obtained karyotype of Perkinsus atlanticus, like that of other early branches of the dinoflagellate lineage, displays a more conventional chromosome ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=852599 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 852599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=838934&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17766095%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Foissner W, Müller H, Agatha S So far, neither morphology nor gene sequences have provided a reliable classification of halteriid and hypotrichid spirotrichs. Thus, we performed a comparative study on the fine structure of the resting cysts in some representative species, viz., the oligotrichs Halteria grandinella and Pelagostrombidium fallax and the oxytrichid hypotrichs Laurentiella strenua, Steinia sphagnicola, and Oxytricha granulifera. Main results include: (i) there are three different, very likely non-homologous cyst surface ornamentations, viz., spines (generated by the ectocyst), thorns (generated by the mesocyst), and lepidosomes (produced in the cytoplasm); (ii) Halteria has a perilemma; (iii) Halteria, Meseres and Pelagostrombidium have fibrous lepidosomes, wh... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=838934 Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 838934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=838935&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17764914%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Radek R, Nitsch G The association of the gut flagellates Mixotricha paradoxa and Deltotrichonympha sp. from the termite Mastotermes darwiniensis with ectobiotic spirochetes and bacterial rods is investigated with light and electron microscopy. Treatment with different chemicals disturbing molecular interactions and use of the freeze-fracture and freeze-etch technique show that hydrophobic interactions and integral membrane proteins seem to be involved in the firm attachment at the contact sites. Application of antibiotics reduces the number of ectobionts and leads to a disintegration of the cortical attachment systems. As a result Mixotricha becomes spherical and immotile. In both flagellates the antibiotics have a further effect: they lead to a transformation of some of the s... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=838935 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 838935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828309&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17720462%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Strüder-Kypke MC, Kornilova OA, Lynn DH Ciliates of the subclass Trichostomatia inhabit the fermentative regions of the digestive tract of herbivores. Most available small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSrRNA) gene sequences of trichostomes are from species isolated from the rumen of cattle or sheep and from marsupials. No ciliate species endosymbiotic in horses has yet been analyzed. We have sequenced the SSrRNA genes of five ciliate species, isolated from the cecum and colon of four Yakut horses: Cycloposthium edentatum, Cycloposthium ishikawai, Tripalmaria dogieli, Cochliatoxum periachtum, and Paraisotricha colpoidea. Based on their morphology, Cycloposthium, Tripalmaria, and Cochliatoxum are classified as Entodiniomorphida, while Paraisotricha is considered a member of the V... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828309 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 828309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=704543&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17596921%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shao C, Song W, Gong J The living morphology, infraciliature and morphogenesis of a new marine cyrtophorid ciliate, Hartmannula sinica nov. spec., collected from Qingdao, north China, have been investigated. The new species is characterized by: size in vivo 90-130x40-50mum, body long elliptical in outline, cilium-free field covered with a conspicuous alveolar layer; 24-31 ventral kineties, the rightmost 6-9 of which extend apically; 20-24 nematodesmal rods; about 15 sparsely distributed contractile vacuoles; a yellowish pigment spot is always present near the anterior tip of the cell. Morphogenetic events exhibit a pattern, which is homologous with that of related cyrtophorids. The main features are as follows: (1) preoral and circumoral kineties of opisthe develop from the or... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=704543 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 704543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=704542&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17596922%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vd'ačný P The morphology and infraciliature of two soil haptorid ciliates, Clavoplites haranti sp. n. and Enchelys terrenum (Foissner, 1984) comb. n., collected from Malé Karpaty Mts. and Biele Karpaty Mts. (Slovakia), were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. Clavoplites haranti is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters including: theronts spatulate to slenderly fusiform, trophonts bursiform, size about 60x25mum in vivo; massive oral bulge with broadly clavate to lemon-shaped, 1.5-2mum long extrusomes arranged in a ring in oral bulge; ellipsoidal macronucleus and one globular micronucleus; on average 13 ciliary rows, 3 anteriorly differentiated to an inconspicuous dorsal brush. Enchelys terrenum is about 85x30mum in size ... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=704542 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 704542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=704541&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17596923%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Landers SC, Gómez-Gutiérrez J, Peterson WT Phoretic stages of the exuviotrophic apostome Gymnodinioides pacifica were examined using transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM). TEM revealed that the mature cyst wall possesses 2 or 3 layers differing by the presence or absence of the third inner layer. This inner layer may represent a different form of the middle wall material. The inner cyst layer is approximately 0.15mum thick and has striations with a periodicity of approximately 19nm. The middle cyst layer has a variable thickness and the outer dense layer is approximately 0.1mum thick. The 3 layered cyst wall had a thickness of 0.3-0.7mum and averaged 0.5mum. Advanced phoront stages were enclosed by fully formed cyst walls or by cyst walls thinned to app... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=704541 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 704541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=692441&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17583484%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martín-Cereceda M, Guinea A, Bonaccorso E, Dyal P, Novarino G, Foissner W New observations on Opisthonecta matiensis Martín-Cereceda et al. [1999. Description of Opisthonecta matiensis n. sp. (Protozoa, Ciliophora), a new peritrich ciliate from wastewater. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 46, 283-289] especially the lack of an epistomial membrane, reveal that the species does not belong to the genus Opisthonecta, but to Telotrochidium, the other genus within the family Opisthonectidae Foissner, 1975. The contractile vacuole and the cytopyge are on the dorsal wall of the vestibulum and the trochal band is limited distally and proximally by rows of narrowly spaced pellicular pores. Thus the species is redefined as Telotrochidium matiense nov. comb. The morphological, cortical and nucle... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=692441 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 692441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=645427&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17532615%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Longet D, Pawlowski J Macroevolutionary relations among main lineages of Foraminifera have traditionally been inferred from the small subunit ribosomal genes (SSU rDNA). However, important discrepancies in the rates of SSU rDNA evolution between major lineages led to difficulties in accurate interpretation of SSU-based phylogenetic reconstructions. Recently, actin and beta-tubulin sequences have been used as alternative markers of foraminiferal phylogeny and their analyses globally confirm results obtained with SSU rDNA. In order to test new protein markers, we sequenced a fragment of the largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (RPB1), a nuclear encoded single copy gene, for 8 foraminiferal species representing major orders of Foraminifera. Analyses of our data robustly confi... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=645427 Fri, 25 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 645427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=645428&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17532196%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kudryavtsev A, Hausmann K Spumochlamys iliensis n. g., n. sp. was isolated from a mineral pond in an arid, semi-desert region in Kazakhstan (Central Asia). This amoeba is covered with a plate-shaped, flexible organic spongious test. The thin membranous margin of this test extends ventrally to surround a flexible ventral aperture. In its morphological features and behaviour this amoeba is very similar to Microchlamys patella (Claparède and Lachmann, 1859) Cockerell, 1911, but differs from this species and from M. sylvatica Golemansky, Skarlato and Todorov, 1987 in the lack of an additional membrane separating the cell body from the test, a feature that can only be detected using electron microscopy. The presence of this membrane is considered to be a principal characteristic o... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=645428 Thu, 24 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 645428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=645429&cid=s_35552_77_f&fid=35552&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D17531454%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hyliš M, Oborník M, Nebesářová J, Vávra J Seven microsporidian species infecting caddis fly larvae, corresponding to conventional genera Episeptum, Pyrotheca and Cougourdella were studied using light and electron microscopy. Parts of their small subunit, ITS and large subunit ribosomal RNA genes were sequenced and compared with sequences of rDNA obtained from syntype slides of Cougourdella polycentropi Weiser 1965 and Pyrotheca sp. from Hydropsyche pellucidula. All studied caddis fly microsporidia form a closely related group. Their developmental stages in trichopteran hosts are restricted to fat body cells and oenocytes and have isolated nuclei. In late merogony, uninucleate meronts and binucleate plasmodia are formed. In sporogony a sporogonial plasmodium with four nuc... European Journal of Protistology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=645429 Wed, 23 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 645429