European journal of protistology最新文献

{"title":"Not a Lycogala? Investigating the holotype of Lycogala fuscoviolaceum","authors":"Dmytro Leontyev ,&nbsp;Martin Schnittler","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The myxomycete <em>Lycogala fuscoviolaceum</em> was described by P. Onsberg in 1972 based on a single specimen collected in Nepal. The status of this species remains ambiguous, as no additional findings have been reported since its description. In this study, we re-examined the holotype stored in Copenhagen to determine the true systematic position of <em>L. fuscoviolaceum</em>. Morphological observations revealed features inconsistent with <em>Lycogala</em>, including the dense, cartilaginous cortex, the pseudocapillitium forming vertical bundles, and the thick-walled spores with elongated pore. These characteristics suggest that <em>L. fuscoviolaceum</em> is either a member of the family Reticulariaceae, possibly related to <em>Reticularia</em> or <em>Siphoptychium</em>, or it is not a myxomycete at all. Cross-sections of the cortical structures of <em>L. fuscoviolaceum</em> revealed the presence of cell-like elements arranged in distinct layers. Such elements were absent in <em>Reticularia splendens</em>, <em>Siphoptychium reticulatum</em>, and <em>S. violaceum</em>, but present in <em>L. flavofuscum</em>. Attempts to obtain molecular data from the holotype of <em>L. fuscoviolaceum</em>, including high-throughput sequencing of short fragments, were unsuccessful due to DNA degradation. New findings are required to clarify the taxonomic position of the species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"99 ","pages":"Article 126151"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143936446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unexpectedly high diversity of parabasalids in captive snakes from China","authors":"Zhouchun Li ,&nbsp;Yilei Zhang ,&nbsp;Lijie Tian ,&nbsp;Xinglong Song ,&nbsp;Xinyuan Wang ,&nbsp;Genhong Wang ,&nbsp;Haofeng An ,&nbsp;Olalekan Opeyemi Ayanniyi ,&nbsp;Qianming Xu ,&nbsp;Congshan Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Snakes are frequently kept as pets and are considered important reservoirs of pathogenic protists. Parabasalids, single-celled protists that parasitize a broad variety of hosts, are transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Some species pose zoonotic risks, endangering the health of both humans and animals. This study reports on the diversity and prevalence of parabasalids in six captive, non-native snake species from China. A total of 753 fecal samples were collected from non-native snakes across 26 provinces in China, including five open farms, 16 private breeders, and five pet shops. The nuclear ITS1‐5.8S-ITS2 region was PCR amplified to investigate the infection rates of parabasalids and assess their kinships through phylogenetic analysis. The overall prevalence of parabasalids in the snake fecal samples was 13.28 % (100/753). While infection rates did not differ significantly among the snake species, significant differences were observed among the breeding environments. Snakes raised on farms had significantly higher infection rates (31.62 %, 43/136) compared to those from pet shops (13.24 %, 18/136) and private breeders (8.11 %, 39/481). In addition to <em>Monocercomonas colubrorum</em>, commonly found in reptiles, five other parabasalids were identified in snake fecal samples: <em>Tritrichomonas musculus</em>, <em>Tritrichomonas muris</em>, <em>Trichomonas gallinae</em>, <em>Simplicimonas moskowitzi</em>, and <em>Trichomitus batrachorum.</em> To our best knowledge, this is the first time these parabasalids have been detected in captive snakes from China. Our study revealed a diverse community of parabasalids in the intestines of snakes, including species typically parasitic in other animal groups such as mammals, birds, and amphibians. However, further investigations are required to determine whether these parabasalids have pathogenic effects on snakes or if they could be transmitted to other animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"99 ","pages":"Article 126154"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144241045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphology and molecular phylogeny of a new hypotrichous ciliate, Sterkiella zhangi n. sp. (Ciliophora, Oxytrichidae)","authors":"Miaomiao Wang,&nbsp;Tao Hu,&nbsp;Shanshan Wang,&nbsp;Zhangwen Tong,&nbsp;Qianqian Wei,&nbsp;Xinpeng Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The morphology, morphogenesis, and molecular phylogeny of a new hypotrichous ciliate, <em>Sterkiella zhangi</em> n. sp., which originated from terrestrial moss collected in east China, were studied using live observation, protargol staining, and the macronuclear SSU rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 gene sequences. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the following characteristics: three ordinary frontal cirri (an extra small frontal cirrus present in half of the individuals examined), an average of 15 left and 16 right marginal cirri, five transverse cirri, two macronuclear nodules, and cyst surface with irregular wrinkles but without spines. The 1:3:3:3:4:4 frontal-ventral-transverse anlagen fragmentation pattern of <em>S. zhangi</em> n. sp. indicates that the extra frontal cirrus is very likely a retained parental structure. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the new species branches early in the subfamily Stylonychinae. The comparison of mitochondrial cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 gene sequences of <em>Sterkiella</em> species shows that the intra-specific variation is much smaller than the inter-specific divergence. The well-known model organism <em>Oxytricha trifallax</em> has accumulated significant evolutionary differences and should be treated as a distinct species rather than a synonym of <em>S. histriomuscorum</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"98 ","pages":"Article 126141"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143593316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphology, morphogenesis, and molecular phylogeny of a new brackish water ciliate, Heterodeviata longa nov. spec. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia)","authors":"Lijian Liao ,&nbsp;Abdul Ghaffar ,&nbsp;Xiaozhong Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126138","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126138","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The morphology and morphogenesis of a new Stichotrichida species, <em>Heterodeviata longa</em> nov. spec., isolated from a brackish water habitat in Qingdao, China, were investigated using live observation and the protargol staining method. The new species is morphologically distinguished by possessing one buccal, three to five parabuccal and three frontal cirri, one long frontoventral row of ca. 12 cirri extending beyond mid-body, four left and two right marginal cirral rows, and two dorsal kineties: (1) left dorsal kinety bipolar, comprising 16–23 dikinetids, and with one to three caudal cirri at its rear end, while (2) right dorsal kinety comprising only two dikinetids. During morphogenesis, four frontal-ventral cirral anlagen form both in the proter and the opisthe. The parental adoral zone of membranelles remains intact and is completely inherited by the proter. The anlagen for marginal rows and the left dorsal kinety develop intrakinetally. The right dorsal kinety is generated dorsomarginally. The 18S rRNA gene sequence of the new species has a similarity of 99.6 % and 98.1 % with two other congeners. Phylogenetic analysis supported their close relationship and the monophyly of the genus <em>Heterodeviata</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"98 ","pages":"Article 126138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143627934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Armaparvus browni sp. nov. (Amoebozoa, Cutosea) isolated from an inland brackish water biotope","authors":"Alexander Kudryavtsev ,&nbsp;Mikhail Krendelev,&nbsp;Ekaterina Piven,&nbsp;Ekaterina Volkova","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A tiny amoebozoan with a locomotive size of about 10 μm was isolated from an inland brackish water biotope in the northwest of Russia. During locomotion, amoebae were flattened, with broad anterior hyaloplasm and short ventral subpseudopodia that appeared like small bumps. Electron microscopy shows that amoebae are enclosed in a flexible layer of flat oval scales embedded in a matrix and separated from the plasma membrane surface. These characters are in accordance with the phylogenetic placement of this strain, as reconstructed using the nuclear SSU rRNA, actin, and mitochondrial cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) gene sequences. Morphology and molecular phylogenies warrant the description of the studied strain as a new species, <em>Armaparvus browni</em> sp. nov. This species shows a broad range of salinity tolerance, being able to reproduce in culture under salinity of 2.5 ‰, but not in 0.3 ‰ or artificial freshwater medium. This may be due to an adaptation to brackish water with oscillating salinity and hence <em>A. browni</em> probably cannot expand into truly freshwater habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"98 ","pages":"Article 126139"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143637773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Algal organic matter alters protistan community structure and assembly processes in coastal sediments","authors":"Arbaz Rehman ,&nbsp;Jing Wang ,&nbsp;Hao Yue ,&nbsp;Xiuhong Zhang ,&nbsp;Zelong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diatom blooms are a global ecological perturbation that releases algal organic matter (AOM), significantly affecting coastal ecosystems by altering microbial community dynamics. AOM, derived from algal cell lysis, may serve as a nutrient source influencing protistan communities. However, the effects of AOM on protistan ecology, including the community structure and assembly processes, remain largely unexplored in coastal sediments. In this study, we investigated the impact of AOM on the protistan community structure using macrogenomic analysis and high-throughput sequencing. The results revealed significant shifts in the protistan diversity (alpha and beta diversity) and community composition. Phototrophs and consumers were the primary functional groups affected, with their relative abundances significantly regulated by AOM, highlighting its functional-level impacts. Moreover, AOM influenced also the protistan community assembly, increasing the proportion of deterministic processes and altering the dynamic succession within the protistan co-occurrence network. Diatom blooms act as ecological filters, reducing diversity while promoting the dominance of specific functional groups. This study bridges the gap in understanding the AOM's role in shaping the ecological succession of protists in coastal sediments, offering valuable insights into the broader ecological impact of marine diatom blooms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 126134"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143058582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphology and phylogeny of Pararaabena dentata Wolska, 1968 and further insights into the molecular evolution of trichostome ciliates (Ciliophora, Litostomatea)","authors":"Gözde Gürelli ,&nbsp;Fevziye Işıl Kesbiç","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2025.126133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The morphology and phylogenetic position of a trichostome ciliate, <em>Pararaabena dentata</em>, isolated from the intestine of an Asian elephant (<em>Elaphas maximus</em>) in Gaziantep Zoo, Turkey, were studied using pyridinated silver carbonate impregnation, scanning electron microscopy, and the 18S rRNA gene. <em>Pararaabena dentata</em> clustered together with <em>Raabena bella</em> and both taxa were phylogenetically not related to members of the family Blepharocorythidae, as expected in the past. Phylogenetic trees indicated that amphibian intestinal ciliates represented by <em>Balantidium grimi</em>, <em>B. duodeni</em>, and <em>B. entozoon</em> are basal to all other trichostome ciliates, causing the family Balantidiidae to be polyphyletic. The molecular evolution of the subclass Trichostomatia is thoroughly discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 126133"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143058583","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Leptomyxa mirabilis n. sp. – A new species of the genus Leptomyxa (Amoebozoa, Tubulinea) with a remarkable floating form and unusual cyst structure","authors":"Nikita S. Kulishkin,&nbsp;Alexey V. Smirnov","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126132","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126132","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Variable body shape and significant variations in cell size make it difficult to distinguish species belonging to the genus <em>Leptomyxa</em>. At present, molecular data are becoming crucial for the identification of these amoebae. Among leptomyxids, the divergence of the 18S rRNA gene, mainly used to distinguish species, is low. Morphologically distinct species may have very similar 18S rRNA gene sequences and vice versa. However, some species exhibit remarkable morphological characters that can be combined with gene sequences to distinguish them reliably. In this paper, we describe a new terrestrial species of the genus <em>Leptomyxa</em> isolated from the Russian Far East, <em>Leptomyxa mirabilis</em> n. sp. Amoebae of this species are reticulate, flattened, and branched. This species has a unique floating form, previously undescribed among leptomyxids, and a remarkable cyst structure. The cysts of the studied species are often lobed or have a complex branched shape resembling the plasmodiocarps of some mycetozoa. Cysts can be single-walled or double-walled. The outer wall of a double-walled cyst encloses one or two multinucleate endocysts. In some cases, the wall of mature cysts is complex and multilayered. In addition, <em>Leptomyxa mirabilis</em> n. sp. differs from related leptomyxid species in the sequence of the 18S rRNA gene.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 126132"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143283846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphological and morphometric investigations on testate amoebae from Mongolia with descriptions of a new genus and four new species","authors":"Dominika Łuców ,&nbsp;Ferry Siemensma ,&nbsp;Dashtseren Avirmed ,&nbsp;Milena Obremska ,&nbsp;Michał Słowiński ,&nbsp;Izabela Zawiska","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126128","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126128","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Testate amoebae are a polyphyletic and highly diverse group of unicellular protists, inhabiting various habitats and successfully used as indicators of property of environmental variables, providing information on hydrology, pH and pollution of ecosystems. However, despite numerous studies, there is still a lack of data regarding their species diversity, geographical distribution and population dynamics in various habitats from previously unexplored or poorly investigated regions such as Mongolia. In this study, we describe the morphology and morphometry of a new genus and four new species: <em>Armatura murmillo</em> gen. nov., sp. nov., <em>Trinema lenticularis</em> sp. nov., <em>T. parmularius</em> sp. nov. and <em>T. scutarius</em> sp. nov., derived from peat cores extracted from two fens in northern Mongolia. We provide one of the first case studies of testate amoebae from Mongolia, documenting 64 taxa. We also provide information on the morphology and variability of four lesser known species: <em>Centropyxis lapponica</em>, <em>Hyalosphenia insecta</em>, <em>Pyxidicula ornata</em> and <em>Schoenbornia smithi</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 126128"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142946883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The devil is in the details: Cylindrifflugia luciferina spec. nov. reveals the phylogenetic backbone of the infraorder Cylindrothecina (Amoebozoa, Arcellinida)","authors":"Elena Mauricio-Sánchez ,&nbsp;Carmen Soler-Zamora ,&nbsp;Enrique Lara","doi":"10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126131","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126131","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The application of molecular approaches has revealed an immense biodiversity of lobose testate amoebae (Amoebozoa, Tubulinea, Elardia, Arcellinida). However, most newly discovered species are difficult or impossible to differentiate morphologically from already described forms, even though they are genetically distinct. Consequently, while diversity assessments based on sequence data overtake classical estimations of Arcellinida diversity, only a handful of morphologically divergent species have been discovered recently. These species are of key importance for reconstructing the evolutionary history of Arcellinida, including both morphology and morphogenesis. Here, we describe a large and conspicuous new species, <em>Cylindrifflugia luciferina</em>, found in an urban pond located in the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, Spain<em>.</em> We characterize it morphologically and molecularly, together with the closely related species <em>Cylindrifflugia elegans</em>. Our phylogenetic reconstruction based on the SSU rRNA gene brings evidence for three main well supported and morphologically consistent clades within the infraorder Cylindrothecina. This example illustrates that the quest for new Arcellinida diversity is far from being over and even the less expected ecosystems can bring new discoveries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12042,"journal":{"name":"European journal of protistology","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 126131"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143284439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}