Comparative Genomic Analysis of spp., Intranuclear Symbionts of Paramecia.

While most endosymbiotic bacteria are transmitted only vertically, spp., an alphaproteobacterium from the order, can desert its host and invade a new one. All bacteria from the genus are intranuclear symbionts of ciliates spp.

Redescription of an early-derivative mite, Pentasetacus araucariae (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae), and new hypotheses on the eriophyoid reproductive anatomy.

A unique set of plesiomorphic characters, and its association with an ancient gymnosperm, Araucaria araucana, have made Pentasetacus araucariae a putative relict of a lineage of gymnosperm-associated mites, itself possibly basal to all extant eriophyoids. However, the suboptimal description of this species is impeding morphological comparisons with other species, which are fundamental to eriophyoid systematics. Herein, we designate a female lectotype from syntype specimens and use additional non-type material to redescribe P.

Phylogenetic placement of two previously described intranuclear bacteria from the ciliate Paramecium bursaria (Protozoa, Ciliophora): 'Holospora acuminata' and 'Holospora curviuscula'.

'Holospora acuminata' infects micronuclei of Paramecium bursaria (Protozoa, Ciliophora), whereas 'Holospora curviuscula' infects the macronucleus in other clones of the same host species. Because these micro-organisms have not been cultivated, their description has been based only on some morphological properties and host and nuclear specificities. One16S rRNA gene sequence of 'H.

Association of Paramecium bursaria Chlorella viruses with Paramecium bursaria cells: ultrastructural studies.

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.

Electrophoretic karyotype polymorphism of sibling species of the Paramecium aurelia complex.

Variability of karyotypes is one of the main mechanisms of speciation in organisms. Electrophoretic karyotypes of the macronucleus (MAC) obtained by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were compared for 86 strains of all 15 sibling species of the Paramecium aurelia complex in order to determine if karyotype differences corresponded to biological species boundaries. Because the electrophoretic karyotype of the MAC reflects indirectly the frequency and distribution of fragmentation sites in the micronuclear (MIC) chromosomes, any change in MAC electrophoretic karyotype may be a marker of certain chromosomal mutations in the MIC.

Electrokaryotypes of macronuclei of several Paramecium species.

A comparative study of macronuclear DNA molecules from the following Paramecium species: the P. aurelia complex, P. caudatum, P.