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Morphology, Ciliary Pattern and Molecular Phylogeny of Trachelophyllum brachypharynx Levander, 1894 (Litostomatea, Haptoria, Spathidiida)

100%

JANG S. W., VĎAČNÝ P., SHAZIB S. U. A., SHIN M. K.

Acta Protozoologica

2015

vol. 54

issue 2

We isolated a relatively unknown haptorian ciliate, Trachelophyllum brachypharynx, in brackish water from the mouth of the Taehwa River, South Korea. The morphology of this isolate was studied using in vivo observation and protargol impregnation, and its evolutionary history was revealed by phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. The main features of T. brachypharynx include (i) a very narrowly fusiform and slightly contractile body about 380 × 40 μm in size; (ii) two ellipsoidal macronuclear nodules typically connected by a fine strand; (iii) a single terminal contractile vacuole; (iv) filiform extrusomes that are typically 30 µm long; (v) an average of 24 ciliary rows, with two of them anteriorly differentiated into an isostichad dikinetidal dorsal brush; and (vi) hat-shaped lepidosomes. Based on the 18S rRNA gene phylogeny, T. brachypharynx clustered together with Trachelophyllum sp. within the order Spathidiida. Furthermore, phylogenetic trees and networks indicate some members from the genera Enchelyodon and Spathidium as the nearest relatives of trachelophyllids. Therefore, based on the present molecular and comparative-morphological analyses, we suggested a hypothesis explaining how trachelophyllids may have evolved from a spathidiid-like ancestor via an enchelyodonid-like stage.

Reconstruction of Evolutionary History of Pleurostomatid Ciliates (Ciliophora, Litostomatea, Haptoria): Interplay of Morphology and Molecules

76%

VĎAČNÝ P., SHIN M. K., KIM J. H., JANG S. W., SHAZIB S. U. A., RAJTER Ľ.

Acta Protozoologica

2015

vol. 54

issue 1

Pleurostomatids are raptorial ciliates that form a very distinct group within the Haptoria. Traditionally, the order Pleurostomatida was divided into two families: the Amphileptidae with two perioral kineties and a suture formed by the right side ciliary rows, and the Litonotidae with three perioral kineties and without suture. However, molecular phylogenies depicted the “traditional” Amphileptidae as a paraphyletic assemblage nesting also the Litonotidae. To overcome this problem we have analyzed genealogy of pleurostomatids using morphological data and 18S rRNA gene sequences, including newly sequenced genera Acineria and Kentrophyllum. Specifically, we have combined a morphological and molecular approach and have used also some other phylogenetic tools such as phylogenetic networks, split spectrum analysis, quartet mapping as well as the likelihood method of tracing history of morphological characters. These analyses show that: (1) there are not two but three distinct pleurostomatid lineages – Epiphyllidae fam. nov., Amphileptidae and Litonotidae; (2) epiphyllids (Epiphyllum + Kentrophyllum) represent a basal pleurostomatid group which is defined by two perioral kineties, by the presence of a suture on both the right and the left side of the body, by the loss of the oral bulge extrusomes, and by the extrusome fringe extending all around the body except for the oral region; (3) the families Amphileptidae and Litonotidae are monophyletic each, and represent sister groups; (4) Acineria belongs to the Litonotidae, as already indicated by morphological data; (5) Loxophyllum is a monophyletic and crown genus of the Litonotidae; and (6) Litonotus is paraphyletic, which could be very likely caused by a rapid radiation event that did not allow primary nucleotide homologies to be fixed.

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2 Acta Protozoologica

2 2015

2 JANG S. W.

2 SHAZIB S. U. A.

2 SHIN M. K.

2 VĎAČNÝ P.

1 KIM J. H.

1 RAJTER Ľ.

Search results

Morphology, Ciliary Pattern and Molecular Phylogeny of Trachelophyllum brachypharynx Levander, 1894 (Litostomatea, Haptoria, Spathidiida)

Reconstruction of Evolutionary History of Pleurostomatid Ciliates (Ciliophora, Litostomatea, Haptoria): Interplay of Morphology and Molecules