- Volume 53, Issue 1, 2003
Volume 53, Issue 1, 2003
- Evolution, Phylogeny And Biodiversity
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Detection and characterization of Pasteuria 16S rRNA gene sequences from nematodes and soils
More LessVarious bacterial species in the genus Pasteuria have great potential as biocontrol agents against plant-parasitic nematodes, although study of this important genus is hampered by the current inability to cultivate Pasteuria species outside their host. To aid in the study of this genus, an extensive 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogeny was constructed and this information was used to develop cultivation-independent methods for detection of Pasteuria in soils and nematodes. Thirty new clones of Pasteuria 16S rRNA genes were obtained directly from nematodes and soil samples. These were sequenced and used to construct an extensive phylogeny of this genus. These sequences were divided into two deeply branching clades within the low-G+C, Gram-positive division; some sequences appear to represent novel species within the genus Pasteuria. In addition, a surprising degree of 16S rRNA gene sequence diversity was observed within what had previously been designated a single strain of Pasteuria penetrans (P-20). PCR primers specific to Pasteuria 16S rRNA for detection of Pasteuria in soils were also designed and evaluated. Detection limits for soil DNA were 100–10 000 Pasteuria endospores (g soil)−1.
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Phylogenetic heterogeneity of the species Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
Polyphasic genotypic analysis of 25 Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains isolated from ores and ore concentrates collected in different regions of the world showed considerable strain heterogeneity. Restriction patterns of the chromosomal DNA of these strains obtained by PFGE were specific for each strain. According to the degree of DNA relatedness, 17 of the 23 strains studied were divided into four genomovars. Six independent, considerably divergent strains could not be assigned to any of the genomovars. A comparison of nearly complete nucleotide sequences of the 16S rDNA of five representatives of the genomovars (including the type strain of A. ferrooxidans, ATCC 23270T) with those of species of the genus Acidithiobacillus available from GenBank showed that most of the A. ferrooxidans strains, together with the type strain and some other strains of the species Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, comprised a monophyletic cluster. Within this major cluster, A. ferrooxidans strains fell into four phylogenetic groups that were equidistant from the phylogenetic group of A. thiooxidans strains. In general, the distribution of strains among the phylogenetic groups correlated with their distribution among the genomovars, except that the representatives of two different genomovars fell into one phylogenetic group. Thus, at least two levels of phylogenetic heterogeneity for A. ferrooxidans have been found. The phylogenetic heterogeneity of A. ferrooxidans strains, which are phenotypically indistinguishable, suggests the occurrence of microevolutionary processes in different econiches. This should be taken into account in the biohydrometallurgical applications of A. ferrooxidans strains.
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Chimeric 16S rDNA sequences of diverse origin are accumulating in the public databases
More LessA significant number of chimeric 16S rDNA sequences of diverse origin were identified in the public databases by partial treeing analysis. This suggests that chimeric sequences, representing phylogenetically novel non-existent organisms, are routinely being overlooked in molecular phylogenetic surveys despite a general awareness of PCR-generated artefacts amongst researchers.
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Phylogeny of gregarines (Apicomplexa) as inferred from small-subunit rDNA and β-tubulin
More LessGregarines are thought to be deep-branching apicomplexans. Accordingly, a robust inference of gregarine phylogeny is crucial to any interpretation of apicomplexan evolution, but molecular sequences from gregarines are restricted to a small number of small-subunit (SSU) rDNA sequences from derived taxa. This work examines the usefulness of SSU rDNA and β-tubulin sequences for inferring gregarine phylogeny. SSU rRNA genes from Lecudina (Mingazzini) sp., Monocystis agilis Stein, Leidyana migrator Clopton and Gregarina polymorpha Dufour, as well as the β-tubulin gene from Leidyana migrator, were sequenced. The results of phylogenetic analyses of alveolate taxa using both genes were consistent with an early origin of gregarines and the putative ‘sister’ relationship between gregarines and Cryptosporidium, but neither phylogeny was strongly supported. In addition, two SSU rDNA sequences from unidentified marine eukaryotes were found to branch among the gregarines: one was a sequence derived from the haemolymph parasite of the giant clam, Tridacna crocea, and the other was a sequence misattributed to the foraminiferan Ammonium beccarii. In all of our analyses, the SSU rDNA sequence from Colpodella sp. clustered weakly with the apicomplexans, which is consistent with ultrastructural data. Altogether, the exact position of gregarines with respect to Cryptosporidium and other apicomplexans remains to be confirmed, but the congruence of SSU rDNA and β-tubulin trees with one another and with morphological data does suggest that further sampling of molecular data will eventually put gregarine diversity into a phylogenetic context.
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Multiple protein phylogenies show that Oxyrrhis marina and Perkinsus marinus are early branches of the dinoflagellate lineage
More LessOxyrrhis marina and Perkinsus marinus are two alveolate species of key taxonomic position with respect to the divergence of apicomplexans and dinoflagellates. New sequences from Oxyrrhis, Perkinsus and a number of dinoflagellates were added to datasets of small-subunit (SSU) rRNA, actin, α-tubulin and β-tubulin sequences, as well as to a combined dataset of all three protein-coding genes, and phylogenetic trees were inferred. The parasitic Perkinsus marinus branches at the base of the dinoflagellate clade with high support in most of the individual gene trees and in the combined analysis, strongly confirming the position originally suggested in previous SSU rRNA and actin phylogenies. The SSU rRNA from Oxyrrhis marina is extremely divergent, and it typically branches with members of the Gonyaulacales, a dinoflagellate order where SSU rRNA sequences are also divergent. Conversely, none of the three protein-coding genes of Oxyrrhis is noticeably divergent and, in trees based on all three proteins individually and in combination, Oxyrrhis branches at the base of the dinoflagellate clade, typically with high bootstrap support. In some trees, Oxyrrhis and Perkinsus are sisters, but most analyses indicate that Perkinsus diverged prior to Oxyrrhis. Morphological characters have previously pointed to Oxyrrhis as an early branch in the dinoflagellate lineage; our data support this suggestion and significantly bolster the molecular data that support a relationship between Perkinsus and dinoflagellates. Together, these two organisms can be instrumental in reconstructing the early evolution of dinoflagellates and apicomplexans by helping to reveal aspects of the ancestors of both groups.
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Volumes and issues
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Volume 74 (2024)
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Volume 73 (2023)
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Volume 72 (2022 - 2023)
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Volume 71 (2020 - 2021)
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Volume 70 (2020)
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Volume 69 (2019)
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Volume 68 (2018)
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Volume 67 (2017)
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Volume 66 (2016)
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Volume 65 (2015)
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Volume 64 (2014)
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Volume 63 (2013)
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Volume 62 (2012)
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Volume 61 (2011)
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Volume 60 (2010)
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Volume 59 (2009)
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Volume 54 (2004)
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Volume 53 (2003)
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Volume 52 (2002)
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Volume 51 (2001)
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Volume 49 (1999)
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Volume 48 (1998)
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Volume 47 (1997)
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Volume 31 (1981)
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Volume 30 (1980)
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Volume 29 (1979)
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Volume 28 (1978)
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Volume 27 (1977)
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Volume 26 (1976)
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Volume 25 (1975)
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Volume 24 (1974)
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Volume 23 (1973)
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Volume 22 (1972)
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Volume 21 (1971)
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Volume 20 (1970)
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Volume 19 (1969)
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Volume 18 (1968)
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Volume 17 (1967)
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Volume 16 (1966)
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Volume 15 (1965)
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Volume 14 (1964)
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Volume 12 (1962)
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Volume 8 (1958)
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Volume 7 (1957)
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Volume 6 (1956)
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Volume 5 (1955)
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Volume 4 (1954)
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Volume 3 (1953)
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Volume 2 (1952)
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Volume 1 (1951)