Molecular Phylogeny and Ultrastructure of Aphelidium desmodesmi, a New Species in Aphelida (Opisthosporidia)

Aphelids are a diverse group of intracellular parasitoids of algae and diatoms, and are sister to true fungi. Included in four genera, the 14 described species utilize phagocytosis as their mode of nutrition, and the life cycles of these taxa are remarkably similar. However, their putative specifici...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology 2017-09, Vol.64 (5), p.655-667
Main Authors: Letcher, Peter M., Powell, Martha J., Lee, Philip A., Lopez, Salvador, Burnett, Micheal
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
aphelids
Diatoms
Divergence
DNA, Ribosomal - genetics
Eukaryota - classification
Eukaryota - genetics
Eukaryota - ultrastructure
Fungi
Genera
Genetic divergence
Genetic diversity
Host range
Host Specificity
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Mitochondria
Morphology
New species
Nucleotide sequence
Nutrition
parasitoid
Parasitoids
Phagocytosis
Phylogeny
Physical characteristics
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics
Sequence Analysis, DNA - methods
Sequencing
Species
Specificity
Taxa
Ultrastructure
zoospore
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Summary:Aphelids are a diverse group of intracellular parasitoids of algae and diatoms, and are sister to true fungi. Included in four genera, the 14 described species utilize phagocytosis as their mode of nutrition, and the life cycles of these taxa are remarkably similar. However, their putative specificity of host, morphological and ultrastructural features, and genetic divergence have been considered in taxon delineation. Here, we examine the host specificity, morphology, ultrastructure, and molecular 18S gene sequence of a new species in Aphelida, Aphelidium desmodesmi sp. nov. This taxon is in a well‐supported clade with two other species of Aphelidium, and this lineage is sister to Amoeboaphelidium and Paraphelidium. Of interest, the mitochondrial structure of Aph. desmodesmi is more like that of Paraphelidium than that of Aphelidium aff. melosirae, the only other species of Aphelidium to have been examined ultrastructurally. This research examines and expands our understanding of host range, morphological diversity, and genetic divergence of the aphelids.
ISSN:1066-5234
1550-7408
DOI:10.1111/jeu.12401