Multiple species of the dinophagous dinoflagellate genus Amoebophrya infect the same host species

Summary Populations of the dinoflagellate Dinophysis norvegica in the Baltic Sea and in the adjacent North Sea are infected by the endoparasite Amoebophrya sp. The high diversity recently unveiled within the genus Amoebophrya brings uncertainty about their identities. We applied molecular biology te...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental microbiology 2003-11, Vol.5 (11), p.1046-1052
Main Authors: Salomon, Paulo S., Janson, Sven, Granéli, Edna
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Dinoflagellida - cytology
Dinoflagellida - genetics
Dinoflagellida - isolation & purification
DNA, Protozoan - chemistry
DNA, Protozoan - isolation & purification
Host-Parasite Interactions - genetics
Host-Parasite Interactions - physiology
In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
Molecular Sequence Data
Phylogeny
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics
Seawater - parasitology
Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Summary:Summary Populations of the dinoflagellate Dinophysis norvegica in the Baltic Sea and in the adjacent North Sea are infected by the endoparasite Amoebophrya sp. The high diversity recently unveiled within the genus Amoebophrya brings uncertainty about their identities. We applied molecular biology techniques – 18S rDNA sequencing and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) – to compare this host–parasite system from both environments. The North Sea Amoebophrya sp. 18S rDNA sequence was 89% identical to the previously described Baltic Sea Amoebophrya sp. sequence, suggesting they are different species. In spite of that, a phylogenetical analysis placed the North Sea parasite sequence in a well‐supported cluster with other Amoebophrya sp. sequences. The D. norvegica 18S rDNA sequences from both environments were 100% identical, indicating that the hosts have not evolved independently. A DNA probe designed for the Baltic Sea Amoebophrya sp. 18S rRNA was used in FISH assays on infected D. norvegica populations from both environments. The probe stained all infected cells from the Baltic sample, whereas none from the North Sea were stained. The results indicate that D. norvegica is released from one parasite when entering the Baltic Sea, and become less infected by an alternative parasite species.
ISSN:1462-2912
1462-2920
DOI:10.1046/j.1462-2920.2003.00511.x