Small Subunit rRNA Gene (small + subunit_rrna_gene)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


EVIDENCE FOR LATERAL TRANSFER OF AN IE INTRON BETWEEN FUNGAL AND RED ALGAL SMALL SUBUNIT RRNA GENES,

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
Kirsten M. Müller
A previous study of the North American biogeography of the red algal genus Hildenbrandia noted the presence of group I introns in the nuclear small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene of the marine species H. rubra (Sommerf.) Menegh. Group IC1 introns have been previously reported at positions 516 and 1506 in the nuclear SSU RNA genes in the Bangiales and Hildenbrandiales. However, the presence of an unclassified intron at position 989 in a collection of H. rubra from British Columbia was noted. This intron is a member of the IE subclass and is the first report of this intron type in the red algae. Phylogenetic analyses of the intron sequences revealed a close relationship between this IE intron inserted at position 989 and similar fungal IE introns in positions 989 and 1199. The 989 IE introns formed a moderately to well-supported clade, whereas the 1199 IE introns are weakly supported. Unique structural helices in the P13 domain of the 989 and 1199 IE introns also point to a close relationship between these two clades and provide further evidence for the value of secondary structural characteristics in identifying homologous introns in evolutionarily divergent organisms. The absence of the 989 IE intron in all other red algal nuclear SSU rRNA genes suggests that it is unlikely that this intron was vertically inherited from the common ancestor of the red algal and fungal lineages but rather is the result of lateral transfer between fungal and red algal nuclear SSU rRNA genes. [source]


Multigene phylogenetic analysis of the Lipomycetaceae and the proposed transfer of Zygozyma species to Lipomyces and Babjevia anomala to Dipodascopsis

FEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 6 2007
Cletus P. Kurtzman
Abstract Phylogenetic relationships among species assigned to genera of the family Lipomycetaceae were determined from analysis of the nearly entire large, subunit rRNA gene, the small subunit rRNA gene, mitochondrial small subunit rRNA gene and the translation elongation factor-1, gene. Monophyly of the Lipomycetaceae was strongly supported, and currently described species appear genetically unique. The multigene analysis provided no support for maintaining the genera Kawasakia, Smithiozyma, Waltomyces or Zygozyma, and it is proposed that species in these genera be assigned to the genus Lipomyces. The monotypic genus Babjevia is a member of the Dipodascopsis clade and it is proposed to reassign Babjevia anomala to Dipodascopsis. The proposed changes will result in the Lipomycetaceae having two ascosporic genera, Lipomyces and Dipodascopsis, and the anamorphic genus Myxozyma. [source]


Morphology, Phylogeny, and Diversity of Trichonympha (Parabasalia: Hypermastigida) of the Wood-Feeding Cockroach Cryptocercus punctulatus

THE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
KEVIN J. CARPENTER
ABSTRACT. Trichonympha is one of the most complex and visually striking of the hypermastigote parabasalids,a group of anaerobic flagellates found exclusively in hindguts of lower termites and the wood-feeding cockroach Cryptocercus,but it is one of only two genera common to both groups of insects. We investigated Trichonympha of Cryptocercus using light and electron microscopy (scanning and transmission), as well as molecular phylogeny, to gain a better understanding of its morphology, diversity, and evolution. Microscopy reveals numerous new features, such as previously undetected bacterial surface symbionts, adhesion of post-rostral flagella, and a distinctive frilled operculum. We also sequenced small subunit rRNA gene from manually isolated species, and carried out an environmental polymerase chain reaction (PCR) survey of Trichonympha diversity, all of which strongly supports monophyly of Trichonympha from Cryptocercus to the exclusion of those sampled from termites. Bayesian and distance methods support a relationship between Trichonympha species from termites and Cryptocercus, although likelihood analysis allies the latter with Eucomonymphidae. A monophyletic Trichonympha is of great interest because recent evidence supports a sister relationship between Cryptocercus and termites, suggesting Trichonympha predates the Cryptocercus- termite divergence. The monophyly of symbiotic bacteria of Trichonympha raises the intriguing possibility of three-way co-speciation among bacteria, Trichonympha, and insect hosts. [source]


The Occurrence and Ape-to-Ape Transmission of the Entodiniomorphid Ciliate Troglodytella abrassarti in Captive Gorillas

THE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
DAVID MODRİ
ABSTRACT. Entodiniomorphid ciliates are often present in the colons of wild apes. In captive apes the infection tends to gradually disappear, with the exception of Troglodytella abrassarti. We used fecal examinations to screen the gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in European (Czech Republic, UK) and Australian Zoos to explore the ape-to-ape transmission pattern of T. abrassarti. Gorillas from two out of three European Zoos were positive for T. abrassarti, while gorillas from the Australian Zoo were negative. We documented a horizontal transmission of T. abrassarti to a non-infected adult gorilla introduced into a Troglodytella -positive group in the Prague Zoo and traced the origin of the ciliate infection to the Paignton Zoo (UK) using serial fecal examinations. During this study, two infant gorillas born in the Prague Zoo (CZ) first became positive for T. abrassarti at the age of 9 mo. Ciliate morphology and the sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer rDNA spacer region revealed that T. abrassarti affects both captive gorillas and chimpanzees. We conclude that zoo transport plays a major role in the distribution of T. abrassarti among captive gorillas. [source]


Transfer of Nosema locustae (Microsporidia) to Antonospora locustae n. comb.

THE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2004
Based on Molecular, Ultrastructural Data
ABSTRACT. Nosema locustae is a microsporidian parasite of grasshopper pesthd that is used as a biological control agent, and is one of the emerging model systems for microsporidia. Due largely to its diplokaryotic nuclei, N. locustae has been classified in the genus Nosema, a large genus with members that infect a wide variety of insects. However, some molecular studies have cast doubt on the validity of certain Nosema species, and on the taxonomic position of N. locustae. To clarify the affinities of this important insect parasite we sequenced part of the rRNA operon of N. locustae and conducted a phylogenetic analysis using the complete small subunit rRNA gene. Nosema locustae is only distantly related to the nominotypic N. bombycis, and is instead closely related to Antonospora scoticae, a recently described parasite of bees. We examined the ultrastructure of mature N. locustae spores, and found the spore wall to differ from true Nosema species in having a multi-layered exospore resembling that of Antonospora (one of the distinguishing features of that genus). Based on both molecular and morphological evidence, therefore, we propose transferring N. locustae to the genus Antonospora, as Antonospora locustae n. comb. [source]


Bacterial diversity in maize rhizospheres: conclusions on the use of genetic profiles based on PCR-amplified partial small subunit rRNA genes in ecological studies

MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2003
Achim Schmalenberger
Abstract A cultivation-independent approach based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified partial small subunit rRNA genes and genetic profiling by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) was used to characterize the bacterial diversity inhabiting the rhizosphere of maize plants grown on an agricultural field. The community structures of two cultivars, a genetically engineered and a nonengineered variety, different herbicide regimes and soil tillage were compared with each other at two sampling dates. SSCP-profiles were generated with DNA from bacterial cell consortia with primers hybridizing to evolutionarily highly conserved rRNA gene regions. On silver-stained gels, each profile consisted of approx. 50 distinguishable bands. Similarity analyses of patterns recorded by digital image analyses could not detect any difference between cultivars or treatments that was greater than the variability between replicates. A total of 54 sequences recovered from different bands were identified and grouped into operational taxonomical units (OTUs). Surprisingly, only five of 40 OTUs contained sequences of both samplings. Three different bands from a profile were selected to test whether this small overlap was due to an incomplete recovery of sequences. From a faint band, two different OTUs were found when 12 clones were analysed, and from two strong bands 24 and 22 OTUs were detected from a total of 26 and 36 clones, respectively. The OTUs belonged to phylogenetically different groups of bacteria. Gene probes that were developed to target different bands of the profiles, however, indicated in Southern blot analyses that patterns between treatments, replicates and samplings, and even from two different growing seasons were highly conserved. Our study demonstrates that community profiles can consist of more sequences than detectable by staining and that gene probes in Southern blot can be a useful control to investigate the composition of microbial communities by genetic profiles. [source]


Molecular Phylogeny of Stentor (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea) Based on Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Sequences

THE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007
YING-CHUN GONG
ABSTRACT. To determine the phylogenetic position of Stentor within the Class Heterotrichea, the complete small subunit rRNA genes of three Stentor species, namely Stentor polymorphus, Stentor coeruleus, and Stentor roeseli, were sequenced and used to construct phylogenetic trees using the maximum parsimony, neighbor joining, and Bayesian analysis. With all phylogenetic methods, the genus Stentor was monophyletic, with S. roeseli branching basally. [source]