Abstract
The aim of this study is an identification of Paramecium bursaria syngens originating from different geographical locations and proving the correlation between distributions and belonging to any of five syngens. Ten strains of Paramecium bursaria belonging to five different syngens and strain of Paramecium multimicronucleatum were investigated using molecular marker — mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). According to results, obtained in this study, using phylogenetic methods like Neighbor Joining (NJ) and Maximum Likelihood (ML), relationship between analyzing strains through their clustering in clusters and correlation between strains belonging to any syngen and syngen’s distribution was confirmed. Phylograms constructed using NJ and ML methods revealed strains’ grouping in five clusters. Results which were obtained revealed usefulness of COI as a biomarker, which is important in identification of Paramecium bursaria syngens. This reports to a great potential of COI as a molecular marker and obtaining dependable results through combination of molecular methods with classical ones.
Highlights
Ciliates to which Paramecium bursaria belongs are single-celled organisms
To study this issue more precisely, molecular methods have been used and their development has made it possible to establish phylogenetic relationships between strains belonging to different syngens of P. bursaria
The new notation of Paramecium bursarias yngens and a new reference to Bomford’s syngens using “R” symbol was done by Greczek-Stachura and colleagues (2011)
Summary
Ciliates to which Paramecium bursaria belongs are single-celled organisms. They play a very important role in freshwater and marine environments as major trophic links in food chain (Lynn, 2008). Paramecium genus is morphologically divided into “aurelia” group, when a cell has a shape of cigar and the second group, foot-shaped “bursaria”. The latest concept based on morphological, biological and molecular differences divides this genus into four subgenera: “Chloroparamecium”, “Helianter”, “Cypriostomum” and “Paramecium” composed of only one species Paramecium bursaria (Fokin, et al, 2004). P. bursaria species is divided into six syngens including four to eight mating types (Bomford, 1966). Syngens are sexually isolated groups among which conjugation does not occur. Researchers have been interested in concepts of syngen and mating types for a long time. Mostly maltose and oxygen play role in regulating the mating reactivity rhythms (Tanaka and Miwa, 1996)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
