rDNA Sequence Data Research Articles

Additions to the genus Kirschsteiniothelia (Dothideomycetes); Three novel species and a new host record, based on morphology and phylogeny.

During a survey of microfungi associated with forest plants, four specimens related to Kirschsteiniothelia were collected from decaying wood in Guizhou, Hainan and Yunnan Provinces, China. Kirschsteiniothelia species have sexual and asexual forms. They are commonly found as saprophytes on decaying wood and have been reported as disease-causing pathogens in humans as well. In this study, we introduce three novel Kirschsteiniothelia species (K.bulbosapicalis, K.dendryphioides and K.longirostrata) and describe a new host record for K.atra, based on morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of a concatenated ITS, LSU and SSU rDNA sequence data. These taxa produced a dendryphiopsis- or sporidesmium-like asexual morph and detailed descriptions and micromorphological illustrations are provided. Furthermore, we provide a checklist for the accepted Kirschsteiniothelia species, including detailed host information, habitat preferences, molecular data, existing morphological type, country of origin and corresponding references.

Halamphorahampyeongensis sp. nov. (Amphipleuraceae, Bacillariophyceae), a new marine benthic diatom from a tidal mudflat in Hampyeong Bay, South Korea.

The abundance and variety of benthic diatoms inhabiting tidal flats is widely acknowledged, although it has received relatively less attention than other research areas. In this investigation, we provide a formal description of a benthic diatom found in the tidal mudflat of South Korea, based on morphological and molecular characteristics and the similarities and differences between Halamphorahampyeongensis sp. nov., with morphologically similar Halamphora species are also discussed. Morphological characteristics are described from light and electron microscopy images. H.hampyeongensis is distinguished by its wide ventral sides of the valve, small and rounded areolae present across the whole valve face, and dense dorsal striae biseriate (34-38 in 10 μm). Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA and rbcL sequence data revealed that H.hampyeongensis is related to H.montana, H.mosensis, and H.specensa. The results (morphometric and molecular) provide sufficient elements to support and propose this taxon as a new species.

Challenges of molecular barcode-based identification of earthworm specimens for biodiversity assessment

Specimen identification at the species level is a critical challenge for understanding community structure and conserving biodiversity. The use of mitochondrial DNA barcodes, in addition to morphology, has proven to be a useful tool for earthworm identification, but it has also raised difficulties. Thus, approaches to delineating molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) from cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) or 16S rDNA sequence data often reveal more mitochondrial lineages than morphospecies, raising the question of whether these MOTUs should be used as taxonomic entities in community structure studies. Here, we used a newly acquired dataset of 576 COI barcodes of earthworms from Metropolitan France that were clustered in 36 MOTUS, corresponding to 21 morphospecies. We also incorporated data gathered from the literature to investigate this question. In order to match our MOTUs with already-described mitochondrial lineages, we downloaded reference sequences from the GenBank and BOLD platforms. In light of the difficulties encountered in recovering these sequences, we recommend that any new mitochondrial lineage described in a study be named consistently with previous works. Next, we analyzed the biological, ecological, and molecular data available in the literature on the different mitochondrial lineages that matched our MOTUs in order to determine if there was a consensus for species delimitation. Although the study specimens mainly belong to the Lumbricidae, which is one of the most studied families of earthworms, the data are often missing to determine if the MOTUs correspond to different species. Pending revision of the taxonomy, MOTUs for which mitochondrial divergence has been confirmed by morphological differences should be considered distinct taxonomic entities in community structure studies. In the absence of morphological differences and pending more data, we propose to distinguish for these analyses, within sexually reproducing morphospecies, the MOTUs for which mitochondrial divergence has been confirmed by multilocus nuclear data, while in the case of reproduction by parthenogenesis, ecological differences between MOTUs are necessary to consider them as different taxonomic entities.

Morphological and molecular insights into the hidden edible mushroom diversity in Sri Lanka

With the increasing world population, identifying additional food sources is crucial. Mushrooms have long been considered a nutraceutical and are consumed globally, including in Sri Lanka. Due to its abundant biodiversity, there is a significant potential for diverse wild edible mushrooms in Sri Lanka. However, the identification of these mushrooms based on morphological characteristics can often be misleading. Molecular characterization ensures more accurate and reliable identification of mushrooms, yet it has not been conducted extensively in Sri Lanka. This study collected several wild edible mushroom samples from Colombo and Rathnapura Districts of Sri Lanka. The edibility of these wild edible mushrooms was confirmed based on traditional knowledge and later verified by published literature. Phylogenetic analyses based on maximum likelihood (ML) analyses of ITS rDNA sequence data and morphological characteristics were used to determine the identity of the collected mushrooms. In this study, six edible mushrooms, Calvatia candida, Pleurotus giganteus, Schizophyllum radiatum, Termitomyces heimii, T. microcarpus, and Volvariella volvacea were identified based on morphology and phylogeny. Calvatia candida and S. radiatum are reported as new records for Sri Lanka, while this is the first study conducted on molecular characterization of V. volvacea in Sri Lanka. Finally, this study aims to increase the research interest, cultivation, commercialization, and conservation of these identified edible mushrooms in Sri Lanka.

First report of Myxobolus neurofontinalis (Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae) infecting anadromous Brook Trout from Prince Edward Island, Canada.

During routine histological examination of tissues from mortality events of anadromous Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis from Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, myxospores consistent with Myxobolus were observed infecting the central nervous system. The objective of this study was to identify the species of Myxobolus infecting the nervous system of anadromous Brook Trout from PEI, Canada. Myxospore morphology, small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence data, and histology were used to identify myxospores isolated from infected Brook Trout. Myxospore measurements from the PEI samples matched those reported in the description of Myxobolus neurofontinalis from North Carolina. A 1057-bp fragment of the SSU rDNA from myxospores collected from Brook Trout in PEI was identical to an isolate of M. neurofontinalis (MN191598) collected previously from the type locality, New River basin, North Carolina. Histological sections confirmed infections were intercellular in the central nervous system. Minimal host response was observed, with only sparse mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates present at the periphery of and within dispersed myxospores, suggesting that infections are not pathogenic to Brook Trout. Myxospores were identified as M. neurofontinalis, which was previously described from the central nervous system of Brook Trout from the New River basin, North Carolina, USA. This constitutes the first time M. neurofontinalis has been documented outside of the New River basin in North Carolina.

Species of Annulotrema (Monopisthocotylea, Dactylogyridae) parasitising African tetras (Characiformes, Alestidae) in the Phongolo River, South Africa with the description of four new species.

Species of Alestidae are known to be parasitised by dactylogyrid monogeneans representing three genera, Afrocleidodiscus Paperna, 1969, Annulotrema Paperna & Thurston, 1969, and Characidotrema Paperna & Thurston, 1968. The objective of the present study was to investigate the species diversity of Monopisthocotylea of African tetras from the Lower Phongolo River and floodplain in South Africa. Four new and two previously described species of Annulotrema were identified from the gills of three species of African tetras, Brycinus imberi, Hydrocynus vittatus, and Micralestes acutidens. The collected parasites were studied using two complementary approaches: morphology of hard sclerotised structures, and molecular markers using rDNA sequence data (28S rDNA, 18S rDNA, and ITS1). Three new species, Annulotrema arcum n. sp., Annulotrema caputfemoris n. sp., and Annulotrema strepsiceros n. sp., were described from B. imberi and one species, Annulotrema retortum n. sp., from M. acuditens. Two previously described species, Annulotrema pikoides Guégan, Lambert and Birgi, 1988 and A. pseudonili Kičinjaová and Řehulková, 2017, were newly recorded from H. vittatus in South Africa. Annulotrema arcum n. sp. and A. caputfemoris n. sp. share similar male copulatory organ morphologies, suggesting a close phylogenetic relationship as sister taxa. Despite weak nodal support, A. strepsiceros n. sp. shows morphological congruence with the former two species, reinforcing their molecular linkage. The present study shows a critical need for the exploration of monopisthocotylean diversity and the paucity of available molecular data of representatives from this group.

Morphological and molecular data on Pseudozoogonoides ugui Shimazu, 1974 (Digenea: Microphalloidea: Zoogonidae) ex Pseudaspius hakonensis (Günther, 1877) and taxonomic problems in Zoogoninae genera.

New morphological and molecular data were generated for trematodes recovered from the intestines of the fish Pseudaspius hakonensis from two locations in the south of the Russian Far East. Morphologically, these trematodes are identical to Pseudozoogonoides ugui (Microphalloidea: Zoogonidae) from Japan. According to results of phylogenetic analysis based on 28S rDNA sequence data, P. ugui was closely related to Zoogonoides viviparus, and P. subaequiporus appears as a sister taxon to these two species. Genetic distance values, calculated based on both 28S rDNA and ITS2 rDNA, between P. ugui and Z. viviparus represents an interspecific differentiation level. Our results have an ambiguous explanation, indicating that the implication of the presence of one or two compact vitellarial aggregations for the differentiation of Zoogonoides and Pseudozoogonoides should be reconsidered or that our results open up the question of the taxonomical status of trematodes previously denoted as Z. viviparus and P. subaequiporus.

Isolation, identification, and antibacterial activity of endophytic fungus from Acanthus ilicifolius

Abstract Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria pose serious public health risks, necessitating bioprospecting for novel antimicrobial drugs. The endophytic fungi of the mangrove ecosystem are hotspots for discovering new bioactive chemical compounds. In this context, an investigation was designed to determine the isolation of the major endophytic fungi inhabiting the leaves of Acanthus ilicifolius, a mangrove plant with a long history of traditional use in the Chinese and Indian medical systems. Based on the morphological characterizations and molecular analysis of internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence data, the study identified three unique endophytic fungal species, namely, Periconia macrospinosa, Coprinopsis cinerea, and Alternaria sp. Of these, P. macrospinosa was identified as the most dominant one, with the highest relative frequency (35.22%). The antibacterial activity of P. macrospinosa isolate (CMFRI/fPM-01) was evaluated by the well and diffusion method against six human pathogens, viz., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus. The results demonstrated a high and wide spectrum of antimicrobial action of the isolate against all the tested human pathogens, with no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the activity between the pathogens. The antibacterial activity was further confirmed by determining the fungal culture supernatant's minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. Although the studied fungi are known from other sources, this is the first report of P. macrospinosa and C. cinerea as endophytes in A. ilicifolius leaves. The outcomes also showed that the P. macrospinosa isolate could be used to discover effective antibacterial drugs against various human diseases.

First molecular identification of the trematode Pulmonicola cochleotrema (Platyhelminthes: Opisthotrematidae) in West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus, Sirenia: Trichechidae) from Puerto Rico and Florida.

West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) harbor a variety of endoparasites, including the nasal trematodePulmonicola cochleotrema, which infects the respiratory tract, especially the nasal passages. Previous studies have described and identified this digenean using morphological data only. This study presents the first molecular identification ofP. cochleotremain West Indian manatees from Puerto Rico and Florida. Samples of the trematode were collected from seven manatees found stranded dead at both locations. The small subunit ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) was amplified from each sample using universal primers for different regions of the gene, resulting in a consensus sequence of 1871 base pairs. The phylogenetic reconstruction was carried out using DNA sequences of other species of digenean parasites from other hosts, including a trematode of the same taxonomic family from another sirenian species. Specimens collected from both locations show the same molecular identity using SSU rDNA sequence data. The identity ofP. cochleotremawas confirmed using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, yielding a high similarity of 98.8 % withOpisthotrema dujonisand 98.2 % withLankatrema mannarenselocated in the same clade in our analysis. The latter two digeneans belong to the Opisthotrematidae as doesP. cochleotrema and previous studies reported them infecting the Eustachian tubes, esophagus, and digestive tract in dugongs (Dugong dugon). These findings evidence that the nasal trematode of manatees in Florida and Puerto Rico and the dugong, all inhabiting and feeding in marine environments, will have a marine mollusk as an intermediate host, probably a gastropod. The question remains, which species of nasal trematode are harbored by lotic-dwelling manatees in other parts of their distribution like South America.

Trentepohlia brevicellulis comb. et stat. nov. (Trentepohliaceae, Ulvophyceae) found in Japan

SUMMARYThe family Trentepohliaceae contains many common aerial algae, most widely distributed, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Eight species of the genus Trentepohlia have been reported in Japan. We report another taxon, Trentepohlia brevicellulis (Cribb) S. Handa and H. Tsubota comb. et stat. nov., growing on bark in western Honshu, Japan. This alga was previously described as Trentepohlia bosseae var. brevicellulis Cribb. However, the relationship between the bosseae and brevicellulis varieties of T. bosseae could not be ascertained owing to the lack of genetic information for brevicellulis. Therefore, we aimed to examine the detailed morphological characteristics of brevicellulis in wild samples and cultured strains and to review the taxonomy, including systematic information obtained by genetic analysis. Its phylogenetic position was resolved based on 18S rDNA sequence data. It differs from T. bosseae and its variety samoensis in exhibiting a warty zoosporangium surface, an unthickened septum with no central pit field, and a non‐rusty‐brown cell wall. The four key characteristics of T. brevicellulis include a warty layer on the inner surface of the non‐bent side of the suffultory cell wall, an ostiole located near the base of the zoosporangium, curved tapering filaments with thickened cell walls, and globular vegetative spores in the basal portion of the filament. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a pit field wherein simple plasmodesmata were present in the septum. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that this alga and T. bosseae form distinct clades and that T. brevicellulis is separate from T. bosseae. Thus, our study helped redefine the accurate taxonomic position of the species under study as Trentepohlia brevicellulis (Cribb) S. Handa and H. Tsubota comb. et stat. nov., a clade distinct from T. bosseae and reported for the first time in Japan.

Oogamochlamys kurilensis sp. nov. (Chlorophyta, Volvocales) from the Soils of Iturup Island (Sakhalin Region, Russia).

A strain of oogamous biflagellate green alga was isolated during a study on soil algal diversity in the Russian Far East (Sakhalin Region, Iturup Island) and examined using an integrative approach. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the SSU rDNA gene, resolved the new strain as a part of the RL clade (sensu Watanabe and Nakada) within Oogamochlamydinia (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae). The strain was similar to members of the genus Oogamochlamys (parietal and massive cup-shaped chloroplasts; two apical contractile vacuoles), but was, however, distinguished from them based on the size and shape of the mature vegetative cells, the flagellar length, the presence of only one pyrenoid in both the mature vegetative cells and the zoospores, the anterior nucleus position, and the spermatozoids' shape. Although a concept of the genus Oogamochlamys has been compromised in recent phylogenetic analysis based on the SSU rDNA sequence data and its likely affinity to anisogamous Chlamydomonas allensworthii, we described the strain from Iturup Island as Oogamochlamys kurilensis sp. nov.

On four epibiotic peritrichous ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) found in Lake Weishan Wetland: morphological and molecular data support the establishment of a new genus, Parapiosoma gen. nov., and two new species

During a study on the diversity of ciliated protists in Lake Weishan Wetland, the largest wetland in northern China, four epibiotic sessilid peritrichs were isolated from aquatic host animals. Two of them, i.e., Epistylis cambari Kellicott, 1885 and Epistylis lwoffi Fauré-Fremiet, 1943, were known species whereas the other two, i.e., Parapiosoma typicum gen. nov., sp. nov. and Orborhabdostyla gracilis sp. nov., are new to science. The new genus Parapiosoma gen. nov. is characterized by its branched non-contractile stalk, everted peristomial lip, obconical macronucleus and transverse silverlines. Two species are assigned to the new genus, namely Parapiosoma typicum sp. nov. and Parapiosoma gasterostei (Fauré-Fremiet, 1905) comb. nov. Morphologically, P. typicum sp. nov. is recognized by its goblet-shaped zooids, single-layered peristomial lip, dichotomously branched stalk, and infundibular polykinety 3 (P3) containing three equal-length rows. Orborhabdostyla gracilis sp. nov. is characterized by its slender zooid, curved macronucleus, and three equal-length rows in infundibular P3. Improved diagnoses and redescriptions of E. cambari and E. lwoffi are provided including, for the first time, data on the ciliature of E. cambari. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA, ITS1-5.8S rDNA -ITS2, and LSU rDNA sequence data strongly support the assertion that the family Epistylididae comprises morphospecies with different evolutionary lineages and indicate that Parapiosoma gen. nov. may represent a new taxon at family level.

Characteristic metabolic and microbial profiles in acute ischemic stroke patients with phlegm-heat pattern

To explore the characteristics of plasma metabolites, feces gut microbiota and the crosstalk between gut microbiota and host metabolism in patients with acute ischemic stroke and phlegm-heat pattern (AIS-PHP). The metabolic and microbiome profiles of 20 AIS-PHP patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based metabolomics and 16s rDNA sequencing, respectively. The covariation between LC-MS/MS-based metabolite data and 16s rDNA sequence data was presented. Distinct alterations in the plasma metabolic phenotype of AIS-PHP patients were found, in which 16 metabolites differed significantly between the AIS-PHP patients and the HCs. These metabolites represented 17 different metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism. Additionally, significant alterations of gut microbiota composition and taxon were revealed at the phylum level between the AIS-PHP patients and the HCs. In AIS-PHP, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria dominated. Moreover, some microbes that differed between the 2 groups manifested a sole association with certain metabolites, such as the connection between Bacteroides and inosine and between Lachnospiraceae_unclassified and hypoxanthine. The present study preliminarily investigated the metabolomic and gut microbiome characteristics of AIS-PHP patient indicators. The link between metabolic and microbial dysbiosis in AIS-PHP sheds new light on the function of gut microbiota and associated metabolomics in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Pleurosigmapacificum sp. nov. (Pleurosigmataceae), a new tropical pelagic species from the Western Pacific Ocean.

A new species of pelagic diatom, Pleurosigmapacificumsp. nov., is described from the tropical Western Pacific Ocean. It has the typical features of Pleurosigma, including a slightly sigmoid raphe, intersected transverse and oblique striae, and loculate areolae with external opening slits and internal poroids. Morphologically, P.pacificum belongs to a species group of Pleurosigma with lanceolate valves, including P.atlanticum Heiden & Kolbe, P.nubecula W. Smith, P.indicum Simonsen, and P.simonsenii Hasle. However, P.pacificum differs by its smaller lanceolate valve and smaller intersection angle as well as elliptical areolae without a silica bar. The SSU rDNA and rbcL sequence data place P.pacificum in a basal position relative to other species of Pleurosigma. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses did not support the monophyly of lanceolate and slightly sigmoid species. Thus, the sigmoidality of valve outline cannot be considered as a criterion to define the species group.

Evidence for two morphologically cryptic species of Hysterolecitha Linton, 1910 (Trematoda: Lecithasteridae) infecting overlapping host ranges in Moreton Bay, Australia

Integration of morphological and molecular approaches to species delineation has become an essential part of digenean trematode taxonomy, particularly when delimiting cryptic species. Here, we use an integrated approach to distinguish and describe two morphologically cryptic species of Hysterolecitha Linton, 1910 (Trematoda: Lecithasteridae) from fishes of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Morphological analyses of Hysterolecitha specimens from six fish species demonstrated a complete overlap in morphometric data with no reliable differences in their gross morphological characters that suggested the presence of more than one species. Distinctions in ITS2 rDNA and cox1 mtDNA sequence data for corresponding specimens suggested the presence of two forms. A principal component analysis on an imputed dataset showed clear separation between the two forms. These two forms are partially separated on the basis of their host’s identity. Therefore, we describe two morphologically cryptic species: Hysterolecitha melaen. sp. from three species of Abudefduf Forsskål and one species of Parma Günther (Pomacentridae), with the Bengal sergeant, Abudefduf bengalensis (Bloch), as the type-host; and Hysterolecitha phisonin. sp. from species of Pomacentridae (including A. bengalensis), Pomatomidae and Siganidae, with the black rabbitfish, Siganus fuscescens (Houttuyn), as the type-host.

An active microbiome in Old Faithful geyser.

Natural thermal geysers are hot springs that periodically erupt liquid water, steam, and gas. They are found in only a few locations worldwide, with nearly half located in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Old Faithful geyser (OFG) is the most iconic in YNP and attracts millions of visitors annually. Despite extensive geophysical and hydrological study of geysers, including OFG, far less is known of the microbiology of geysed waters. Here, we report geochemical and microbiological data from geysed vent water and vent water that collects in a splash pool adjacent to OFG during eruptions. Both waters contained microbial cells, and radiotracer studies showed that they fixed carbon dioxide (CO2) when incubated at 70°C and 90°C. Shorter lag times in CO2 fixation activity were observed in vent and splash pool waters incubated at 90°C than 70°C, suggesting cells are better adapted or acclimated to temperatures like those in the OFG vent (∼92-93°C). 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequence data indicated that both communities are dominated by the autotroph Thermocrinis, which likely fuels productivity through the aerobic oxidation of sulfide/thiosulfate in erupted waters or steam. Dominant OFG populations, including Thermocrinis and subdominant Thermus and Pyrobaculum strains, exhibited high-strain level genomic diversity (putative ecotypes) relative to populations from nongeysing YNP hot springs that is attributed to the temporal chemical and temperature dynamics caused by eruptions. These findings show that OFG is habitable and that its eruption dynamics promote genomic diversity, while highlighting the need to further research the extent of life in geyser systems such as OFG.

Discovery of a New Lichtheimia (Lichtheimiaceae, Mucorales) from Invertebrate Niche and Its Phylogenetic Status and Physiological Characteristics.

Species of Lichtheimia are important opportunistic fungal pathogens in the order Mucorales that are isolated from various sources such as soil, indoor air, food products, feces, and decaying vegetables. In recent years, species of Lichtheimia have become an emerging causative agent of invasive mucormycosis. In Europe and USA, Lichtheimia are the second and third most common causal fungus of mucormycosis, respectively. Thus, the aim of this study was to survey the diversity of species of Lichtheimia hidden in poorly studied hosts, such as invertebrates, in Korea. Eight Lichtheimia strains were isolated from invertebrate samples. Based on morphology, physiology, and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and LSU rDNA sequence data, the strains were identified as L. hyalospora, L. ornata, L. ramosa, and a novel species, L. koreana sp. nov. Lichtheimia koreana is characterized by a variable columellae, sporangiophores arising solitarily or up to three at one place from stolons, and slow growth on MEA and PDA at all temperatures tested. The new species grows best at 30 and 35 °C and has a maximum growth temperature of 40 °C. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree are provided.

First Detection of Wilsonomyces carpophilus Causing Leaf Spot and Shot Hole Disease on Vitis vinifera

Grapevines ( Vitis spp.) are cultivated all over the world and viticulture is a horticultural industry. During the spring of 2020, leaf samples with leaf spot and shot-hole symptoms were collected from the vineyards of Urmia county, West Azerbaijan province, Iran. One fungal isolate was recovered from infected tissues. Based on cultural and morphological features, ITS rDNA sequence data, and a generated phylogenetic tree, the obtained fungal isolate was identified as Wilsonomyces carpophilus. Under in vitro conditions, the colony was white to cream colored, sporulation occurred only in a minor proportion of the colony, and the diameter of the colony on potato dextrose agar reached 44 mm after 14 days. To evaluate Koch's postulates, isolate NSS18 was inoculated on leaves of the Chafteh cultivar of grapevine and the same fungus was reisolated from developed symptoms. This is the first report of leaf spot and shot-hole disease on grapevine caused by W. carpophilus, and also Vitis vinifera is a new host for this species in the world.

18S rDNA sequence-structure phylogeny of the Euglenophyceae (Euglenozoa, Euglenida).

The phylogeny of Euglenophyceae (Euglenozoa, Euglenida) has been discussed for decades with new genera being described in the last few years. In this study, we reconstruct a phylogeny using 18S rDNA sequence and structural data simultaneously. Using homology modeling, individual secondary structures were predicted. Sequence-structure data are encoded and automatically aligned. Here, we present a sequence-structure neighbor-joining tree of more than 300 taxa classified as Euglenophyceae. Profile neighbor-joining was used to resolve the basal branching pattern. Neighbor-joining, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood analyses were performed using sequence-structure information for manually chosen subsets. All analyses supported the monophyly of Eutreptiella, Discoplastis, Lepocinclis, Strombomonas, Cryptoglena, Monomorphina, Euglenaria, and Colacium. Well-supported topologies were generally consistent with previous studies using a combined dataset of genetic markers. Our study supports the simultaneous use of sequence and structural data to reconstruct more accurate and robust trees. The average bootstrap value is significantly higher than the average bootstrap value obtained from sequence-only analyses, which is promising for resolving relationships between more closely related taxa.

Ulosarcina terrestrica gen. nov., sp. nov., a New Ulvophycean Sarcinoid Alga from the Russian Far East

Many filamentous and sarcinoid terrestrial or freshwater green algae that were previously assigned to the Chlorophyceae are members of lineages belonging to the class Ulvophyceae. One of these lineages is the Planophila-clade (Ulotrichales). Some genera in this clade share similar morphology: cell packages forming branched pseudofilaments, uniseriate or sometimes biseriate filaments, often embedded in common mucilage. During a study on soil algal diversity in the temperate monsoon climate zone in Russia (Primorsky Territory, Vladivostok), we isolated a strain of sarcinoid green alga and examined it using an integrative approach. SSU and ITS rDNA sequence data, morphological characteristics, and life cycle features differentiated this strain from closely related genera of the order Ulotrichales and led us to describe it as Ulosarcina terrestrica gen. et sp. nov.