TY - JOUR
T1 - Spirotrichonymphea (Parabasalia) symbionts of the termite Paraneotermes simplicicornis
AU - Taerum, Stephen J.
AU - Jasso-Selles, Daniel E.
AU - Hileman, Jonathon T.
AU - De Martini, Francesca
AU - Mizumoto, Nobuaki
AU - Gile, Gillian H.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Dr. Joseph O’Neill for suggesting the Latin word, Fraterculus. We would also like to thank Xyonane Segovia and Maya Gaylor for technical assistance. Funding for this research was provided by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Life Sciences , Arizona State University (startup grant to G.H.G). N.M. is supported by a JSPS Overseas Research Fellowship, supervised by Stephen Pratt.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier GmbH
PY - 2020/10
Y1 - 2020/10
N2 - The desert dampwood termite Paraneotermes simplicicornis harbors several species of obligately symbiotic protists that support its nutrition by fermenting lignocellulose. Among them are three morphotypes with the dexiotropic spiraling flagellar bands characteristic of Spirotrichonymphea (Parabasalia). The largest morphotype, characterized by an elongated cell apex with axial columella and internally positioned spiraling flagellar bands, was previously described as Spirotrichonympha polygyra. A smaller morphotype, with similarly internalized flagellar bands but a more rounded posterior without a protruding axostyle, was previously reported but not named. The smallest morphotype has surface flagellar bands and can attach to other protist cells by its apex. In this study, we combine light microscopy of live specimens and 18S rRNA gene sequencing of individually isolated cells to better understand the diversity of symbionts in P. simplicicornis. We found that S. polygyra branches distantly from true Spirotrichonympha, which are associated with Reticulitermes termites. Thus, we propose the new genus Cuppa to accommodate C. polygyra n. comb. (type species) and the similar but smaller morphotype Cuppa taenia n. sp. The undescribed smallest morphotype can be excluded from all previously described Spirotrichonymphea genera by molecular and behavioral evidence, so we propose Fraterculus simplicicornis n. gen., n. sp., to accommodate this organism.
AB - The desert dampwood termite Paraneotermes simplicicornis harbors several species of obligately symbiotic protists that support its nutrition by fermenting lignocellulose. Among them are three morphotypes with the dexiotropic spiraling flagellar bands characteristic of Spirotrichonymphea (Parabasalia). The largest morphotype, characterized by an elongated cell apex with axial columella and internally positioned spiraling flagellar bands, was previously described as Spirotrichonympha polygyra. A smaller morphotype, with similarly internalized flagellar bands but a more rounded posterior without a protruding axostyle, was previously reported but not named. The smallest morphotype has surface flagellar bands and can attach to other protist cells by its apex. In this study, we combine light microscopy of live specimens and 18S rRNA gene sequencing of individually isolated cells to better understand the diversity of symbionts in P. simplicicornis. We found that S. polygyra branches distantly from true Spirotrichonympha, which are associated with Reticulitermes termites. Thus, we propose the new genus Cuppa to accommodate C. polygyra n. comb. (type species) and the similar but smaller morphotype Cuppa taenia n. sp. The undescribed smallest morphotype can be excluded from all previously described Spirotrichonymphea genera by molecular and behavioral evidence, so we propose Fraterculus simplicicornis n. gen., n. sp., to accommodate this organism.
KW - Cuppa
KW - Evolution
KW - Fraterculus
KW - Symbiosis
KW - Taxonomy
KW - Termite
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125742
DO - 10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125742
M3 - Article
C2 - 33161208
AN - SCOPUS:85095731976
SN - 0932-4739
VL - 76
JO - European Journal of Protistology
JF - European Journal of Protistology
M1 - 125742
ER -