Detection and taxonomic placement of endophytic fungi within frond tissues of Livistona chinensis based on rDNA sequences.

The 5.8S gene and flanking internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of the rDNA were amplified from total DNA extracted from frond tissues of Livistona chinensis with universal and fungal-specific primers. These amplified fragments were cloned and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 5.8S gene sequences indicated that the six clone sequences obtained were of different origins. Five sequences, P1-9, P2-6, P4-4, P4-5, and P4-7, belonged to the fungi and one sequence, P3-2, belonged to the plants. P1-9 was inferred to belong to the Basidiomycota based on the phylogenetic analysis of the 5.8S gene sequences but could not be identified to lower taxonomic levels. Further identification of the other four fungal clones to lower taxonomic levels was attempted based on phylogenetic analysis and sequence comparison of both the conserved 5.8S gene and the variable ITS regions. The origin of P2-6 was identified to be Glomerella and its anamorph Colletotrichum, the origins of P4-5 and P4-7 were Mycosphaerella and its anamorph Cladosporium, and the origin of P4-4 was the Herpotrichiellaceae. The direct approach to detection and taxonomic placement of endophytic fungi within host tissue without the need for conventional in vitro culturing is discussed.     

Heterogeneity of the yeasts Zygowilliopsis californica: Z. californica var. dimennae comb. nov., stat. nov. and Z. californica var. fukushimae comb. nov., stat. nov

A significant heterogeneity of the species Zygowilliopsis californica was revealed using RFLP-analysis of the PCR-amplified rDNA fragment spanning the 5.8S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of ITS1 and ITS2 rDNA differentiated three varieties: Z. californica var. californica, Z. californica var. dimennae, and Z. californica var. fukushimae. The most variable was the ITS 2 region, where 7-26 nucleotide substitutions were revealed. The varieties formed semisterile hybrids with meiotic segregation of control markers. The limits of the phylogenetic species concept are discussed.     

Genealogical analyses of multiple loci of litostomatean ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora, Litostomatea)

The class Litostomatea is a highly diverse ciliate taxon comprising hundreds of free-living and endocommensal species. However, their traditional morphology-based classification conflicts with 18S rRNA gene phylogenies indicating (1) a deep bifurcation of the Litostomatea into Rhynchostomatia and Haptoria+Trichostomatia, and (2) body polarization and simplification of the oral apparatus as main evolutionary trends in the Litostomatea. To test whether 18S rRNA molecules provide a suitable proxy for litostomatean evolutionary history, we used eighteen new ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2 region sequences from various free-living litostomatean orders. These single- and multiple-locus analyses are in agreement with previous 18S rRNA gene phylogenies, supporting that both 18S rRNA gene and ITS region sequences are effective tools for resolving phylogenetic relationships among the litostomateans. Despite insertions, deletions and mutational saturations in the ITS region, the present study shows that ITS1 and ITS2 molecules can be used to infer phylogenetic relationships not only at species level but also at higher taxonomic ranks when their secondary structure information is utilized to aid alignment.     

紫芝基因组rDNA序列特征及ITS2二级结构比较

紫芝栽培品种‘紫芝S2’(武芝2号)的ITS序列与NCBI数据库中5个紫芝菌株/分离株相似度高达99.79%-100%,在系统进化树上相聚成一类。本研究预测‘紫芝S2’基因组与参考基因组中的rRNA基因簇,分析rDNA结构及各构件序列间的多态性。从高质量‘紫芝S2’基因组中挖掘得到完整rDNA,序列全长40.377 kb,由4组串联重复的(18S、5.8S、28S、5S) rRNA基因簇组成,并含有完整的基因内间隔区(ITS1、ITS2)和基因间间隔区(IGS1、IGS2)。在紫芝S2的rDNA中,高度保守的28S rRNA基因间出现3个SNP和2个插入(1 bp,10 bp)位点;虽然第4条ITS2中有1个SNP位点,但紫芝S2的4条ITS2在二级结构上的分子形态高度一致,与ITS2数据库中其他紫芝菌株仅存在螺旋区间夹角的微小差异。由‘紫芝S2’基因组rDNA的ITS2生成的DNA条形码与二维码,可以作为该栽培品种鉴定与同源物种其他菌株鉴别的分子标记。     

Genetic characterization of Strongyloides spp. from captive, semi-captive and wild Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in Central and East Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia

Orangutans (Pongo spp.), Asia's only great apes, are threatened in their survival due to habitat loss, hunting and infections. Nematodes of the genus Strongyloides may represent a severe cause of death in wild and captive individuals. In order to better understand which Strongyloides species/subspecies infect orangutans under different conditions, larvae were isolated from fecal material collected in Indonesia from 9 captive, 2 semi-captive and 9 wild individuals, 18 captive groups of Bornean orangutans and from 1 human working with wild orangutans. Genotyping was done at the genomic rDNA locus (part of the 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer 1, ITS1) by sequencing amplicons. Thirty isolates, including the one from the human, could be identified as S. fuelleborni fuelleborni with 18S rRNA gene identities of 98·5-100%, with a corresponding published sequence. The ITS1 sequences could be determined for 17 of these isolates revealing a huge variability and 2 main clusters without obvious pattern with regard to attributes of the hosts. The ITS1 amplicons of 2 isolates were cloned and sequenced, revealing considerable variability indicative of mixed infections. One isolate from a captive individual was identified as S. stercoralis (18S rRNA) and showed 99% identity (ITS1) with S. stercoralis sequences from geographically distinct locations and host species. The findings are significant with regard to the zoonotic nature of these parasites and might contribute to the conservation of remaining orangutan populations.     

The taxonomic status of Digramma (Pseudophyllidea: Ligulidae) inferred from DNA sequences

The traditional classification of the ligulid tapeworms into 2 genera, Ligula Bloch, 1782 and Digramma Cholodkovsky, 1914, remains controversial. Molecular data of sequences for the 5' end of the nuclear 28S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, and the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) gene, as well as the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) of the nuclear ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), were used to characterize Digramma and to investigate its relationship with Ligula. Digramma spp. exhibited identical sequences with Ligula intestinalis both in the 28S rRNA and the COI gene and differed from L. intestinalis by 0.7% in the ITS1 region and 7.4% in the ND1 gene, respectively. A high degree of genetic conservation within 28S ribosomal DNA, COI, ITS1, and even ND1 genes, was found in Ligula and Digramma. The low genetic divergence in the 4 genes between Ligula and Digramma indicates that Digramma is probably not an independent genus. Therefore, it is proposed that Ligula and Digramma should be considered as 2 species within the genus Ligula and the tapeworms of Digramma collected from diverse localities in China belong to the same species. The present study also suggests that ITS1 and ND1 sequences can act as useful genetic markers to distinguish Ligula and Digramma.     

82 Taxonomic revision of sphaerotrichia divaricata (C. AG.) kylin (ectocarpales S.L., phaeophyceae), with a reappraisal of s. firma (GEPP) a. zinova from the northwestern pacific

Specimens of Sphaerotrichia in Japan can be classified into two morphotypes based on mode of branching and anatomy: 1) specimens having an obvious (traceable) main axis associated with more first-order branches, and the distance between the branches is relatively constant; 2) specimens that branches more or less divaricately and the distance between branches tends to be shorter in the distal portion. Molecular analyses of North Atlantic and North Pacific Sphaerotrichia using ribo-somal RNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and IGS regions between 26S and 5S rDNA) and Rubisco (almost complete rbcL gene and the spacer between rbcL and rbcS) gene sequences revealed that there are two major genetic groups (i.e. Group-1 and Group-2), whereas the sequence length variation in ITS1 suggested subdivisions of Group-2 into two subgroups (Group-2Atlantic and Group-2Pacific). Specimens belonging to Group-1 were generally epilithic, and morphologically corresponded to Sphaerotrichia firma (Gepp) A. Zinova. Specimens belonging to Group-2 were epiphytic or epilithic and morphologically corresponded to S. divaricata (C. Ag.) Kylin.     

Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the 23S ribosomal RNA and flanking spacers of an Enterococcus faecium strain, reveals insertion-deletion events in the ribosomal spacer 1 of enterococci

The usefulness of 16S-23S (ITS1) and 23S-5S (ITS2) ribosomal spacer nucleotide sequence determination, as a complementary approach to the biochemical tests traditionally used for enterococcal species identification, is shown by its application to the identification of a strain, E27, isolated from a natural bacteria mixture used for cheese production. Using combined approaches we showed, unambiguously, that strain E27 belongs to the Enterococcus faecium species. However, its ITS1 region has an interesting peculiarity. In our previous study of ITS1s from various enterococcal species (NAIMI et al., 1997, Microbiology 143, 823-834), the ITS1s of the two E. faecium strains studied, were found to contain an additional 115-nt long stem-loop structure as compared to the ITS1s of other enterococci, only one out of the 3 ITS1s of E. hirae ATCC 9790, was found to contain a similar 107-nt long stem-loop structure. The ITS1 of strain E27 is 100% identical to that of E. faecium ATCC 19434T, except that the 115-nt additional fragment is absent. This strongly suggests the existence of lateral DNA transfer or DNA recombination events at a hot spot position of the ITS1s from E. faecium and E. hirae. Small and large ITS1 nucleotide sequence determination for strain E27 generalized the notion of two kinds of ITSs in enterococci: one with a tRNA(Ala) gene, one without tRNA gene. To complete strain E27 characterization, its 23S rRNA sequence was established. This is the first complete 23S rRNA nucleotide sequence determined for an enterococcal species.     

Heterogeneity of the yeasts Zygowilliopsis californica: Z. californica var. dimennae comb. nov., stat. nov. and Z. californica var. fukushimae comb. nov., stat. nov.

A significant heterogeneity of the species Zygowilliopsis californica was revealed using RFLP-analysis of the PCR-amplified rDNA fragment spanning the 5.8S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of ITS1 and ITS2 rDNA differentiated three varieties: Z. californica var. californica, Z. californica var. dimennae, and Z. californica var. fukushimae. The most variable was the ITS2 region, where 7–26 nucleotide substitutions were revealed. The varieties formed semisterile hybrids with meiotic segregation of control markers. The limits of the phylogenetic species concept are discussed.     

Sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region in some scallop species (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Pectinidae).

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA from the European scallops Aequipecten opercularis, Mimachlamys varia, Hinnites distortus, and Pecten maximus was PCR amplified and sequenced. For each species, three or five clones were examined. The size ranged between 636 and 713 bp (ITS1, 209-276 bp; 5.8S rRNA gene, 157 bp; ITS2, 270-294 bp) and GC content ranged between 47 and 50% (ITS1, 43-49%; 5.8S rRNA gene, 56-57%; ITS2, 44-49%). Variation within repeats was minimal; only clones from M. varia and P. maximus displayed a few variable sites in ITS2. Among scallops, including Chlamys farreri whose ITS sequence appears in databases, significant variation was observed in both ITS1 and ITS2. Phylogenetic analysis using ITS1, ITS2, or both spacer sequences always yielded trees with similar topology. Aequipecten opercularis and P. maximus grouped in one clade and the other three scallops (C. farreri, M. varia, and H. distortus) in another, where M. varia and H. distortus are the more closely related species. These results provide new insights into the evolutionary relationships of scallop species and corroborate the close evolutionary relationship between the tribes Aequipectinini and Pectinini previously deduced from 18S rDNA sequences.     

Plant growth promoting potential of the fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Discosia</Emphasis> sp. FIHB 571 from tea rhizosphere tested on chickpea,maize and pea

The ITS region sequence of a phosphate-solubilizing fungus isolated from the rhizosphere of tea growing in Kangra valley of Himachal Pradesh showed 96% identity with Discosia sp. strain HKUCC 6626 ITS 1, 5.8S rRNA gene and ITS 2 complete sequence, and 28S rRNA gene partial sequence. The fungus exhibited the multiple plant growth promoting attributes of solubilization of inorganic phosphate substrates, production of phytase and siderophores, and biosynthesis of indole acetic acid (IAA)-like auxins. The fungal inoculum significantly increased the root length, shoot length and dry matter in the test plants of maize, pea and chickpea over the uninoculated control under the controlled environment. The plant growth promoting attributes have not been previously studied for the fungus. The fungal strain with its multiple plant growth promoting activities appears attractive towards the development of microbial inoculants.     

Sequence heterogeneity in the internal transcribed spacers of two rat ribosomal DNA clones

The sequence of one cloned rat rDNA segment is determined, encompassing the 3'-terminal part of 18 S rDNA (231 bp), ITS 1 (1072 bp), 5.8 S rDNA (156 bp), ITS 2 (771 bp) and the 5'-terminal part of 28 S rDNA (210 bp). Comparison with a distinct clone of the same rDNA segment reveals the identity of the rRNA gene sequences and considerable heterogeneity in both ITS 1 and ITS 2. The heterogeneities include mainly single base-pair changes (23 deletions or insertions and 14 substitutions) distributed all along the ITS sequences.     

Sequence Variation of Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) in Commercially Important Phytoseiidae Mites

Preliminary work is needed to assess the usefulness of different markers at different taxonomic scales when a new group is analyzed, such as the commercially important Phytoseiidae mites. We investigate here the level of sequence variation of the nuclear ribosomal spacers ITS 1 and 2 and the 5.8S gene in six species of Phytoseiidae: Neoseiulus californicus, N. fallacis, Euseius concordis, Metaseiulus occidentalis, Typhlodromus pyri and Phytoseiulus persimilis. As expected, the 5.8S gene (148 base pairs) is markedly conserved and displays little variation in between genera comparisons. ITS1 and ITS2 show contrasting patterns: while the ITS2 is short (80–89 bp) and shows little variation, the ITS1 is longer (303–404 bp) and is very variable in sequence. This fact compromises reliable nucleotide homologies when comparing the genera. The comparison of ITS1 sequence similarity at the species level might be useful for species identification, however, the value of ITS in taxonomic studies does not extend to the level of the family. The intraspecific variations of ITS were investigated in three species: N. californicus, N. fallacis and E. concordis. The first species has identical ITS1 sequences and the last two display low polymorphism (2 nucleotide substitutions). The ITS2 and 5.8S sequences were identical in all three subspecies comparisons.     

Inter- and intrasporal nuclear ribosomal gene sequence variation within one isolate of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Diversispora sp.

Most molecular ecological studies of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been based on the rRNA gene sequences. However, information about intraspecific nucleotide variation is still limited in these fungi. In this study, we calculated the inter- and intrasporal nucleotide variation of Diversispora sp. EE1 using 78 cloned sequences from four spores within a ca 4960 bp fragment of the nuclear ribosomal operon spanning the near full length small ribosomal subunit (SSU) rRNA gene, the full internal transcribed spacer (ITS: ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and ca 2740 bp of the large ribosomal subunit (LSU) rRNA gene. Data for each marker region (SSU, ITS and LSU) originated from the very same spores. Sequence variation resulting from point mutations and small indels was recorded in all regions. Highest sequence variation was observed in the ITS region at both the inter- and intrasporal levels. The ITS1 component was more variable than ITS2, whilst the 5.8S gene was the least variable component of the ITS region. Evolutionary divergence of gene copies between spores was intermediate for the LSU and lowest for the SSU. The SSU and the LSU genes had relatively similar evolutionary divergence per spore. Sequence variant richness was not exhaustive for any of the marker regions, indicating that multiple sequences per spore from multiple spores are needed when characterizing a species. This study provides reference sequences for ecological studies, permitting identification of AMF using any of the ribosomal regions or primer systems.     

Ogataea thermophila sp. nov., the teleomorph of Candida thermophila

Ascospore formation was observed in the type strain of Candida thermophila Shin K-S, Shin YK, Yoon and Park on some yeast sporulation media. In addition, a further sporulating strain was found that proved to be conspecific with C. thermophila on the basis of sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the large-subunit (26S) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1-5.8S rRNA gene - ITS2 region. Therefore, Ogataea thermophila Péter, Tornai-Lehoczki, Shin K-S & Dlauchy sp. nov. is proposed as the teleomorph of C. thermophila. The type strain is Y94(T)=JCM 10994(T)=KCCM 50661(T)=KCTC 17233(T).     

Analysis of Yeast-Like Symbiote Diversity in the Brown Planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stål, Using a Novel Nested PCR-DGGE Protocol

Yeast-like symbiotes (YLS) are endosymbionts that are intimately associated with the growth, development, reproduction of their host, the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae). However, it is unclear how many species of YLS are found within N. lugens, and how they are related to each other. Traditional methods or simple amplification based on 18S rDNA sequence does not reliably identify new species quickly and efficiently. Therefore, a novel nested PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) strategy was developed in this article to analyze the YLS of brown planthopper using a nested PCR protocol that involved the 18S rDNA gene and the 5.8S–ITS gene using fungal universal primers. The nested PCR protocol was developed as follows: firstly, the 18S rDNA gene, and 5.8S–ITS gene were amplified using fungal universal primers. Subsequently, these products were used as a template in a second PCR with primers ITS1GC–ITS2, ITS1FGC–ITS2, and NFGC-NR, which was suitable for DGGE. Using this highly specific molecular approach, we found several previously detected fungi: Noda, Pichia guilliermondii, Candida sp., and some previously undetected fungi, such as Saccharomycetales sp., Debaryomyces hansenii, and some uncultured fungi. In conclusion, the nested PCR system developed in this study, coupled with DGGE fingerprinting, offers a new tool for uncovering fungal endosymbiont diversity within planthoppers.