西藏扎布耶盐湖细菌多样性的免培养技术分析

【目的】利用免培养技术,获得有关西藏高原高盐度、高海拔盐湖的细菌多样性认识。【方法】从西藏扎布耶盐湖沉积样品中提取微生物总DNA,利用细菌引物f530/r1492扩增16S rRNA基因,然后构建16S rRNA基因质粒文库。采用HaeⅢ和HhaⅠ两种内切酶对阳性克隆质粒DNA进行ARDRA分型分析,根据分型结果挑选克隆进行测序。得到它们的16SrRNA基因部分序列,根据获得的序列构建构建系统发育树。【结果】在系统发育树上,部分克隆(占总克隆数的57.14%)与已知细菌属归于同一分支,主要分布在γ-变形菌纲、α-变形菌纲、δ-变形菌纲、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)的23个嗜盐细菌属之中。其余的克隆为未培养序列,与前者差异很大,在进化树上形成了独立的分支。【结论】研究结果显示出扎布耶茶卡湖中的细菌组成具有极其丰富的多样性。     

微孢子虫的进化起源与系统分类现状

系统回顾了微孢子虫起源进化的研究进展及其系统分类现状。近30年来,一些依据SSU r DNA序列、翻译延伸因子1α序列、直系同源蛋白基因树及真菌蛋白质组生命树等的研究支持微孢子虫起源于原生生物。但同时大量的单基因或多基因系统发育研究又支持微孢子虫起源于真菌。最近一系列独立的系统基因组学研究结果,加上在罗兹菌门中发现了介于真菌和微孢子虫中间类型的近微孢虫菌属(Paramicrosporidium)、线孢虫菌属(Mitosporidium)和噬核菌属(Nucleophaga),进一步支持微孢子虫起源于罗兹菌门的噬核菌属谱系。     

水稻恶苗病菌(Fusarium fujikuroi)β-微管蛋白基因克隆及与多菌灵抗药性关系

【目的】揭示水稻恶苗病菌(Fusarium fujikuroi)对多菌灵的抗药性与其β-微管蛋白基因的相关性。【方法】结合形态学和TEF-1α基因序列对分离菌株进行鉴定;根据近源种拟轮枝镰孢菌(Fusarium verticillioides)核基因组测序菌株7600的β-微管蛋白核苷酸序列设计引物,采用PCR方法克隆并比对分析了F.fujikuroi对多菌灵不同敏感性表型的5个菌株的β-微管蛋白基因全序列;利用实时定量技术(qRT-PCR)分析了β-微管蛋白基因在上述5个菌株中的表达特性。【结果】F.fujikuroi的β-微管蛋白基因核苷酸序列(GenBank登录号:JQ026022)全长1671 bp,包含4个内含子,编码447个氨基酸残基;2个敏感性菌株和3个抗药性菌株的β-微管蛋白基因核苷酸序列同源性100%;在无药剂处理下该基因在2个敏感性菌株中的表达水平显著高于3个抗药性菌株(p=0.05),且对同一菌株而言,药剂处理能够显著提高β-微管蛋白基因表达水平(p=0.05),但在相同药剂处理条件下,菌株间差异不显著。【结论】F.fujikuroi对多菌灵的抗药性机制与β-微管蛋白无关,有待进一步研究。     

家蚕微孢子虫丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂蛋白serpin基因NbSPN106的鉴定

摘要：【目的】Serpin在病原与宿主互作中起着重要的作用。本研究旨在分析在家蚕微孢子虫中的丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂蛋白（Serpin）的结构特征,原核克隆表达以及Western blotting检测。【方法】 基于家蚕微孢子虫全基因组序列,同源序列比对搜索获得serpin基因序列。利用在线软件分析基因的序列特征,ClustalX对氨基酸序列进行多重序列比对。构建含有GST标签的pGEX4T1-NbSPN106原核重组表达载体,在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）诱导表达并进行纯化。纯化的重组蛋白免疫小鼠,制备抗体,并与家蚕微孢子虫总蛋白进行Western blotting免疫杂交。【结果】比对搜索在家蚕微孢子虫基因组中发现一个新的serpin基因NbSPN106。NbSPN106蛋白序列长度为384 aa,N端具有信号肽,编码一个42 kDa左右的成熟蛋白。多重序列比对说明NbSPN106具有保守的serpin位点,可能具有抑制功能。免疫杂交在家蚕微孢子虫总蛋白检测到一条45 kDa左右的特异条带。【讨论】生物信息学分析以及免疫杂交结果说明在家蚕微孢子虫中存在NbSPN106。这是在微孢子虫中首次报道发现serpin基因。对研究家蚕微孢子虫与宿主家蚕的互作具有一定的参考价值。     

小麦赤霉病菌对多菌灵的抗药性与a2-微管蛋白序列无关析

【目的】研究小麦赤霉病菌对多菌灵的抗药性与a2-微管蛋白基因的相关性。【方法】比较对多菌灵不同敏感性水平菌株间在药剂作用下的形态学特征及其a2-微管蛋白基因异同。【结果】当敏感菌株和田间中抗菌株均在各自EC50 和EC90浓度作用下,两者分生孢子芽管和初生菌丝均表现畸形,肿胀,分支增多。根据小麦赤霉病菌核基因组测序菌株NRRL31 084（PH-1）的a2-微管蛋白基因核苷酸序列设计4对引物,采用PCR方法克隆并测定了小麦赤霉病菌（Fusarium graminearum）对多菌灵（MBC）不同敏感性表型的8个中国菌株的a2-微管蛋白基因全序列。DNA序列比对结果表明中国的4个敏感菌株和4个抗药性菌株的a2-微管蛋白基因核苷酸序列同源性没有差异,多菌灵抗药性与a2-微管蛋白无关。该基因全长1712 bp,含有4 个内元,编码453 aa;与NRRL31 084的a2-微管蛋白基因核苷酸序列同源性为99%,存在5个差异核苷酸,与其所编码的氨基酸序列同源性为100%;与其他9种真菌a2-微管蛋白基因所编码的氨基酸序列同源性为64%~89%。【结论】小麦赤霉病菌对多菌灵的抗药性与a2-微管蛋白序列无关。     

新疆沙湾冷泉沉积物中免培养古菌多样性初步研究

【目的】了解新疆沙湾冷泉沉积物的古菌组成及多样性。【方法】采用免培养法,液氮研磨提取冷泉沉积物总DNA,使用古菌通用引物进行16S rRNA基因扩增,构建16S rRNA基因文库。对阳性克隆进行HhaI限制性酶切分型,选出具有不同酶切图谱的序列进行测序,将所得序列与GenBank数据库中序列比对并构建16S rRNA基因系统发育树。【结果】从冷泉沉积物古菌16S rRNA基因文库中随机挑选了121个阳性克隆,共得到22个不同的可操作分类单元,BLAST结果表明全部克隆子归属于泉古菌门(Crenarchaeote)中免培养类群。系统发育分析归类为Soil-Freshwater-subsurface group和MarinegroupI,2个亚群并且各占整个文库的50%。其中40%左右的克隆子与具有无机碳和硝酸盐同化能力的泉古菌有高的相似性。此外还发现40%的克隆子与低温泉古菌类群具有很高的相似性。【结论】新疆沙湾冷泉沉积物中古菌类群多样性较低,但存有大量高度适应此低温、贫营养环境的泉古菌类群。     

禾谷镰孢菌α-微管蛋白基因克隆及其与多菌灵抗药性关系分析

根据禾谷镰孢菌参考菌株NRRL310 84 (PH 1)的α- 微管蛋白基因核苷酸序列设计 4对引物 ,采用PCR方法克隆并测序了禾谷镰孢菌 (Fusariumgraminearum)对多菌灵 (MBC)不同敏感性表型的 6个中国菌株的α 微管蛋白基因全序列。DNA序列对照表明中国的 3个敏感菌株和 3个抗药菌株的α- 微管蛋白基因核苷酸序列同源性没有差异 ,多菌灵抗药性与α- 微管蛋白无关。该基因全长 1718bp ,含有 6个内元 ,编码 4 4 9aa ;与NRRL310 84的α- 微管蛋白基因核苷酸序列同源性为 99% ,存在 5个差异核苷酸 ,与其所编码的氨基酸序列同源性为 99 78% ;与其他 6种真菌α- 微管蛋白基因所编码的氨基酸序列同源性为 37%～ 86 %。     

水稻恶苗病菌对苯并咪唑类杀菌剂抗药性分子机理研究初探

用真菌β-微管蛋白基因的丰余寡聚核着酸引物B1和B3,扩增了一段871bp的水稻恶苗病菌Fusariummoniliforme的β微管蛋白基因片段,进行了克隆和DNA序列测定,并根据该序列设计了Fmoniliformeβ-微管蛋白基因的特异性测序引物。经过对恶苗病菌对多菌灵具有不同抗性水平菌株的β-微管蛋白基因核着酸序的比较研究,表明Fmoniliforme的β微管蛋白的165,198,200和257位置氨基酸末发生突变,在克隆的片段内也未发现能引起氨基酸改变的核着酸突变。说明该菌对多菌灵产生抗性的分子机理与目前已知的其他真菌有所不同,有待进～步研究。     

南亚实蝇鞣化激素基因的克隆与表达分析

【目的】克隆南亚实蝇Zeugodacus tau鞣化激素基因,分析其分子特征及时空表达模式,为探索其生理功能奠定基础。【方法】利用同源克隆和RACE技术从南亚实蝇刚羽化成虫中克隆鞣化激素基因bursicon-α和bursicon-β的全长cDNA序列,并用邻接法(neighbor-joining method)与其他昆虫同源序列构建系统发育进化树。利用荧光定量PCR技术检测这两个基因在南亚实蝇不同发育阶段(卵、1-3龄幼虫、预蛹、蛹和刚羽化成虫)的表达特性。【结果】克隆获得南亚实蝇鞣化激素基因bursicon-α(GenBank登录号:MH421861)和bursicon-β(GenBank登录号:MH421862)。bursicon-α基因开放阅读框为551 bp,编码183个氨基酸;bursicon-β基因开放阅读框为467 bp,编码156个氨基酸。基于两个鞣化激素基因的氨基酸序列的系统发育树分析显示,南亚实蝇Bursicon-α与Bursicon-β均与瓜实蝇Zeugodacus cucurbitae的同源蛋白亲缘关系最近,且与其他双翅目昆虫的同源蛋白聚为一类,形成独立的分支。荧光定量PCR结果表明,两个基因在南亚实蝇各龄期均有表达,均在第5天蛹和刚羽化成虫翅伸展时期表达量最高。【结论】bursicon-α和bursicon-β基因在南亚实蝇不同发育阶段表达量不同,推测其在南亚实蝇成虫表皮鞣化和翅的形成中发挥着重要作用。本研究为进一步探索鞣化激素在南亚实蝇生长过程中表皮的骨化、翅的重建等方面的功能机制奠定了基础。     

家蚕微孢子虫ADP/ATP转运蛋白的原核表达及间接免疫荧光定位分析

【目的】家蚕微孢子虫Nosema bombycis ADP/ATP转运蛋白可能参与搬运宿主细胞的能量。本研究克隆家蚕微孢子虫ADP/ATP转运蛋白基因,并进行原核表达、抗体制备及间接免疫荧光定位,为控制和防治家蚕微粒子病提供理论基础。【方法】通过同源序列比对鉴定家蚕微孢子虫N. bombycis ADP/ATP转运蛋白序列,采用生物合成的方法将编码3段面向膜内侧肽段的核酸序列拼接合成,在其两端引入BglⅡ和SalⅠ酶切位点,克隆至pUC57载体并测序,再亚克隆至含有二氢叶酸还原酶（dihydrofolate reductase,DHFR）标签的表达载体pQE40中,然后利用BamHⅠ和SalⅠ酶切获得含有DHFR标签的重组序列,并连接至pET30a（+）载体中进行诱导表达。通过SDS-PAGE、镍柱亲和层析和免疫印迹法鉴定表达蛋白,利用间接免疫荧光对ADP/ATP转运蛋白的分布进行检测。【结果】家蚕微孢子虫的ADP/ATP转运蛋白编码序列（GenBank登录号为EOB13854.1）全长1 524 bp,编码蛋白含有507个氨基酸残基,预测分子质量为59 kDa,等电点为9.35。具有12个跨膜结构域和TLC结构域,其中TLC结构域含有4个功能保守位点。与蜜蜂微孢子虫的ADP/ATP转运蛋白比较,氨基酸序列一致性达30%。系统进化分析表明微孢子虫ADP/ATP转运蛋白聚为一类,具有共同的起源。成功构建了NbADP/ATP-△TM-DHFR-pET30a原核表达重组质粒,目的基因获得表达,其融合蛋白分子量约为37 kDa,纯化重组蛋白并制备了多克隆抗体。免疫印迹分析表明,成熟微孢子虫中表达ADP/ATP转运蛋白;间接免疫荧光定位结果显示,家蚕微孢子虫孢子ADP/ATP转运蛋白定位于孢子质膜上。【结论】本研究将为阻断微孢子虫能量来源,达到控制和防治家蚕微粒子病提供新的思路。     

Phylogenetic analysis of Nosema antheraeae (Microsporidia) isolated from Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi

The microsporidian Nosema antheraeae is a pathogen that infects the Chinese oak silkworm, Antheraea pernyi. We sequenced the complete small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of N. antheraeae, and compared the SSU rRNA sequences in other microsporidia. The results indicated that Nosema species, including N. antheraeae, formed two distinct clades, consistent with previous observations. Furthermore, N. antheraeae is clustered with N. bombycis with high bootstrap support. The organization of the rRNA gene of N. antheraeae is LSU-ITS1-SSU-ITS2-5S, also following a pattern similar to the Nosema type species, N. bombycis. Thus, N. antheraeae is a Nosema species and has a close relationship to N. bombycis.     

Characterization and phylogenetic relationships among microsporidia infecting silkworm, Bombyx mori, using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and small subunit rRNA (SSU-rRNA) sequence analysis.

This study is the first report on the genetic characterization and relationships among different microsporidia infecting the silkworm, Bombyx mori, using inter simple sequence repeat PCR (ISSR-PCR) analysis. Six different microsporidians were distinguished through molecular DNA typing using ISSR-PCR. Thus, ISSR-PCR analysis can be a powerful tool to detect polymorphisms and identify microsporidians, which are difficult to study with microscopy because of their extremely small size. Of the 100 ISSR primers tested, only 28 primers had reproducibility and high polymorphism (93%). A total of 24 ISSR primers produced 55 unique genetic markers, which could be used to differentiate the microsporidians from each other. Among the 28 SSRs tested, the most abundant were (CA)n, (GA)n, and (GT)n repeats. The degree of band sharing was used to evaluate genetic similarity between different microsporidian isolates and to construct a phylogenetic tree using Jaccard's similarity coefficient. The results indicate that the DNA profiles based on ISSR markers can be used as diagnostic tools to identify different microsporidia with considerable accuracy. In addition, the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) sequence gene was amplified, cloned, and sequenced from each of the 6 microsporidian isolates. These sequences were compared with 20 other microsporidian SSU-rRNA sequences to develop a phylogenetic tree for the microsporidia isolated from the silkworms. This method was found to be useful in establishing the phylogenetic relationships among the different microsporidians isolated from silkworms. Of the 6 microsporidian isolates, NIK-1s revealed an SSU-rRNA gene sequence similar to Nosema bombycis, indicating that NIK-1s is similar to N. bombycis; the remaining 5 isolates, which differed from each other and from N. bombycis, were considered to be different variants belonging to the species N. bombycis.     

Multiple rRNA variants in a single spore of the microsporidian Nosema bombi

To understand the source of the multiple DNA sequence variants of Nosema bombi ribosomal RNA (rRNA) found in a single bumble bee host, we PCR amplified, cloned, and sequenced the partial rRNA gene from 125 clones, which were derived from four out of 46 spores individually isolated from a single host by laser microdissection. At least two rRNA variants, characterized by either (GTTT)(2) or (GTTT)(3) repeat units within the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, were found per spore in approximately equal proportions, variants which were also found in approximately equal proportions in 55 clones of the two DNA extracts of multiple spores from the same host. Firstly, we demonstrate for the first time that DNA sequences can be obtained from single-binucleate microsporidia. Secondly, it appears that concerted evolution has not homogenized the sequences of all rRNA copies within a single N. bombi spore or even within a single nucleus. We thereby demonstrate unequivocally that two or more rRNA sequence variants exist per N. bombi spore, and urge caution in the use of multicopy rRNA genes for population genetic and phylogenetic analysis of this and other Microsporidia unless homologous copies can be reliably typed.     

Widespread dispersal of the microsporidian Nosema ceranae, an emergent pathogen of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera

The economically most important honey bee species, Apis mellifera, was formerly considered to be parasitized by one microsporidian, Nosema apis. Recently, [Higes, M., Martín, R., Meana, A., 2006. Nosema ceranae, a new microsporidian parasite in honeybees in Europe, J. Invertebr. Pathol. 92, 93-95] and [Huang, W.-F., Jiang, J.-H., Chen, Y.-W., Wang, C.-H., 2007. A Nosema ceranae isolate from the honeybee Apis mellifera. Apidologie 38, 30-37] used 16S (SSU) rRNA gene sequences to demonstrate the presence of Nosema ceranae in A. mellifera from Spain and Taiwan, respectively. We developed a rapid method to differentiate between N. apis and N. ceranae based on PCR-RFLPs of partial SSU rRNA. The reliability of the method was confirmed by sequencing 29 isolates from across the world (N =9 isolates gave N. apis RFLPs and sequences, N =20 isolates gave N. ceranae RFLPs and sequences; 100% correct classification). We then employed the method to analyze N =115 isolates from across the world. Our data, combined with N =36 additional published sequences demonstrate that (i) N. ceranae most likely jumped host to A. mellifera, probably within the last decade, (ii) that host colonies and individuals may be co-infected by both microsporidia species, and that (iii) N. ceranae is now a parasite of A. mellifera across most of the world. The rapid, long-distance dispersal of N. ceranae is likely due to transport of infected honey bees by commercial or hobbyist beekeepers. We discuss the implications of this emergent pathogen for worldwide beekeeping.     

Small Subunit Ribosomal DNA Phylogeny of Various Microsporidia with Emphasis on AIDS Related Forms

ABSTRACT. Phylogenetic analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA of a broad range of representative microsporidia including five species from humans ( Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Nosema corneum, Septata intestinalis, Encephalitozoon hellem and Encephalitozoon cuniculi ), reveals that human microsporidia are polyphyletic in origin. Septata intestinalis and E. hellem are very similar to the mammalian parasite E. cuniculi . Based on the results of our phylogenetic analysis, we suggest that S. intestinalis be designated Encephalitozoon intestinalis . Furthermore, analysis of our data indicates that N. corneum is much more closely related to the insect parasite Endoreticulatus schubergi than it is to other Nosema species. This finding is supported by recent studies which have shown a similarity between E. schubergi and N. corneum based on the origin and development of the parasitophorous vacuole. Thus these opportunistic microsporidian parasites can originate from hosts closely or distantly related to humans. Finally, the phylogeny based on small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences is highly inconsistent with traditional classifications based on morphological characters. Many of the important morphological characters (diplokaryon, sporophorous vesicle, and meiosis) appear to have multiple origins.     

八肋游仆虫微管蛋白基因家族的鉴定及进化分析

为了系统分析八肋游仆虫(Euplotes octocarinatus)微管蛋白基因家族, 从八肋游仆虫大核基因组中共鉴定得到20个微管蛋白基因, 基于同源比对及系统进化分析, 将其归入α、β、γ、δ、ε及η六个微管蛋白亚家族; 多序列比对及Western blot结果显示八肋游仆虫η微管蛋白基因在翻译过程中需发生一次+1位编程性核糖体移码, 其移码位点为AAA-TAA; 所有自由生纤毛虫都含有多个α和β微管蛋白基因亚型, 可能用于组成不同的微管结构。研究为后续深入探讨八肋游仆虫微管蛋白的生物学功能及微管多样性奠定了基础。     

Polymorphism and recombination for rDNA in the putatively asexual microsporidian Nosema ceranae, a pathogen of honeybees

Nosema ceranae is currently one of the major pathogens of honeybees, related to the worldwide colony losses phenomenon. The genotyping of strains based on ribosomal DNA (rDNA) can be misleading if the repeated units are not identical. The analysis of cloned rDNA fragments containing the intergenic spacer (IGS) and part of the rDNA small-subunit (SSU) gene, from N. ceranae isolates from different European and Central Asia populations, revealed a high diversity of sequences. The variability involved single-nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion/deletions, resulting in 79 different haplotypes. Two sequences from the same isolate could be as different as any pair of sequences from different samples; in contrast, identical haplotypes were also found in very different geographical origins. Consequently, haplotypes cannot be organized in a consistent phylogenetic tree, clearly indicating that rDNA is not a reliable marker for the differentiation of N. ceranae strains. The results indicate that recombination between different sequences may produce new variants, which is quite surprising in microsporidia, usually considered to have an asexual mode of reproduction. The diversity of sequences and their geographical distribution indicate that haplotypes of different lineages may occasionally be present in a same cell and undergo homologue recombination, therefore suggesting a sexual haplo-diploid cycle.     

Diversity of Nosema associated with bumblebees (Bombus spp.) from China

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are important pollinators of many economically important crops and microsporidia are among the most important infections of these hosts. Using molecular markers, we screened a large sample (n=1,009 bees) of workers of 27 different Bombus spp. from China (Sichuan, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu provinces). The results showed that 62 individuals representing 12 Bombus spp. were infected by microsporidia with an overall prevalence of 6.1%. Based on the haplotypes (ssrRNA sequences), we confirmed the presence of Nosema bombi, Nosema ceranae and (likely) Nosema thomsoni. In addition, four new putatively novel taxa were identified by phylogenetic reconstruction: Nosema A, Nosema B-complex, Nosema C-complex and Nosema D-complex. In many cases, hosts were infected by more than one Nosema taxon. Possible caveats of sequence analyses are discussed.     

Molecular data and phylogeny of Nosema infecting lepidopteran forest defoliators in the genera Choristoneura and Malacosoma

ABSTRACT. Nosema isolates from five lepidopteran forest defoliators, Nosema fumiferanae from spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana ; a Nosema sp. from jack pine budworm, Choristoneura pinus pinus and western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis ( Nosema sp. CPP and Nosema sp. CO, respectively); Nosema thomsoni from large aspen tortrix, Choristoneura conflictana ; and Nosema disstriae , from the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria were compared based on their small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences. Four of the species sequenced, N. fumiferanae , Nosema sp. CPP, Nosema sp. CO, and N . disstriae have a high SSU rDNA sequence identity (0.6%–1.5%) and are members of the "true Nosema " clade. They all showed the reverse arrangement of the (large subunit [LSU]–internal transcribed spacer [ITS]–SSU) of the rRNA gene. The fifth species, N. thomsoni has the usual (SSU–ITS–LSU) arrangement and is not a member of this clade showing only an 82% sequence similarity. We speculate, therefore, that a genetic reversal may have occurred in the common ancestor to the "true Nosema " clade. Although, the mechanism for rearrangement of the rRNA gene subunits is not known we provide a possible explanation for the localization. N. fumiferanae , Nosema sp. CPP, and Nosema sp. CO clustered together on the inferred phylogenetic tree. The high sequence similarities, the reverse arrangement in the rRNA gene subunits, and the phylogenetic clustering suggest that these three species are closely related but separate species.     

Complete sequence and gene organization of the Nosema heliothidis ribosomal RNA gene region

By sequencing the entire ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene region of Nosema heliothidis isolated from cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), we showed that its gene organization is similar to the type species, Nosema bombycis: the 5'-large subunit rRNA (2,490 bp)-internal transcribed spacer (192 bp)-small subunit rRNA (1,232 bp)-intergenic spacer (274 bp)-5S rRNA (115 bp)-3'. We constructed two phylogenetic trees, analyzed phylogenetic relationships, examined rRNA organization of microsporidia, and compared the secondary structure of small subunit rRNA with closely related microsporidia. The latter two features may provide important information for the classification and phylogenetic analysis of microsporidia.