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。     

线粒体型蛋白frataxin在家蚕微孢子虫中的鉴定与分析

[目的]Frataxin是铁硫簇相关蛋白,在线粒体代谢中起着重要作用.分析家蚕微孢子中该蛋白的结构特征,系统进化关系以及在孢子体内的转录翻译活性.[方法]基于家蚕微孢子全基因组序列,同源序列搜索获得该基因序列.进行蛋白二级结构比较,近缘物种共线性特征分析及系统进化树构建.此外构建pGEX-4T-1-Nbfra原核重组表达载体,转化E coli BL21(DE3)进行目的蛋白表达纯化,以此为抗原免疫小鼠,制备抗体,并与家蚕微孢子总蛋白进行Western免疫杂交.[结果]Nbfra蛋白缺乏进入线粒体的信号序列,功能区缺乏部分α-螺旋;frataxin基因在不同微孢子基因组中的分布具有共线性特征,表明其在基因组进化中非常保守.系统进化分析显示微孢子形成独立进化支,并且与高等真核生物近缘,说明微孢子在进化地位上比其它原虫更加高等,支持了微孢子虫是真菌的姊妹枝的进化地位假说.[结论]免疫杂交结果表明Nbfra基因家蚕微孢子虫中能正常表达与翻译.本研究为微孢子的分类地位及线体假说提供了重要的补充依据.     

家蚕微孢子虫海藻糖酶3的表达、定位及功能

【目的】本研究旨在初步明确家蚕微孢子虫Nosema bombycis海藻糖酶3(NbTre3)的功能,为家蚕Bombyx mori微粒子病的防治提供理论依据和线索。【方法】通过PCR扩增NbTre3,构建原核表达载体pET28a-NbTre3;经IPTG诱导在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli中表达重组蛋白NbTre3,Western blot检测目的蛋白;Ni柱亲和层析法对重组蛋白NbTre3进行纯化,用获得的NbTre3免疫新西兰兔制备多克隆抗体;利用间接免疫荧光技术对成熟家蚕微孢子虫中的NbTre3进行定位;qRT-PCR检测家蚕微孢子虫感染家蚕5龄起蚕后不同时间中肠中NbTre3的转录水平;通过分别注射siRNA-1, siRNA-2和siRNA-3进行RNAi,qRT-PCR检测RNAi后不同时间感染家蚕微孢子虫的家蚕5龄起蚕中肠中NbTre3和16S rRNA的转录水平。【结果】成功纯化并获得重组目的蛋白NbTre3,大小约为34 kD。免疫新西兰兔后,收集血清,纯化获得NbTre3多克隆抗体,经Western blot鉴定正确。间接免疫荧光结果显示NbTre3主要分布在成熟家蚕微孢子虫孢原质中。qRT-PCR结果表明,家蚕微孢子虫感染后6 h时家蚕5龄起蚕中肠中NbTre3的表达量最高;siRNA抑制NbTre3的表达后,家蚕微孢子虫16S rRNA的转录水平没有明显的变化。【结论】结果提示NbTre3可能在家蚕微孢子虫感染初期的发芽过程中发挥重要的作用。     

家蚕微孢子虫感染对家蚕海龟蛋白(Bmtutl)基因表达水平的影响

【目的】本研究旨在阐明家蚕微孢子虫Nosema bombycis感染不同时间对家蚕Bombyx mori幼虫不同组织中家蚕海龟蛋白(Bombyx Turtle, Bmtutl)基因表达水平的影响,为揭示家蚕微孢子虫的侵染机制奠定基础。【方法】利用生物信息学方法对家蚕海龟蛋白3种亚型Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810的序列结构特征进行了分析;利用qPCR检测家蚕微孢子虫感染后12, 24, 48, 72, 96和120 h,家蚕幼虫中肠、血淋巴与脂肪体组织中Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810基因表达水平的变化情况。【结果】家蚕海龟蛋白3种亚型的二级结构均主要由无规则卷曲、α螺旋、β转角和延伸链组成,其中无规则卷曲所占比例最高。但是PredictProtein分析发现,Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810之间的蛋白/多核苷酸结合位点存在较大差异。qPCR结果表明,感染家蚕微孢子虫后,家蚕幼虫中肠、血淋巴与脂肪体组织中Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810基因的整体表达处于被抑制状态,尤其在脂肪体中最为明显：Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810基因的表达在家蚕微孢子虫感染家蚕后的72 h开始受到显著抑制,特别是Bmtutl-519基因,其相对表达水平均不到对照的5.0%。【结论】家蚕海龟蛋白这3种亚型的序列结构特征存在较大差异,家蚕微孢子虫感染在一定程度抑制了家蚕幼虫中肠、血淋巴与脂肪体组织中Bmtutl-464, Bmtutl-519和Bmtutl-810基因尤其是Bmtutl-519的表达。结果说明,与其他两种家蚕海龟蛋白亚型相比,Bmtutl-519蛋白可能在家蚕微孢子虫侵染宿主的过程中起主要作用。     

东方蜜蜂微孢子虫一新型孢壁蛋白的基因克隆、 表达及亚细胞定位

【目的】微孢子虫(Microsporidia)孢壁在孢子构成及孢子侵染宿主过程中扮演重要的角色。本研究旨在鉴定获得的东方蜜蜂微孢子虫Nosema ceranae新型孢壁蛋白,并进行基因克隆和原核表达,明确其亚细胞定位。【方法】通过在线软件对东方蜜蜂微孢子虫新型孢壁蛋白AAJ76_1400036761序列进行生物信息学分析。利用PCR法获取目的片段并将其克隆至原核表达载体pCold II中,利用IPTG诱导表达重组蛋白并通过镍柱亲和层析法纯化目的蛋白。以获得的重组蛋白为抗原免疫小鼠制备多克隆抗体,通过间接免疫荧光技术和免疫胶体金定位技术对该蛋白进行亚细胞定位分析;利用蛋白质免疫印迹法检测该蛋白与东方蜜蜂微孢子虫几丁质壳的互作。【结果】在MicrosporidiaDB数据库中获得AAJ76_1400036761基因序列,基因全长681 bp,编码226个氨基酸;预测等电点为6.84,分子量为26.19 kD。SDS-PAGE电泳和Western blot结果表明AAJ76_1400036761重组蛋白能够在大肠杆菌Eescherichia coli Rosetta中高量表达。Western blot结果表明,制备的多克隆抗体能够特异地识别东方蜜蜂微孢子虫总蛋白中的AAJ76_1400036761,说明其在成熟东方蜜蜂微孢子虫中有表达。亚细胞定位结果显示,AAJ76_1400036761定位于东方蜜蜂微孢子虫孢壁上。重组蛋白AAJ76_1400036761能够与蜜蜂微孢子虫的几丁质壳结合。【结论】AAJ76_1400036761蛋白在东方蜜蜂微孢子虫成熟孢子中有表达;该蛋白定位于东方蜜蜂微孢子虫孢壁上,为东方蜜蜂微孢子虫新的孢壁蛋白。本研究为深入研究该蛋白的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

家蚕微粒子虫分泌蛋白己糖激酶NbHK对家蚕基因表达及相关通路的调控作用

【目的】微孢子虫是一种营专性细胞内寄生的微生物,它可以感染几乎所有动物种类,包括人类和重要的经济动物。本研究对家蚕微粒子虫分泌蛋白己糖激酶(Nosema bombycis hexokinase, NbHK)在家蚕胚胎细胞中表达特征、亚细胞定位、调控作用和宿主互作蛋白质进行了系统分析,为阐明该蛋白在侵染中的作用与机理提供参考。【方法】利用原核表达蛋白免疫小鼠,制备NbHK的多克隆抗体,并利用Western blotting和间接免疫荧光法分析家蚕微粒子虫在感染的家蚕胚胎细胞(Bombyx mori embryo, BmE)中的表达和定位;通过过表达和RNA干扰实验,分析NbHK对病原增殖的作用;利用RNA-seq分析NbHK调控的家蚕基因表达和通路;利用生物素-链霉亲和素系统和质谱技术,从NbHK::APEX2转基因细胞中分离鉴定NbHK的互作蛋白。【结果】在感染家蚕微粒子虫的BmE中,NbHK持续上调表达,主要被定位于宿主细胞核内。过表达NbHK显著促进了病原增殖,而敲低NbHK则明显抑制了病原增殖,说明在NbHK感染过程中发挥关键作用。利用RNA-seq分析鉴定了94个差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes, DEGs),其中58个基因上调,36个基因下调。DEGs的富集分析显示,细胞寿命和内质网蛋白加工通路受到显著激活,而线粒体自噬途径受到明显抑制。互作蛋白鉴定分析发现,NbHK可能与宿主细胞核内的核蛋白易位启动子区(nucleoprotein translocated promoter region, NTPR)等蛋白间存在相互作用。【结论】NbHK主要被定位至家蚕细胞核中,调控家蚕细胞寿命等多个重要通路的基因表达,以利于病原增殖。本研究为深入解析NbHK在感染过程中的功能及其调控机理提供了新的参考。     

家蚕微孢子虫感染对家蚕BmN细胞凋亡以及凋亡蛋白抑制因子IAPs表达的影响

【目的】在无任何外界凋亡因素诱导条件下,探究家蚕微孢子虫感染对家蚕卵巢细胞-BmN凋亡的影响,以及凋亡蛋白抑制因子IAPs实相表达的变化情况。【方法】显微镜下观察家蚕微孢子虫感染BmN细胞后不同时间段宿主细胞的变化情况,以及利用荧光定量PCR方法检测家蚕促凋亡基因——细胞色素C(BmCyt c)表达水平的变化,随后检索家蚕基因组与蛋白质家族数据库搜寻家蚕凋亡蛋白抑制因子IAPs基因信息,并通过荧光定量PCR方法对这些基因的实相表达情况进行定量分析。【结果】家蚕微孢子虫感染BmN细胞的前5 d,细胞状态未见明显变化。感染后7 d,BmN细胞的生长受到了一定程度的影响。第12天时,对照组中几乎所有细胞出现空泡化或细胞死亡的现象,而感染家蚕微孢子虫的BmN细胞未见空泡的出现,并且大量细胞形态完整,细胞核清晰可见。同时,BmCyt c基因的表达几乎一直处于被抑制状态,特别是感染后的第10天与第12天,该基因的表达量显著性降低(P0.01)。通过数据库检索共得到4个家蚕凋亡蛋白抑制因子:BmIAP-1、BmIAP-2、BmSurvivin-1与BmSurvivin-2。荧光定量PCR结果表明:BmIAP-1和BmSurvivin-1基因在感染后期(10 d与12 d)表达量有上升趋势,尤其是感染后的12 d,表达量显著上升(P0.01)。然而,BmIAP-2与BmSurvivin-2基因的表达在大多数时间段均处于下调状态。【结论】当无任何外界凋亡因素诱导条件下,家蚕微孢子虫感染BmN细胞后可影响宿主细胞的生长,并可抑制细胞的正常生理凋亡。依据荧光定量PCR结果,我们推测在家蚕微孢子虫感染BmN细胞时,BmIAP-1和BmSurvivin-1蛋白可能在调节细胞凋亡的过程中起一定作用。     

海伦脑炎微孢子虫分泌蛋白EhPTP4对宿主内质网蛋白降解通路的调控作用

【目的】微孢子虫是一类专性细胞内寄生的真核病原微生物,能够感染人类和几乎所有的动物。本课题以海伦脑炎微孢子虫（Encephalitozoon hellem）为研究对象,探讨其极管蛋白4（EhPTP4）作为一个潜在的分泌性毒力因子在宿主细胞内的定位和功能。【方法】制备EhPTP4的鼠源多克隆抗体,利用间接免疫荧光分析和Western blotting确定EhPTP4在感染细胞中的亚细胞定位;基于序列特征,在HEK293细胞中转染野生型和突变体EhPTP4,分析该蛋白的定位及其对病原增殖的作用;利用RNA-seq对转染EhPTP4的HEK293细胞进行转录组测序,分析EhPTP4引起的宿主基因表达和通路的变化;进一步通过RNAi和细胞转染分析差异表达基因的调控作用,利用RT-qPCR和Western blotting验证调控效果。【结果】EhPTP4的N端具有信号肽,C端具有富含组氨酸的结构域（HRD）和核定位信号序列（NLS）。蛋白定位分析显示,在感染和转染细胞中,EhPTP4均被分泌至宿主细胞核内。在HEK293细胞中过表达EhPTP4显著促进了病原的增殖。RNA-seq和蛋白泛素化分...     

家蚕微孢子虫中小RNAs的全基因组鉴定与分析

【目的】家蚕Bombyx mori微粒子病是蚕业生产上的毁灭性病害,家蚕微孢子虫Nosema bombycis是该病的病原,可经卵垂直传播和经口水平传播。为了探索家蚕微孢子虫中对重复元件的抵御以及对基因转录调控的潜在方式,本研究拟在基因组水平上对该物种的小RNAs进行全面系统的分析,鉴定与转座子相关的小RNAs和潜在的miRNAs。【方法】从感染家蚕微孢子虫的家蚕中肠中提取总RNA,分离小片段RNA并反转录后,进行Solexa高通量测序。通过生物信息学方法对小RNAs进行分类及功能注释,鉴定起源于家蚕微孢子虫不同类型转座子的小RNAs,并对潜在的miRNA进行预测分析。【结果】家蚕微孢子虫小RNAs的长度主要是24和25 nt,其中大部分序列表现出5′末端的尿嘧啶偏好性。家蚕微孢子虫中存在丰富的与转座子相关联的小RNAs,并且与转座子标准序列匹配的反义小RNAs明显多于正义小RNAs。同时,鉴定获得了31个候选miRNAs,部分为Nosema属的其他孢子虫中所共有,暗示其在微孢子虫基因组进化上具有保守性。【结论】首次鉴定到家蚕微孢子虫的转座子相关性小RNAs,暗示小RNAs在家蚕微孢子虫基因组对转座子防御过程中起到作用,31个潜在的miRNAs为家蚕微孢子虫miRNAs的功能验证提供了后续靶标。     

两歧双歧杆菌中serpin基因的克隆、表达与功能分析

从Bifidobacterium bifidum WBBI02基因组中克隆了serpin基因片段,构建了重组Serpin蛋白的原核表达体系,实现了Serpin的表达与纯化。纯化的Serpin蛋白进行了抑制肠道蛋白酶活性检测,以及对双歧杆菌粘附作用影响的显微观察研究。结果表明:WBBI02中长度为768 bp的serpin基因序列,与GENEBANK中Bifidobacterium longum NCC2705 serpin序列同源性为99. 9 %。原核表达载体pBX₂-WBBI02表达的Serpin能有效地抑制糜蛋白酶和胰弹性蛋白酶的活性,最高抑制率分别为90%和97%,显微观察结果证实Serpin能促进双歧杆菌对HT-29细胞的粘附。     

Phylogenetic relationships of three new microsporidian isolates from the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The pathogenicity, mode of transmission, tissue specificity of infection and the small subunit rRNA (SSU-rRNA) gene sequences of the three new microsporidian isolates from the silkworm Bombyx mori were studied. Out of the three, NIK-2r revealed life cycle features and SSU-rRNA gene sequence similar to Nosema bombycis, suggesting that it is N. bombycis. The other two, NIK-4m and NIK-3h, differed from each other as well as from N. bombycis. NIK-4m was highly pathogenic and did not show any vertical transmission, in accordance with the apparent lack of gonadal infection, whereas NIK-3h was less pathogenic and vertical transmission was not detected but could not be excluded. Phylogenetic analysis based on SSU-rRNA gene sequence placed NIK-3h and NIK-4m in a distinct clade that included almost all the Vairimorpha species and Nosema species that infect lepidopteran and non-lepidopteran hosts, while NIK-2r was included in a clade containing almost all the Nosema isolates that infect only lepidopteran hosts. Thus, we have presented molecular evidence that one of the three isolates is in fact the type species N. bombycis, while the other two isolates are Vairimorpha spp. There was distinct separation of microsporidian isolates infecting only lepidopteran hosts and those infecting lepidopteran and non-lepidopteran hosts, reflecting possible co-evolution of hosts and microsporidian isolates.     

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.     

Phylogenetic analysis of two putative Nosema isolates from Cruciferous Lepidopteran pests in Taiwan

In this study, a new microsporidian, PX2, was isolated from the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, and then compared with another isolate (PX1), and with Nosema spodopterae and N. bombycis. Sequence data showed that the rRNA gene organizations of PX1 and PX2 exhibited a typical Nosema-specific organization: 5'-LSUrRNA (large subunit ribosomal RNA)-ITS (internal transcribed spacer)-SSUrRNA-IGS (intergenic spacer)-5S-3'. Phylogenetic analysis (maximum likelihood, neighbor joining, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian analysis) of the LSUrRNA and SSUrRNA gene sequences, and the sequences of the alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, and RPB1 (DNA dependent RNA polymerase II largest subunit) genes found that PX1 was closer to N. bombycis and N. spodopterae than to PX2. Comparison of the identities of the rRNA domains and of the other three genes showed a high divergence in the sequences of the rRNA spacer regions (ITS and IGS). This is consistent with the hypothesis that PX2, if not PX1, might represent a new Nosema species.     

The novel organization and complete sequence of the ribosomal RNA gene of Nosema bombycis

We present here for the first time the complete DNA sequence data (4301bp) of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene of the microsporidian type species, Nosema bombycis. Sequences for the large subunit gene (LSUrRNA: 2497bp, GenBank Accession No. ), the internal transcribed spacer (ITS: 179bp, GenBank Accession No. ), the small subunit gene (SSUrRNA: 1232bp), intergenic spacer (IGS: 279bp), and 5S region (114bp) are also given, and the secondary structure of the large subunit is discussed. The organization of the N. bombycis rRNA gene is LSUrRNA-ITS-SSUrRNA-IGS-5S. This novel arrangement, in which the LSU is 5' of the SSU, is the reverse of the organizational sequence (i.e., SSU-ITS-LSU) found in all previously reported microsporidian rRNAs, including Nosema apis. This unique character in the type species may have taxonomic implications for the members of the genus Nosema.     

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.     

Morphological and molecular investigations of Tubulinosema ratisbonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (Microsporidia: Tubulinosematidae fam. nov.), a parasite infecting a laboratory colony of Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

A new species of microsporidia from Drosophila melanogaster was investigated by light and electron microscopy and by ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing. This microsporidium and the previously described Nosema kingi and Nosema acridophagus have been transferred to the new genus Tubulinosema gen. nov. with the following characters: nuclei are in diplokaryotic arrangement during the life cycle. All stages are in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm, slightly anisofilar polar tube with the last coils being smaller in diameter arranged in one or two rows on both sides of the diplokaryon and small tubuli on the surface of late meronts. Spores are oval or slightly pyriform. Thick endospore wall, thinner over anchoring disc. This new genus and the genus Brachiola have been placed in a new family Tubulinosematidae fam. nov. Phylogenetic analysis of small subunit rRNA sequences by different methods placed Tubulinosema spp. in one clade with the genus Brachiola forming its sister clade, which is distant from the clade containing the true Nosema spp. including Nosema bombycis.     

Complete sequence and gene organization of the Nosema spodopterae rRNA gene

By sequencing the entire ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene of Nosema spodopterae, we show here that its gene organization follows a pattern similar to the Nosema type species, Nosema bombycis, i.e. 5'-large subunit rRNA (2,497 bp)-internal transcribed spacer (185 bp)-small subunit rRNA (1,232 bp)-intergenic spacer (277 bp)-5S rRNA (114 bp)-3'. Gene sequences and the secondary structures of large subunit rRNA, small subunit rRNA, and 5S rRNA are compared with the known corresponding sequences and structures of closely related microsporidia. The results suggest that the Nosema genus may be heterogeneous and that the rRNA gene organization may be a useful characteristic for determining which species are closely related to the type species.