SSU rDNA phylogeny of cladoniiform lichens

To examine phylogenetic relationships among the "cladoniiform" lichenized fungi, i.e., the families Cladoniaceae, Baeomycetaceae, Icmadophilaceae, Stereocaulaceae, and Siphulaceae, and to provide evidence for the anticipated independent origins of podetia and pseudopodetia, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of SSU (small subunit) rDNA sequences from 39 lichen-forming fungi. These fungi represent all of the major growth forms of lichen associations, fruticose (including "cladoniiform"), foliose, and crustose. Our analysis suggests that lichen-forming fungi with a "cladoniiform" morphology arose multiple times within the ascomycetes. Additionally, each of the other thallus growth forms, crustose, foliose, and fruticose, have originated multiple times. It also seems to be clear that neither all podetiate nor all pseudopodetiate taxa form a monophyletic group. Therefore the term "podetium" should be restricted to homologous structures that are most probably limited to the genera Cladonia, Cladina, Pycnothelia, and allies. The "pseudopodetia" of Stereocaulon (Stereocaulaceae) and Cladia (Cladiaceae) may represent different states of the same homologous character. Our phylogenetic hypothesis supports the monophyletic origin of the order Lecanorales sensu stricto, including representatives of five suborders Cladoniineae, Lecanorineae, Teloschistineae, Agyriineae and Peltigerineae, but excluding representatives of the suborders Acarosporineae (Acarospora schleicheri and Megaspora verrucosa), Pertusariineae (Pertusaria trachythallina), and Umbilicarineae. The suborder Cladoniineae and the family Cladoniaceae both appear to be polyphyletic assemblages.     

A Molecular Perspective on Ecological Differentiation and Biogeography of Cyclotrichiid Ciliates

ABSTRACT. Cyclotrichiids are of ecological and evolutionary interest by virtue of their importance in red tide formation, their highly divergent small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, kleptoplastidy, and utility as indicators of eutrophication. However, only seven strains have had their SSU rRNA genes sequenced and their environmental diversity and distribution are largely unknown. We probed 67 globally dispersed freshwater column/sediment and soil DNA samples (eDNAs) and constructed 24 environmental gene libraries using polymerase chain reaction primers specific to an uncharacterised cyclotrichiid subgroup. We reveal a novel, globally ubiquitous freshwater clade comprising 25 genetically distinct SSU ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences (SSU-types). Some identical SSU-types were detected at globally widely distributed sites. The SSU-types form four distinct phylogenetic clusters according to marine or non-marine provenance, suggesting at least one major marine–freshwater evolutionary transition within the cyclotrichiids. We used the same primers to sample intensively 18 sampling points in 13 closely situated lakes, each characterised by 14 environmental variables, and showed that molecular detection or non-detection of cyclotrichiids was most significantly influenced by levels of total phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and chlorophyll a . Within the subset of lakes in which cyclotrichiids were detected, closely related SSU-types differed in their ecological preferences to pH, total phosphorus, and sample depth.     

子囊菌的一个新目Umbilicariales J.C. Wei & Q.M. Zhou

本文基于核糖体SSU rDNA序列对石耳科Umbilicariaceae的系统地位进行了研究.将所获得的石耳科地衣中6个种的SSU rDNA序列与GenBank中其它地衣型及非地衣型真菌的相关序列进行比对用于系统发育研究.结果表明长期以来系统地位不够明确而暂时被置于茶渍目Lecanorales的石耳科不能被包括在茶渍目中,分子数据支持成立石耳目Umbilicariales.基于分子数据并结合形态学和解剖学特征描述了新目Umbilicariales J.C. Wei & Q.M. Zhou(Lecanoromycetes,Ascomycota).     

子囊菌的一个新目Umbilicariales J.C.Wei & Q.M.Zhou

本文基于核糖体SSU rDNA序列对石耳科Umbilicariaceae的系统地位进行了研究.将所获得的石耳科地衣中6个种的SSU rDNA序列与GenBank中其它地衣型及非地衣型真菌的相关序列进行比对用于系统发育研究.结果表明长期以来系统地位不够明确而暂时被置于茶渍目Lecanorales的石耳科不能被包括在茶渍目中,分子数据支持成立石耳目Umbilicariales.基于分子数据并结合形态学和解剖学特征描述了新目Umbilicariales J.C. Wei ＆ Q.M. Zhou（Lecanoromycetes,Ascomycota）.     

Characterization of Kudoa monodactyli n. sp. (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) from the Muscle of Monodactylus argenteus (Teleostei: Monodactylidae) from Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia

Kudoa monodactyli n. sp. is described from the somatic musculature of Monodactylus argenteus from several localities in southern Queensland, Australia. This is the first record of a myxozoan parasite from the family Monodactylidae. The spores typically have five polar capsules, making this species similar to the four other five-valved Kudoa species (K. neurophila, K. muscularis, K. shulmani, K. cutanea) that have been described to date. However, morphometric measurements particularly of spore length and width make the species from M. argenteus distinct from the other species. Comparison of the small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence of this species with its congeners for which sequence data are available, provides further evidence of novelty. Kudoa monodactyli n. sp. displays 38 (of 1,554) nucleotide differences compared with rDNA sequence of Kudoa neurophila, which on phylogenetic analysis places these species in clades exclusive of each other. Phylogenetic analyses also provide evidence that the number of valves per spore in this genus is an imperfect indicator of relatedness.     

基于核内核糖体小亚基序列的蝗总科系统发育关系分析

用核糖体SSURdna全序列对蝗总科（Acridoidea）进行了分子系统学研究。依据测定的8种蝗虫的SSU Rdna全序列 (平均 1.844 bp),并从GenBank中选取了6种内群种类和2种外群种类的SSU Rdna同源序列,进行序列分析。利用Clustal、MEGA 和 PHYLIP 软件构建分子系统树（距离邻接法Neighbor-Joining,NJ;最小进化法 Minimum Evolution）。结果显示： (1) 蝗总科是一个单系类群;(2) 锥头蝗科（Chrotogonidae）和瘤锥蝗科（Pyrgomorphidea）亲缘关系较近,为蝗总科最原始的类群;(3) 网翅蝗科（Arcypteridae）和槌角蝗科（Gomphoceridae）有较近的亲缘关系; (4) 斑翅蝗科 （Oedipodidae）为最进化的类群; (5) SSU Rdna序列保守性强,转换transition）取代的速率大于或接近颠换（transversion）取代的速率;(6) 在系统树中,总科首先分离,大多数同科不同属的类群以高置信度聚合在一起,说明SSU Rdna序列适合用于蝗总科的系统发育关系分析。     

MOLECULAR ANALYSIS REVEALS CRYPTIC DIVERSITY IN PORPHYRA (RHODOPHYTA)1

The small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene was amplified from 15 species of the red alga Porphyra and digested with restriction enzymes to generate data for species identification. The subset of species selected for phylogenetic analysis was P. cuneiforms (Setchell et Hus) Krishnamurthy, P. nereocystis anderson, P. schizophylla Hollenberg et Abbott, P. thuretii Setchell et Dawson and Porphyra 1674. Bangia sp. was used as an out-group. Restriction sites were mapped and used as characters in parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis. The phylogenetic hypotheses generated were compared statistically to possible alternative phylogenies based on traditional morphological taxonomic characters. The results indicate that the current subgenera in Porphyra do not represent monophyletic groups and that traditional morphological and ecological taxonomic characters alone may not be adequate for definitive species identification and cannot be relied on as an indication of Porphyra have large insertions in the SSU gene that are apparently splicesd from the final SSU rRNA molecule. The possible character, distribution and potential significance of these putative introns are discussed.     

The Constitutional Amine of Antibiotic YA-56

In addition to the previously reported six amino acids and two carbohydrates (one disaccharide), 3-aminopropionamidine was isolated as a constituent from the acid hydrolyzate of the antibiotic YA–56X, one of the major component of antibiotic YA–56 complex. Based on the hitherto found informations, structural comparison of the antibiotic YA–56 X and Y was made with phleomycins, bleomycins, zorbamycin and zorbonomycin B to which antibiotic YA–56 closely related. Among those, zorbamycin was identical with antibiotic YA–56 X.     

Molecular phylogeny of onygenalean fungi based on small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequences

Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide data from small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequences (ca. 1685 bp.) was performed on 19 taxa of the Onygenales and three related mitosporic fungi. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by the neighbor-joining method with the sequence data of related taxa obtained from DNA databases. The species in the Onygenales form two clusters and seven subclusters, and the tree topology reflects the traditional classification by Currah (1985) with some exceptions. The Myxotrichaceae is placed in the different lineage, separate from other plectomycetous taxa and among the Leotiales and the Erysiphales. Furthermore, two separate lineages in the Myxotrichaceae were found. Tree topology suggested the Onygenaceae is polyphyletic and composed of three subgroups; 1) most members of Onygenaceae, 2)Spiromastix warcupii, and 3) pathogenic dimorphic fungi classified inAjellomyces.     

Early evolutionary origin of the planktic foraminifera inferred from small subunit rDNA sequence comparisons

Phylogenetic analysis of five partial planktic foraminiferal small subunit (SSU) ribosomal (r) DNA sequences with representatives of a diverse range of eukaryote, archaebacterial, and eubacterial taxa has revealed that the evolutionary origin of the foraminiferal lineage precedes the rapid eukaryote diversification represented by the crown of the eukaryotic tree and probably represents one of the earliest splits among extant free-living aerobic eukaryotes. The foraminiferal rDNA sequences could be clearly separated from known symbionts, commensals, and food organisms. All five species formed a single monophyletic group distinguished from the crown group by unique foraminiferal specific insertions as well as considerable nucleotide distance in aligned regions.     

Culture and Phylogenetic Characterization of Trichomitus trypanoides Duboscq & Grassè 1924, n. comb.: a Trichomonad Flagellate Isolated from the Hindgut of the Termite Reticulitermes santonensis Feytaud

ABSTRACT. A trichomonad flagellate strain R1 was isolated from the hindgut contents of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis Feytaud. The flagellate was cultivated at 28° C in anaerobic medium containing yeast extract, minerals and vitamins. The isolate fed on living bacteria. It showed the typical morphological and ultrastructural features of the trichomonads. closely resembling Trichomitus trypanoides. In order to determine its phylogenetic position the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) of the flagellate was amplified in vitro using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloned in a plasmid vector and sequenced. Comparison of the obtained sequence with so far available SSU rRNA/rDNA sequences showed strongest similarity (89%) to the sequence of Tritrichomonas foetus. The phylogenetic analysis with parsimony and distance matrix methods placed Trichomitus trypanoides strain R1 near by the root of the phylogenetically so far analyzed eukaryotic organisms. This confirms that termites harbour hindgut symbionts, which originate from very early evolved eukaryotes.     

新科Rhizoplacopsidaceae中的新属及新种Rhizoplacopsis weichingii

本文描述了位于新科盾叶科 Rhizoplacopsidaceae(Umbilicariales,Lecanoromycetes,Ascomycota)中的新属盾叶属 Rhizoplacopsis 和新种蔚青盾叶 Rhizoplacopsis weichingii。蔚青盾叶取名于著名中国真菌学家王云章教授之字“蔚青”,作为庆祝教授百岁生日之纪念。该新种在外形上与 Rhizoplaca 属地衣极为相似,但位于地衣体上的子囊盘却为网衣型。此外,它的子囊顶器结构非常接近于 Umbilicaria-type。基于分子数据,对 Rhizoplacopsis weichingii 及其它相关地衣进行的系统发育分析支持成立新属盾叶属 Rhizoplacopsis 和新科盾叶科 Rhizoplacopsidaceae。     

NUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCES OF THE SMALL-SUBUNIT RIBOSOMAL RNA GENES FROM SELECTED LAMINARIALES (PHAEOPHYTA): IMPLICATIONS FOR KELP EVOLUTION1

The entire small-subunit (SSU) ribosomal ribonucleic acid sequence was inferred for kelp representing seven genera: Alaria marginata Postels and Ruprecht (1824 bp), Egregia menziesii (Turner) Areschoug (1825 bp), Lessoniopsis littoralis (Tilden) Reinke (1825 bp), Macrocystis integrifolia Bory (1825 bp), Nereocystis leutkeana (Mertens) Postels and Ruprecht (1824 bp), Postelsia palmaeformis Ruprecht (1826 bp), and Pterygophora californica Ruprecht (1825 bp). We obtained a partial sequence for Eisenia arborea Areschoug (1669 bp) from a single clone of polymerase chain reaction-amplified product. The SSU sequence was too conserved among these morphologically distinct taxa to permit phylogenetic analysis. The divergence between the most distant taxa was only 0.66%. This value was used in a SSU molecular clock to suggest that the most distantly related kelp investigated in this study diverged between 16 and 30 (more probably 16 and 20) million years ago.     

Ultrastructural and phylogenetic studies on Blastocystis isolates from cockroaches

Four Blastocystis isolates from cockroaches were established and these isolates were morphologically confirmed as Blastocystis organisms by light and/or electron microscopy. As these isolates were morphologically indistinguishable from Blastocystis isolated from other animals, phylogenetic analyses were conducted using their small subunit ribosomal RNA genes. A analyses of these sequences with previously reported ones that had been classified into nine Blastocystis clades indicated the presence of a new clade that comprised only Blastocystis organisms from cockroaches (clade X). A clade comprised of amphibian and reptilian Blastocystis organisms (clade IX) was located at the basal position of the Blastocystis tree together with the common ancestor of Proteromonas and Protoopalina, clade X emerged after the divergences of these two basal clades and its branching position was clearly supported by bootstrap analysis.     

The evolution of the diatoms (Bacillariophyta). I. Origin of the group and assessment of the monophyly of its major divisions

The diatoms are one of the best characterised algal groups. Despite this, little is known of the evolution of the group from the earliest cell to the myriad of taxa known today. Relationships among taxa at the family or generic level have been recognised in some diatoms. However, relationships at higher taxonomic levels are poorly understood and have often been strongly influenced by the first appearances of key taxa in the fossil record. An independent assessment of relationships among the diatoms at these higher taxonomic levels has been made using rRNA sequence data to infer phylogenetic relationships. In this paper we present an analysis of 18S rRNA data from several chosen centric, araphid and raphid pennate taxa. The phylogenetic inferences from these 18S rRNA sequences are supported by evidence from the fossil record and evidence from ontogenetic data. Ribosomal RNA data indicate that both the centric and araphid pennate lineages may not be monophyletic.