Two New Species of Marine Saprotrophic Sphaeroformids in the Mesomycetozoea Isolated From the Sub-Arctic Bering Sea

Brandon T Hassett; J Andrés López; Rolf Gradinger

doi:10.1016/j.protis.2015.04.004

Two New Species of Marine Saprotrophic Sphaeroformids in the Mesomycetozoea Isolated From the Sub-Arctic Bering Sea

Protist. 2015 Jul;166(3):310-22. doi: 10.1016/j.protis.2015.04.004. Epub 2015 May 2.

Authors

Brandon T Hassett¹, J Andrés López², Rolf Gradinger³

Affiliations

¹ School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA. Electronic address: bhassett@alaska.edu.
² School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA; University of Alaska Museum of the North, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 756960, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6960, USA.
³ School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA; Institute of Marine Research, Postboks 6404, N-9294, Tromsø, Norway.

PMID: 26046621
DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2015.04.004

Abstract

The genus Sphaeroforma previously encompassed organisms isolated exclusively from animal symbionts in marine systems. The first saprotrophic sphaeroformids (Mesomycetozoea) isolated from non-animal hosts are described here. Sphaeroforma sirkka and S. napiecek are also the first species in the genus possessing endogenous DNA-containing motile propagules and central vacuoles, traits that have previously guided morphological differentiation of sphaeroformids from the genus Creolimax. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the 18S rRNA and the ITS1-5.8S--ITS2 loci firmly place S. sirkka and S. napiecek within Sphaeroforma, extending the number of known species to six within this genus. The discovery of these species increases the geographical range, cellular variation and life history complexity of the sphaeroformids.

Keywords: Bering Sea; Mesomycetozoea; Sphaeroforma.; rRNA; saprotrophic.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Alaska
Animals
Aquatic Organisms / classification*
Aquatic Organisms / genetics
Aquatic Organisms / isolation & purification
Aquatic Organisms / ultrastructure
DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
Mesomycetozoea / classification*
Mesomycetozoea / genetics
Mesomycetozoea / isolation & purification
Mesomycetozoea / ultrastructure
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Oceans and Seas
Phylogeny*
Species Specificity

Substances

DNA, Ribosomal