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Microsporidia-like parasites of amoebae belong to the early fungal lineage Rozellomycota

Corsaro, Daniele ; Walochnik, Julia ; Venditti, Danielle ; Steinmann, Jörg ; Müller, Karl-Dieter ; Michel, Rolf

In: Parasitology Research, 2014, vol. 113, no. 5, p. 1909-1918

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    Title
    • Microsporidia-like parasites of amoebae belong to the early fungal lineage Rozellomycota
    Author
    • Corsaro, Daniele. CHLAREAS—Chlamydia Research Association, Nancy, 12 rue du Maconnais, 54500, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
    • Walochnik, Julia. Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria
    • Venditti, Danielle. CHLAREAS—Chlamydia Research Association, Nancy, 12 rue du Maconnais, 54500, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
    • Steinmann, Jörg. Institut of Medical Microbiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr.179, 45147, Essen, Germany
    • Müller, Karl-Dieter. Institut of Medical Microbiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr.179, 45147, Essen, Germany
    • Michel, Rolf. Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, Central Institute of the Federal Armed Forces Medical Services, P.O. Box 7340, 56070, Koblenz, Germany
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:324895
    Summary
    Molecular phylogenies based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU or 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA)) revealed recently the existence of a relatively large and widespread group of eukaryotes, branching at the base of the fungal tree. This group, comprising almost exclusively environmental clones, includes the endoparasitic chytrid Rozella as the unique known representative. Rozella emerged as the first fungal lineage in molecular phylogenies and as the sister group of the Microsporidia. Here we report rDNA molecular phylogenetic analyses of two endonuclear parasites of free-living naked amoebae having microsporidia-like ultrastructural features but belonging to the rozellids. Similar to microsporidia, these endoparasites form unflagellated walled spores and grow inside the host cells as unwalled nonphagotrophic meronts. Our endonuclear parasites are microsporidia-like rozellids, for which we propose the name Paramicrosporidium, appearing to be the until now lacking morphological missing link between Fungi and Microsporidia. These features contrast with the recent description of the rozellids as an intermediate wall-less lineage of organisms between protists and true Fungi. We thus reconsider the rozellid clade as the most basal fungal lineage, naming it Rozellomycota.