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This paper highlights and honors the connectivity among protistan researchers, using my own research journey as a backdrop, with attention to the supply chain of ideas, supporters, and other influencers who helped to shape and guide my career by sharing their ideas, protocols, skills, and enthusiasm. In looking back at the journey, the supply chain in my career has also included changes in the conceptual framework for my research studies, converging with a continuous flow of ideas and support from colleagues and mentors. To illustrate the complex map of ideas and supporters, this paper will examine technological advances, paradigm shifts in ecological constructs, geographical considerations, breakthroughs in peritrich biology, and the importance of an integrated perspective as we navigate the changing realities of today's scientific challenges., (© 2024 International Society of Protistologists.)

Challengerids, phaeogromids rhizarian protists, are emblematic protists of the deep sea but are also enigmatic as they occur in very low concentrations. In previous studies, we reported on temporal changes in abundance at a near-shore mesopelagic site, but only as part of sampling of the entire microplankton assemblage, not well-suited for examining phaeogromids. Consequently, we turned to using a closing plankton net to provide material from large volumes of seawater, thus allowing for more robust estimates of concentrations and material for observations of living cells, to our knowledge the first made. Here, we report our results on the four most commonly occurring species: Challengeranium diadon, Challengereron willemoesii, Challengeria xiphodon, and Euphysetta lucani. In contrast to our previous report, we found that changes in concentrations were not related to water column stratification, and the four species roughly co-varied with time. Observations of live cells revealed that all four species deploy tentacle-like pseudopods and also very large unstructured webs of fine pseudopods. The similarities in feeding webs suggest similar prey are exploited, and the similar temporal changes in abundances suggest a common factor or factors (unknown at this time) govern their concentrations. Films of live cells are provided in Supplementary Files., (© 2023 International Society of Protistologists.)

The bulk of knowledge on marine ciliates is from shallow and/or sunlit waters. We studied ciliate diversity and distribution across epi- and mesopelagic oceanic waters, using DNA metabarcoding and phylogeny-based metrics. We analyzed sequences of the 18S rRNA gene (V4 region) from 369 samples collected at 12 depths (0-1000 m) at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study site of the Sargasso Sea (North Atlantic) monthly for 3 years. The comprehensive depth and temporal resolutions analyzed led to three main findings. First, there was a gradual but significant decrease in alpha-diversity (based on Faith's phylogenetic diversity index) from surface to 1000-m waters. Second, multivariate analyses of beta-diversity (based on UniFrac distances) indicate that ciliate assemblages change significantly from photic to aphotic waters, with a switch from Oligotrichea to Oligohymenophorea prevalence. Third, phylogenetic placement of sequence variants and clade-level correlations (EPA-ng and GAPPA algorithms) show Oligotrichea, Litostomatea, Prostomatea, and Phyllopharyngea as anti-correlated with depth, while Oligohymenophorea (especially Apostomatia) have a direct relationship with depth. Two enigmatic environmental clades include either prevalent variants widely distributed in aphotic layers (the Oligohymenophorea OLIGO5) or subclades differentially distributed in photic versus aphotic waters (the Discotrichidae NASSO1). These results settle contradictory relationships between ciliate alpha-diversity and depth reported before, suggest functional changes in ciliate assemblages from photic to aphotic waters (with the prevalence of algivory and mixotrophy vs. omnivory and parasitism, respectively), and indicate that contemporary taxon distributions in the vertical profile have been strongly influenced by evolutionary processes. Integration of DNA sequences with organismal data (microscopy, functional experiments) and development of databases that link these sources of information remain as major tasks to better understand ciliate diversity, ecological roles, and evolution in the ocean., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Society of Protistologists.)

Foraminifera include diverse shell-building lineages found in a wide array of aquatic habitats from the deep-sea to intertidal zones to brackish and freshwater ecosystems. Recent estimates of morphological and molecular foraminifera diversity have increased the knowledge of foraminiferal diversity, which is critical as these lineages are used as bioindicators of past and present environmental perturbation. However, a comparative analysis of foraminiferal biodiversity between their major habitats (freshwater, brackish, intertidal, and marine) is underexplored, particularly using molecular tools. Here, we present a metabarcoding survey of foraminiferal diversity across different ecosystems using newly designed foraminifera-specific primers that target the hypervariable regions of the foraminifera SSU-rRNA gene (~250-300 bp long). We tested these primer sets on four foraminifera species and then across several environments: the intertidal zone, coastal ecosystems, and freshwater vernal pools. We retrieved 655 operational taxonomic units (OTUs); the majority of which are undetermined taxa that have no closely matching sequences in the reference database. Furthermore, we identified 163 OTUs with distinct habitat preferences. Most of the observed OTUs belonged to lineages of single-chambered foraminifera, including poorly explored freshwater foraminifera which encompass a clade of Reticulomyxa-like forms. Our pilot study provides the community with an additional set of newly designed and taxon-specific primers to elucidate foraminiferal diversity across different habitats., (© 2022 International Society of Protistologists.)

Meringosphaera is an enigmatic marine protist without clear phylogenetic affiliation, but it has long been suggested to be a chrysophyte-related autotroph. Microscopy-based reports indicate that it has a worldwide distribution, but no sequence data exist so far. We obtained the first 18S rDNA sequence for M. mediterranea (identified using light and electron microscopy) from the west coast of Sweden. Observations of living cells revealed granulated axopodia and up to 6 globular photosynthesizing bodies about 2 μm in diameter, the nature of which requires further investigation. The ultrastructure of barbed undulating spine scales and patternless plate scales with a central thickening is in agreement with previous reports. Molecular phylogenetic analysis placed M. mediterranea inside the NC5 environmental clade of Centroplasthelida (Haptista) along with additional environmental sequences, together closely related to Choanocystidae. This placement is supported by similar scales in Meringosphaera and Choanocystidae. We searched the Tara Oceans 18S V9 metabarcoding dataset, which revealed four OTUs with 94.8%-98.2% similarity, with oceanic distribution similar to that based on morphological observations. The current taxonomic position and species composition of the genus are discussed. The planktonic lifestyle of M. mediterranea contradicts the view of some authors that centrohelids enter the plankton only temporarily., (© 2021 International Society of Protistologists.)

We have obtained a sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of the species Polychaos annulatum (Penard 1902) Smirnov et Goodkov 1998 using the isolation of a single nucleus from an amoeba cell. Attempts to amplify the 18S rRNA gene from the DNA of this species by conventional PCR were not successful, so we applied the whole genome amplification of the nuclear DNA followed by NGS sequencing. The 18S rRNA gene was found among the resulting contigs. The analysis unexpectedly shows that P. annulatum robustly groups within the family Hartmannellidae, but not Amoebidae. This finding warrants revision of the basic morphological criteria used to classify Euamoebida families and show that "proteus-type" amoebae may belong to other families rather than Amoebidae. This makes taxonomic assignments of such species more complex and the borders between Euamoebida families more nuanced. It is getting evident that molecular data are necessary to clarify the position of species even in this most "classical" order of naked lobose amoebae., (© 2020 International Society of Protistologists.)

Heterotrophic protists Rotosphaerida, Thaumatomonadida, and centrohelid heliozoans are among the less studied silicified protists in terms of their biogeography and ecology. These organisms inhabit fresh and brackish water, and leave behind siliceous structural elements after death that are species-specific and amenable to electron microscopic analysis. This paper is the first to present data on species richness and taxonomic structure of silica-scaled heterotrophic protists-rotosphaerids, colorless free-living thaumatomonad flagellates and centrohelid heliozoans-in the large continuous water system of Siberia connecting Lake Baikal to the Kara Sea. In the study area, electron microscopy revealed 21 centrohelid heliozoan species from the genera Raphidiophrys (1), Acanthocystis (7), Choanocystis (3), Raineriophrys (2), Raphidocystis (6), and Pterocystis (2), seven rotosphaerid species from the genera Pinaciophora (3), Turriplaca (2), Rabdiophrys (1), and Pompholyxophrys (1), and one thaumatomonad flagellate species Thaumatomastix. Two species of rotosphaerids, Rabdiophrys cf. anulifera and Pinaciophora tridentata, and two species of centrohelid heliozoans, Acanthocystis cf. tubata, and A. cf. cornuta, were found in the waters of Russia for the first time. The most widespread species in fresh water from Lake Baikal to the Lower Yenissei River were Pinaciophora fluviatilis and Raineriophrys cf. fortesca. These species disappeared from the protist assemblages of the Yenissei gulf of the Kara Sea due to higher salinity, with only three species, Acanthocystis cf. mylnikovi (at 3.12‰ salinity) and A. pectinata and Raphidocystis sp. 2 (at 8‰ salinity), found in the area. The sensitivity of silica-scaled heterotrophic protists to changes in habitat parameters suggests that these microeukaryotes could be new indicator organisms., (© 2021 International Society of Protistologists.)

The Cutosea represent a deep-branching lineage within the phylum Amoebozoa that is still relatively poorly explored. Currently, there are four cutosean representatives known - the monotypic genera Armaparvus, Idionectes, Sapocribrum, and Squamamoeba - with marked genetic distances. Idionectes vortex is the deepest-branching species and differs markedly from the other Cutosea in ecology, life history, and most importantly, in its ability to form a flagellated swarmer with an exceptional swimming mechanism. As far as we know, the other Cutosea lack flagella and rather represent small, marine amoebae with a characteristic cell coat. The present paper focuses on the amoeboid life history stage of the algivorous amoeboflagellate Idionectes vortex to provide data for a first in-depth comparison with other Cutosea and to document structural specialties. The amoeboid stage of Idionectes is mainly associated with the specific feeding process, that is, the interaction with algal prey cells and phagocytosis of protoplast material. Yet, the present data from time-lapse microscopy, cytochemical stainings, and electron microscopy demonstrate clear similarities with the other cutosean species concerning amoeboid locomotion and cell coat ultrastructure. Furthermore, Idionectes amoebae exhibit a well-developed microtubular cytoskeleton, and an unusual basal apparatus that seems to undergo marked changes during the life history of this exceptional amoebozoan., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Society of Protistologists.)

Most discussions of human microbiome research have focused on bacterial investigations and findings. Our target is to understand how human eukaryotic microbiome research is developing, its potential distinctiveness, and how problems can be addressed. We start with an overview of the entire eukaryotic microbiome literature (578 papers), show tendencies in the human-based microbiome literature, and then compare the eukaryotic field to more developed human bacterial microbiome research. We are particularly concerned with problems of interpretation that are already apparent in human bacterial microbiome research (e.g. disease causality, probiotic interventions, evolutionary claims). We show where each field converges and diverges, and what this might mean for progress in human eukaryotic microbiome research. Our analysis then makes constructive suggestions for the future of the field., (© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society of Protistologists.)

It has been long thought that RNA Polymerase (Pol) II transcriptional regulation does not operate in trypanosomes. However, recent reports have suggested that these organisms could regulate RNA Pol II transcription by epigenetic mechanisms. In this paper, we investigated the role of TbRRM1 in transcriptional regulation of RNA Pol II-dependent genes by focusing both in genes located in a particular polycistronic transcription unit (PTU) and in the monocistronic units of the SL-RNA genes. We showed that TbRRM1 is recruited throughout the PTU, with a higher presence on genes than intergenic regions. However, its depletion leads both to the decrease of nascent RNA and to chromatin compaction only of regions located distal to the main transcription start site. These findings suggest that TbRRM1 facilitates the RNA Pol II transcriptional elongation step by collaborating to maintain an open chromatin state in particular regions of the genome. Interestingly, the SL-RNA genes do not recruit TbRRM1 and, after TbRRM1 knockdown, nascent SL-RNAs accumulate while the chromatin state of these regions remains unchanged. Although it was previously suggested that TbRRM1 could regulate RNA Pol II-driven genes, we provide here the first experimental evidence which involves TbRRM1 to transcriptional regulation., (© 2019 International Society of Protistologists.)

In recent years, Tetrahymena species have been used as model organisms for research in a wide range of fields, highlighting the need for a fuller understanding of the taxonomy of this group. It is in this context that this paper uses living observation and silver staining methods to investigate the morphology and infraciliature of one Tetrahymena species, T. setosa (Schewiakoff 1892 Verh. Naturh. Med. Ver. Heidelb., 4:544) McCoy (1975) Acta Protozool., 14:253; the senior subjective synonym of T. setifera Holz and Corliss (1956) J. Protozool., 3:112; isolated from a freshwater pond in Harbin, north-eastern China. This organism can be distinguished from other described Tetrahymena species mainly by its single caudal cilium, which is about twice the length of the somatic ciliature. While the Harbin isolate appears similar to the population described by Holz and Corliss (1956) J. Protozool., 3:112, an improved diagnosis for T. setosa is given based on the previous descriptions and the Harbin population. In summary, this species can be recognized mainly by the combination of the following characters: body in vivo approximately 40 μm × 25 μm, 21-26 somatic kineties, one to four contractile vacuole pores associated with meridians 6-11 and a single caudal cilium. The small subunit ribosomal (SSU) rRNA gene and the cox1 gene sequences of Harbin population are also characterized in order to corroborate that the isolated species branches in phylogenetic trees as a T. setosa species. The phylogenetic analysis also indicated that sequences of populations of Tetrahymena species should be published with detailed morphological identifications., (© 2018 International Society of Protistologists.)

The traditional green algal genus Chloromonas accommodates mesophilic, cold-tolerant and cold-adapted microorganisms. In this paper, we studied a new strain isolated from a wet hummock meadow in the High Arctic. We used morphological, ultrastructural and molecular data to assess the taxonomic position and phylogenetic relationships of the new isolate. The observed morphological features generally corresponded to the cold-tolerant Chloromonas characteristics. However, ellipsoidal or wide ellipsoidal vegetative cells, a massive parietal cup-shaped chloroplast with a number of continuously connected lobes, a thick cell wall, a prominent hemispherical papilla and the anterior position of an oblong or round eyespot distinguished the alga from all previously described Chloromonas species. Analyses of rbcL and 18S rRNA genes showed that the new strain formed an independent lineage within a clade containing mesophilic and psychrotolerant Chloromonas species. Comparisons of secondary structure models of a highly variable ITS2 rDNA marker supported a separate species identity of the new isolate. Considering the morphological and molecular differences from its relatives, a new psychrotolerant species, Chloromonas svalbardensis, is proposed. Further, our results demonstrated the paraphyletic origin of Chloromonas within Chloromonadinia with genetically, morphologically and ecologically well-defined clades. We discuss a scenario of a possible Chloromonas split and revision., (© 2018 International Society of Protistologists.)

The redescription of Opalina undulata Nie 1932, collected from the rectum of the frog Fejervarya limnocharis, is presented in this paper based on detailed morphological information and molecular data. Our results revealed that specimens collected from Diaocha Lake in late August were larger and had more nuclei than those collected from the same site in early May. We sequenced their SSU rDNA-ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2-LSU rDNA (5' end) and found that they were completely identical, which means that the two populations belonged to the same species. These facts gave us a hint that body dimension and number of nuclei are not reliable taxonomic parameters for opalinids during their life cycle. Therefore, we recommended that the specific identification of opalinids based on morphological features should be carried out during seasons except spring. Meanwhile, our molecular phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Opalinata. Within Opalinata, Opalinea were monophyletic with all opalinid species grouping together. Karotomorpha and Proteromonas did not group together confirming the paraphyly of Proteromonadea., (© 2018 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2018 International Society of Protistologists.)

Recent advances in molecular technology have revolutionized research on all aspects of the biology of organisms, including ciliates, and created unprecedented opportunities for pursuing a more integrative approach to investigations of biodiversity. However, this goal is complicated by large gaps and inconsistencies that still exist in the foundation of basic information about biodiversity of ciliates. The present paper reviews issues relating to the taxonomy of ciliates and presents specific recommendations for best practice in the observation and documentation of their biodiversity. This effort stems from a workshop that explored ways to implement six Grand Challenges proposed by the International Research Coordination Network for Biodiversity of Ciliates (IRCN-BC). As part of its commitment to strengthening the knowledge base that supports research on biodiversity of ciliates, the IRCN-BC proposes to populate The Ciliate Guide, an online database, with biodiversity-related data and metadata to create a resource that will facilitate accurate taxonomic identifications and promote sharing of data., (© 2017 The Authors Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society of Protistologists.)

The morphology of Nyctotheroides hubeiensis (Acta Hydrobiol. Sin. 1998, 22(suppl.):187), collected from the rectum of Phelophylax nigromaculatus, is presented in this paper based on detailed morphological information and molecular data. Our phylogenetic analysis showed that N. hubeiensis fell into the Nyctotheroides clade, which was strongly supported as monophyletic and clustered as basal to the genera Nyctotherus and Clevelandella. Also, the monophyly of the Order Clevelandellida and the affinity of parasitic nyctotherids and free-living metopids were indicated in our work. The origin of clevelandellid ciliates as well as their possible evolutionary history was also discussed here; however, the analysis of more species from other vertebrate hosts (fish, reptiles) should be made before a well-supported conclusion can be drawn., (© 2016 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2016 International Society of Protistologists.)

Acanthamoeba genus is divided into 20 genotypes (T1-T20) on the basis of the gene encoding 18S rRNA sequence. Using of at least 2 kbp gene fragments is strongly recommended to identify new genotypes and 5% difference is commonly used as a criterion of new genotypes, however, this value is questionable. In this paper, Polish Acanthamoeba strains described earlier on the basis of ~850 bp Ami fragment of 18S rRNA gene as T4, T11 and a new T16 genotype, have been analyzed using near-complete sequence of the gene. This analysis was needed because the Ami fragment does not reveal full variability within 18S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on Ami fragment is biased by artifacts in the construction of the tree, so the fragment should not be used for identification of new putative Acanthamoeba genotypes. The analysis confirmed that the Polish sequences represent T4 and T11 genotypes and that the strains described earlier as T16 genotype are in fact a new subgroup of the T20 genotype and that this genotype should be divided into two subgroups: T20a (two strains described by [J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 62 (2015) 69]) and T20b (11 Polish strains described in this study). The T20b subgroup was isolated from both clinical samples and water bodies used by people as bathing places and there is a risk of infection for humans during contact with water., (© 2015 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2015 International Society of Protistologists.)

Only a limited number of studies exist on the life cycles of nonmodel ciliates such as Chilodonella uncinata (Cl: Phyllopharyngea). The handful of papers on this taxon indicate the presence of a heteromeric macronucleus, marked by separate DNA-rich and DNA-poor regions. Here, we study the life cycle of C. uncinata using confocal laser scanning microscopy with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, which allows us to differentiate nuclear dynamics of the micronucleus and the macronucleus during life-cycle stages. We photo-documented various stages and confirmed aspects of the development of the new macronucleus previously characterized by electron microscopy. We further reveal the heteromeric structure of the macronucleus with Z-stacks and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. We find no evidence for the presence of an endosome at the center of the macronucleus during vegetative growth. In addition to illustrating the life cycle of this ciliate, the approaches developed for this study will enable additional comparative analyses of nuclear dynamics using fluorescence microscopy., (© 2014 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2014 International Society of Protistologists.)

The alternative nutritional strategies in protists that were addressed during the symposium by that name at the 2010 annual meeting of the International Society of Protistologists and here in contributed papers, include a range of mechanisms that combine photosynthesis with heterotrophy in a single organism. Often called mixotrophy, these multiple trophic level combinations occur across a broad range of organisms and environments. Consequently, there is great variability in the physiological abilities and relative importance of phototrophy vs. phagotrophy and/or osmotrophy in mixotrophic protists. Recently, research papers addressing ecological questions about mixotrophy in marine systems have been more numerous than those that deal with freshwater systems, a trend that is probably partly due to a realization that many harmful algal blooms in coastal marine systems involve mixotrophic protists. After an introduction to the symposium presentations, recent studies of mixotrophy in freshwater systems are reviewed to encourage continuing research on their importance to inland waters., (© 2011 The Author(s). Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology© 2011 International Society of Protistologists.)

Based on both morphological and molecular information, two new euplotid genera Apodiophrys n. g. and Heterodiophrys n. g. are described in the present paper. Apodiophrys n. g. is defined as sculptured Diophryinae with bipartite adoral zone; frontoventral cirri arranged in Diophrys-pattern; marginal cirri located in two clearly separated groups. Heterodiophrys n. g. is recognizable by the combination of Diophrys-like frontoventral cirri and the unique structure of several marginal cirri that are arranged in a long row. The type species for both new genera, Apodiophrys ovalis n. sp. and Heterodiophrys zhui n. sp., collected from southern China sea, are described. The small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences for both new taxa are determined. Phylogenetic analyses based on these data indicate that Apodiophrys is most closely related to Paradiophrys, which then clusters with Uronychia species. Thus, Apodiophrys-Paradiophrys is separated from other typical Diophrys-like genera in the SSU rRNA gene trees. The new genus Heterodiophrys is basal to the sister group of Diophrys-Diophryopsis, hence belongs to the "core"Diophrys-complex.

Our knowledge of the diversity of amoeboid protists is rapidly expanding as new and old habitats are more fully explored. In 2003, while investigating the cause of an amoeboid disease afflicting lobsters on the East Coast, samples were examined for the presence of amoebae from the carapace washings of the American lobster, Homarus americanus. During this survey a unique community of gymnamoebae was discovered. Among the new taxa discovered was a small Thecamoeba-like organism with a single posteriorly directed pseudopodium. Although resembling Parvamoeba rugata, this amoeba displayed distinctive morphology from that isolate or any other amoebozoan. Phylogenetic analysis shows this amoeba is distantly related to the Thecamoebidae. In this paper we describe the unique morphology of a second species of Parvamoeba and discuss its phylogenetic position with respect to the "Amoebozoa."

In this paper the history of Toxoplasma gondii and toxoplasmosis is reviewed. This protozoan parasite was first discovered in 1908 and named a year later. Its medical importance remained unknown until 1939 when T. gondii was identified in tissues of a congenitally infected infant, and veterinary importance became known when it was found to cause abortion storms in sheep in 1957. The discovery of a T. gondii specific antibody test, Sabin-Feldman dye test in 1948 led to the recognition that T. gondii is a common parasite of warm-blooded hosts with a worldwide distribution. Its life cycle was not discovered until 1970 when it was found that felids are its definitive host and an environmentally resistant stage (oocyst) is excreted in feces of infected cats. The recent discovery of its common infection in certain marine wildlife (sea otters) indicates contamination of our seas with T. gondii oocysts washed from land. Hygiene remains the best preventive measure because currently there is no vaccine to prevent toxoplasmosis in humans.

The survival of an isolate of Hyphochytrium catenoides collected from soil in the Blue Mountains in eastern New South Wales, Australia, was tested under extreme conditions in the laboratory. This isolate recovered growth after being subjected to drying on filter paper, to heat while desiccated, to hypersalinity, to strict anaerobic conditions, to freezing temperatures, and to a short period in solutions at pH 2.8-11.2. The capacity to survive under these conditions in the laboratory suggests adaptation to fluctuating conditions in the soil. The partial DNA sequence of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene in the isolate from New South Wales was 98% similar to that in an isolate from Arizona with a similar morphology.

The involvement of ligninolytic and cellulolytic enzymes, such as laccase, lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), and filter paper activity (FPA), in the decomposition process of leaf litter driven by 6 soil-inhabiting fungi imperfecti was studied under solid-state fermentations. All the tested fungi exhibited varied production profiles of lignocellulolytic enzymes and each caused different losses in total organic matter (TOM) during decomposition. Based on the results, the 6 fungi could be divided into 2 functional groups: Group 1 includes Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp., Acremonium sp., and Trichoderma sp., and Group 2 includes Pestalotiopsis sp. and Aspergillus fumigatus. Group 1, with higher CMCase and FPA activities, showed a higher decomposition rate than the fungi of Group 2 over the first 16 d, and thereafter the cellulolytic activities and decomposition rate slowed down. Group 2 showed the maximum and significantly higher CMCase and FPA activities than those of the Group 1 fungi during the later days. This, combined with the much higher laccase activity, produced a synergistic reaction that led to a much faster average mass loss rate. These results suggest that the fungi of Group 1 are efficient decomposers of cellulose and that the fungi of Group 2 are efficient decomposers of lignocellulose. During cultivation, Pestalotiopsis sp. produced an appreciable amount of laccase activity (0.56+/-0.09 U/ml) without the addition of inducers and caused a loss in TOM of 38.2%+/-3.0%, suggesting that it has high potential to be a new efficient laccase-producing fungus.

This paper presents a new description of the morphology of the planktonic dinoflagellate Stoeckeria algicida n. gen., n. sp. and a report of the sequence of the small subunit rDNA (SS rDNA) from cultured cells. The vegetative biflagellated cell, gametes, triflagellated planozygotes, and cyst stages of this heterotrophic species were observed in cultures. The vegetative biflagellated cells are oval, with the cell length being considerably larger than the cell width. The ranges (and mean, n=60) of cell length and width of live biflagellated cells satiated with the raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo were 14.4-20.8 microm (16.8) and 10.0-17.4 microm (12.9), respectively, while those of biflagellated cells starved for 3 d (n=60) were 7.3-15.9 microm (11.6) and 2.7-12.2 microm (7.3), respectively. Thin plates of the vegetative biflagellated cells were arranged in a Kofoidian series of Po, cp, X, 4', 2a, 7'', 6c, 6s, 5''', 0 (p), and 2''''. When properly aligned, the sequence of the SS rDNA of the biflagellated cells of S. algicida (GenBank Accession no. AJ841809) was 3% different from that of a dinoflagellate from Shepherd's Crook and 4% different from that of Cryptoperidiniopsoid sp. brodyi, Pfiesteria spp., or Pfiesteria-like species. In a maximum-likelihood-distance phylogenetic tree generated using the SS rDNA sequences, Pfiesteria spp., Pfiesteria-like species, and a dinoflagellate from Shepherd's Crook were closest to S. algicida, but these dinoflagellates were clearly divergent with S. algicida. Based on morphological and genealogical analyses, we suggest that this is a new species in a new genus.

Protists constitute the bulk of eukaryotic diversity yet their genomes remain relatively unexplored. To address this issue, a workshop entitled, "Frontiers in Genomics: Insights into Protist Evolutionary Biology", was convened at the University of Iowa on June 19-21, 2004. The specific aims of the workshop were to define the role of genomics in the eukaryotic tree of life, to identify challenges in characterizing protist (i.e. microbial eukaryote) genomes, and in proposing specific solutions to these challenges. The findings of the workshop are presented here and in a white paper that provide a set of guidelines for organizing the protist community and for planning and executing a protist genome project.

Traditionally, monoxenous trypanosomatid protozoa are not believed to infect vertebrate cells. Using light and electron microscopy, we show that the monoxenous trypanosomatids Crithidia deanei and Herpetomonas roitmani are able to infect dermal mouse fibroblasts in vitro. We present experimental evidence of phagocytosis of these trypanosomatids, and demonstrate their survival in vertebrate cells. This paper raises the question about the role of C. deanei and H. roitmani, and perhaps other monoxenous trypanosomatid species, in opportunistic infections of immunocompromised individuals and cutaneos lesions in vertebrate hosts.

Laboea strobila Lohmann, 1908 is a conspicuous oligotrich ciliate in the marine plankton. In order to compare different populations, the morphology of specimens from the Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, and Irish Sea was investigated using live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the PCR-amplified products of the SSrRNA gene from a monoclonal culture of L. strobila from the Mediterranean Sea were sequenced and aligned with sequences of other oligotrichs, including a population of L. strobila from the Atlantic coast of the USA. Finally, the data from the ecological literature were summarized and the cultivation methods were described. The SSrRNA gene sequences of the two distantly located L. strobila populations from the North Atlantic are identical. Likewise, the morphometrics of most populations so far investigated after protargol impregnation (i.e. from the North Atlantic) do not show obvious differences. In all computed phylogenetic trees, L. strobila groups with Strombidium species, forming a monophyletic taxon corresponding to the subclass Oligotrichia. These results are corroborated by the ontogenetic comparison. Since no type species was fixed for Laboea Lohmann, 1908, L. strobila was designated in the present paper.

In this brief review, literature references are given to researches--involving diverse species of protists--that support the author's firm conviction that the biological world of today absolutely requires the presence of numerous of these generally small and unicelled organisms if it is to survive. Examples supplied come from areas within the field of protistology sensu lato as widely separated as basic phycological research on photosynthesis and protozoological/medical/biomedical investigations on malaria and other pathogens of human beings. Emphasis is primarily on the most relevant works of the past 10-15 years, although historically highly significant papers of older vintage require at least indirect--and occasionally direct--citation.

Amphistegina are the most common foraminifers with algal endosymbionts found on reefs and carbonate shelves worldwide. Like zooxanthellate corals and other reef organisms with algal symbionts, Amphistegina respond to photoxidative stress by bleaching. This paper documents ultrastructural changes that occur during bleaching under field and laboratory conditions. Nine chambers from the outer whorl of each of 22 normal-appearing and 11 partly bleached specimens of Amphistegina gibbosa, which were collected from Conch Reef, Florida, USA, were examined using transmission electron microscopy. The condition and numbers of algal symbionts, as well as the cell area occupied by 10 other intracellular structures of the host, were quantified. Normal-appearing specimens averaged three times more viable symbionts and less than a fourth as many deteriorating symbionts as partly bleached specimens. Foraminifers experimentally exposed to visible light intensities > or = 13 micromole photon m(-2) s(-1) for 35 d were statistically similar to partly bleached field specimens in the number and condition of symbionts, and in chamber area occupied by the evaluated host structures. Exposure to 32 degrees C water temperature at 6-8 micromole photon m(-2) s(-1) for 28 d induced symbiont loss but did not degrade host endoplasm.

The Past-President's Address has been the opportunity for the speaker to reminisce about the road traveled to get to this time in life. In this paper, I continue in that tradition. During my journey to the present day, I visited different laboratories, studying the genetics of mating and mating types in Paramecium, Tetrahymena, Blepharisma and Euplotes. I have met and worked with many distinguished scientists, including other Past-Presidents of the Society. I also became an active participant in the Society of Protozoologists. I hope the recounting of my trip will be both entertaining and enlightening.

The classification of a microsporidian parasite observed in the abdominal muscles of amphipod hosts has been repeatedly revised but still remains inconclusive. This parasite has variable spore numbers within a sporophorous vesicle and has been assigned to the genera Glugea, Pleistophora, Stempellia, and Thelohania. We used electron microscopy and molecular evidence to resolve the previous taxonomic confusion and confirm its identification as Pleistophora mulleri. The life cycle of P. mulleri is described from the freshwater amphipod host Gammarus duebeni celticus. Infection appeared as white tubular masses within the abdominal muscle of the host. Light and transmission electron microscope examination revealed the presence of an active microsporidian infection that was diffuse within the muscle block with no evidence of xenoma formation. Paucinucleate merogonial plasmodia were surrounded by an amorphous coat immediately external to the plasmalemma. The amorphous coat developed into a merontogenetic sporophorous vesicle that was present throughout sporulation. Sporogony was polysporous resulting in uninucleate spores, with a bipartite polaroplast, an anisofilar polar filament and a large posterior vacuole. SSU rDNA analysis supported the ultrastructural evidence clearly placing this parasite within the genus Pleistophora. This paper indicates that Pleistophora species are not restricted to vertebrate hosts.

Toxoplasma gondii oocysts are environmentally resistant and can infect virtually all warm-blooded hosts, including humans and livestock. Little is known about the biochemical basis for this resistance of oocysts, and mechanism for excystation of T. gondii sporozoites. The objective of the present study was to evaluate different methods (mechanical fragmentation, gradients, flow cytometry) to separate and purify T. gondii oocyst walls and sporocysts. Oocyst walls were successfully separated and purified using iodixanol gradients. Sporocysts were successfully separated and purified using iodixanol and Percoll gradients. Purification was also achieved by flow cytometry. Flow cytometry with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) yielded analytical quantities of oocyst walls and intact sporocysts. Flow cytometry with FACS also proved useful for quantitation of purity obtained following iodixanol gradient fractionation. Methods reported in this paper will be useful for analytical purposes, such as proteomic analysis of components unique to this life cycle stage, development of detection methods, or excystation studies.

The author describes the serendipitous discovery, conception, development, and history of Nissenbaum's Fixative while an undergraduate biology major in the early 1950s. The subsequent uses, applications, and modifications over the past forty-seven years are also described. Some of the modifications omitted from his short original paper are mentioned. Highlights of his subsequent career in the field of medicine are noted.

Morphogenetic processes during division in Uroleptus caudatus (Stokes, 1886) are described using protargol impregnation. As is typical for the family Urostylidae Bütschli, 1889, zigzag midventral cirri develop, but contrary to most species of this family the adoral membranelles of the proter are not renewed during division and two dorsomarginal kineties develop. These two atypical features occur in only two other species of the Urostylidae (Uroleptus musculus, Holosticha diademata), and in all species of the family Parakahliellidae Eigner. 1997, and in many of the Oxytrichidae Ehrenberg, 1838. Membranelles are also not renewed in the Orthoamphisiellidae Eigner, 1997. This shows that these three atypical members of the family Urostylidae are those which are most closely related to the other three hypotrichous families named above. The highly distinct zigzag midventral cirri clearly separate the family Urostylidae from the other three hypotrichous families. These cirri are used together with new morphogenetic features for a revised family diagnosis. The analysis of the Urostylidae revealed that during division all species of the family Urostylidae develop their cirral patterns, including the two rightmost ventral anlagen, in separate areas for each proter and opisthe. Thus, "long primary primordia" are absent in the Urostylidae. This is similar to the morphogenetic pattern by which the family Parakahliellidae is defined ("neokinetal 1") indicating that the Urostylidae are more closely related to the Parakahliellidae than to either the Oxytrichidae or to the Orthoamphisiellidae. All 68 detailed descriptions of divisional morphogenesis in species of the Hypotrichida are analyzed now in this and two former papers. As a result all these species can be assigned or at least recognized to be closely related to one of the following four families: to the Orthoamphisiellidae ("within-row" anlagen), to the Oxytrichidae ("neokinetal 3" anlagen), to the Parakahliellidae ("neokinetal 1" anlagen), and to the distinctly different Urostylidae ("midventral" anlagen). Thus, all Hypotrichida can most probably be assigned after morphogenetic investigation to one of the four families.

The major surface antigens expressed by free-living and parasitic protozoa commonly contain repeating cysteine motifs. Despite the common occurrence of these repeats their functional significance remains largely unexplored. In this paper we investigate the conserved cysteine repeats within the variable surface antigens of Paramecium tetraurelia. We show that deletion of 2 entire repeating units or portions of repeats near the N-terminus does not prevent expression of the A51 variable surface antigen. Alteration of a single cysteine to serine residue also has no effect on A51 expression. In contrast, deletions near the C-terminus of the protein have identified a small segment within the repeats that is required for expression on the surface. The required region contains a number of conserved amino acid residues, yet site-directed mutagenesis of two residues (serine and threonine to alanine) did not prevent expression. These studies demonstrate the feasibility of using deletion analysis to identify regions critical for the expression of cysteine-rich surface antigens. The relationship of these results to the structure and expression of cysteine-rich surface proteins in other protozoa is discussed.

Ultraviolet radiation has provided an evolutionary challenge to life on Earth. Recent increases in surficial ultraviolet B fluxes have focused attention on the role of UV radiation in protistan ecology, cancer, and DNA damage. Exploiting this new wealth of data, I examine the possibility that ultraviolet radiation may have played a significant role in the evolution of the first eukaryotes, that is, protists. Protists probably arose well before the formation of a significant ozone shield, and thus were probably subjected to substantial ultraviolet A, ultraviolet B, and ultraviolet C fluxes early in their evolution. Evolution consists of the generation of heritable variations and the subsequent selection of these variants. Ultraviolet radiation has played a role both as a mutagen and as a selective agent. In its role as a mutagen, it may have been crucial in the origin of sex and as a driver of molecular evolution. As a selective agent, its influence has been broad. Discussed in this paper are the influence of ultraviolet radiation on biogeography, photosynthesis, and desiccation resistance.

Protein phosphorylation controls major steps of proliferation and differentiation in eukaryotic cells. However there are few studies done in protozoa particularly when being triggered by external stimuli. In this paper we have examined the tyrosine- and serine/threonine-phosphorylated proteins in both promastigote and amastigote-like forms of Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana stimulated with insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I. Stimulation with IGF-I induces major tyrosine phosphorylation of a 185-kDa protein in promastigotes and 60- and 40-kDa proteins in amastigotes. Analysis of total phosphorylation revealed additional sets of phosphorylated proteins: a 110-kDa protein band in promastigotes and two other proteins of 120 and 95 kDa in the amastigote-like forms. To further analyze the IGF-I-mediated response we compared it with the phosphorylation pattern obtained with a known inducer of protein kinase C, phorbol myristate acetate. This analysis showed overlapping phosphorylation of most of the proteins but mainly of the 185- and 110-kDa proteins in the promastigotes and the 95-, 60- and 40-kDa proteins in the amastigote-like forms. We thus conclude that there are phosphorylation-dependent pathways in Leishmania parasites induced by IGF-I that are stage-specific.

Many unicellular eukaryotic organisms possess complex fiber systems that organize and anchor the flagellar basal apparatus in the cell [20, 24]. In 1978 we first published the observation that one of these fiber systems, the striated flagellar root of the quadriflagellate green alga Tetraselmis subcordiformis (= Platymonas subcordiformis), is a contractile organelle [31]. We subsequently found that striated flagellar roots are composed, in part, of the Ca(2+)-binding protein centrin [30]. Since that time, centrin has been found to be a ubiquitous component of the flagellar basal apparatus, basal bodies and centrioles, and centrosomes and mitotic spindle poles of eukaryotic cells (for general reviews see [28, 34]). While we have learned a great deal about centrin from other organisms, our earliest success in understanding the biology of centrin was in large part due to the extraordinary extent to which Tetraselmis cells have elaborated their centrin-based organelles. In this paper, I will return attention to several unanswered questions concerning Tetraselmis striated flagellar root behavior and I will suggest several new directions that students may wish to pursue in order to tease fresh insights from this fascinating organism.

Mytilophilus pacificae is an endocommensal ciliate found in the mantle cavity of the Pacific Coast mussel Mytilus californianus. In this paper we report our findings on pellicular organization of this species. Transmission and scanning electron microscope examination of the somatic cortex revealed that a number of different types of kinetids, i.e. monokinetids, dikinetids, and polykinetids are found in the locomotor cortex. The type and distribution of the kinetids are described. Surprisingly, the locomotor region was found to be highly variable among individuals with respect to its kinetid distribution; each cell appears to have its own characteristic kinetid pattern. Some cells have mostly monokinetids and dikinetids in their locomotor cortex, while others may have dikinetids and polykinetids but very few monokinetids. In contrast to the locomotor region, the thigmotactic field (a region specialized for attachment) is exclusively composed of dikinetids and shows no heterogeneity. The finding of ultrastructural variability in the locomotor cortex was unexpected since, in the view of the structural conservatism hypothesis, the somatic cortex is seen as a "stable" element. These observations raise new questions with regard to cortical pattern formation in this organism.