Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Diversity of Protists IV01:27

Diversity of Protists IV

617
Amoebozoa represent a diverse group of terrestrial and aquatic protists that utilize lobe-shaped pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. This characteristic differentiates them from the Rhizaria, which possess threadlike pseudopodia. The primary classifications within Amoebozoa include gymnamoebas, entamoebas, and the plasmodial and cellular slime molds. Phylogenetic evidence indicates that Amoebozoa diverged from a lineage that ultimately gave rise to fungi and animals.Gymnamoebas and...
617
Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

696
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
696
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

670
Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
670
The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes02:40

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

37.1K
The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both...
37.1K
Diversity of Protists III01:27

Diversity of Protists III

613
Rhizaria are a diverse group of unicellular protists characterized by their threadlike cytoplasmic extensions known as pseudopodia. These structures aid in both locomotion and feeding, giving Rhizaria an amoeboid appearance. Their amoeboid morphology once led to taxonomic confusion, but molecular phylogenetics has clarified their evolutionary placement and emphasized their shared use of pseudopodia despite divergent lineages.This clade comprises diverse lineages such as Chlorarachniophyta,...
613
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

306
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
306

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Molecular Typing of <i>Acanthamoeba</i> Using Mitochondrial rDNA Spacers.

Microorganisms·2025
Same author

Molecular Evidence for Greater Diversity Within Acanthamoeba.

Acta parasitologica·2025
Same author

Learning from the rDNA Operon: A Reanalysis of the <i>Acanthamoeba palestinensis</i> Group.

Microorganisms·2024
Same author

Editorial for the Special Issue "Advances in <i>Acanthamoeba</i>".

Microorganisms·2024
Same author

On predatory fungi feeding on free-living amoebae harbouring yeast-like endoparasites.

Parasitology research·2023
Same author

Molecular evidence for a new lineage within the Acanthamoeba T4 genotype.

Parasitology research·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Studying Behavior of Acanthamoeba to Develop Targeted Strategies for Preventing Acanthamoeba Keratitis
07:33

Author Spotlight: Studying Behavior of Acanthamoeba to Develop Targeted Strategies for Preventing Acanthamoeba Keratitis

Published on: September 20, 2024

3.0K

Update on Acanthamoeba phylogeny.

Daniele Corsaro1

  • 1CHLAREAS, 12, rue du Maconnais, F-54500, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France. corsaro@gmx.fr.

Parasitology Research
|August 14, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Phylogenetic analysis of Acanthamoeba using ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clarifies evolutionary history. This study resolves taxonomic confusion by restricting species names to their type strains, improving Acanthamoeba classification.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Taxonomy

Background:

  • The evolutionary history of Acanthamoeba has been partially resolved using 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) phylogenies.
  • Some classical Acanthamoeba species are polyphyletic, leading to persistent taxonomic confusion due to the misapplication of species names to unrelated strains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare phylogenies based on complete nuclear and mitochondrial rDNA genes to verify congruence between different evolutionary lines.
  • To reduce confusion in Acanthamoeba taxonomy by adhering to basic taxonomic rules and restricting species names to their type strains.

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic analysis using complete nuclear and mitochondrial ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences.
  • Comparison of phylogenetic congruence between nuclear and mitochondrial datasets.
Keywords:
AcanthamoebaClassificationGenotypePhylogeny

More Related Videos

Discovery of New Intracellular Pathogens by Amoebal Coculture and Amoebal Enrichment Approaches
09:04

Discovery of New Intracellular Pathogens by Amoebal Coculture and Amoebal Enrichment Approaches

Published on: October 27, 2013

14.8K
Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions
10:56

Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions

Published on: June 22, 2019

6.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Studying Behavior of Acanthamoeba to Develop Targeted Strategies for Preventing Acanthamoeba Keratitis
07:33

Author Spotlight: Studying Behavior of Acanthamoeba to Develop Targeted Strategies for Preventing Acanthamoeba Keratitis

Published on: September 20, 2024

3.0K
Discovery of New Intracellular Pathogens by Amoebal Coculture and Amoebal Enrichment Approaches
09:04

Discovery of New Intracellular Pathogens by Amoebal Coculture and Amoebal Enrichment Approaches

Published on: October 27, 2013

14.8K
Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions
10:56

Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions

Published on: June 22, 2019

6.6K
  • Identification and association of distinct evolutionary lineages with type strains of classical species.

    • Main Results:

    • Phylogenetic analyses revealed distinct evolutionary lineages within Acanthamoeba.
    • The study restricted the well-known polyphyletic taxa Acanthamoeba castellanii and Acanthamoeba polyphaga to lineages defined by their respective type strains.
    • Widely used strains such as Neff and Linc-AP1 were assigned to their own distinct lineages, separate from A. castellanii and A. polyphaga.

    Conclusions:

    • Recognizing Acanthamoeba species solely by their type strains significantly reduces taxonomic confusion and aligns with fundamental taxonomic principles.
    • The findings provide a clearer framework for Acanthamoeba classification, distinguishing previously conflated strains.
    • Further research is needed to identify and delimit potentially new species within the identified lineages.