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Studying Inherited Immunity in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model of Microsporidia Infection
Published on: April 6, 2022
Genomics and phylogenetic relationships of microsporidia and their relatives
Lilith R South1, Vedprakash G Hurdeal1, Naomi M Fast1
1Biodiversity Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Abstract:
Microsporidia are intracellular parasites that all possess a unique infection apparatus involving a polar tube. Upon contact with a host cell, this tube forms the conduit through which the parasite enters the host. Infecting mostly animals, microsporidian species can be transmitted vertically or horizontally, and exert various effects on their hosts: infections range from being relatively benign to lethal. Microsporidian genomes possess highly divergent sequences and are often substantially reduced in size. Their divergent sequences and unique morphology created early challenges to our understanding of their phylogenetic position within the tree of eukaryotes. Over the last couple of decades, advances in both sequencing technology and phylogenetic methodology supported a clear relationship between microsporidia and fungi. However, the specifics of this relationship were muddied by the lack of known microsporidian relatives. With increased taxon discovery and the morphological and molecular characterization of microsporidia-like taxa, rozellids and aphelids, a better resolved picture is emerging. Here we review the history of microsporidian taxonomy and current status of genomics of microsporidia and their nearest relatives, with an aim to understand their morphological and metabolic differences, along with their evolutionary relationships.
Insights
Microsporidia are intracellular parasites related to fungi. Recent discoveries of related taxa like rozellids and aphelids are clarifying their evolutionary history and genomic diversity.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Parasitology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Microsporidia are intracellular parasites with a unique polar tube infection apparatus, primarily infecting animals.
- Their divergent genomes and unique morphology have historically complicated phylogenetic placement.
- Previous understanding linked microsporidia to fungi, but lacked clarity due to missing relatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical taxonomy of Microsporidia.
- To present the current status of Microsporidia genomics and their relatives.
- To elucidate morphological and metabolic differences and evolutionary relationships.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on microsporidian taxonomy and genomics.
- Analysis of molecular and morphological data from microsporidia and related taxa (rozellids, aphelids).
- Phylogenetic analyses incorporating new taxon discoveries.
Main Results:
- Advances in sequencing and phylogenetic methods have clarified the relationship between Microsporidia and fungi.
- Discovery and characterization of microsporidia-like taxa (rozellids, aphelids) are crucial for a resolved phylogenetic picture.
- Genomic data reveal highly divergent and reduced genomes in Microsporidia.
Conclusions:
- Microsporidia are firmly placed within the fungal kingdom, with rozellids and aphelids as key related groups.
- Understanding genomic and morphological diversity is key to their evolutionary placement.
- Further research on these related taxa will continue to refine our understanding of eukaryotic evolution.
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