Research

Publications
Title: Redescription of Opalina triangulata (Heterokonta, Opalinea) from Fejervarya limnocharis based on morphological and molecular data
First author: Wang, Run-qiu; Zhao, Wei-shan; Hu, Guang-ran; Ponce-Gordo, Francisco; Zou, Hong; Li, Wen-xiang; Wu, Shan-gong; Wang, Gui-tang; Li, Ming
Journal: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PROTISTOLOGY
Years: 2019
Volume / issue: 71 /
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2019.125639
Abstract: Opalinids are a large group of anaerobic protists, mainly inhabiting the cloacae of amphibians (frogs and toads). The classification of this group has not been fully resolved, because of a lack of molecular information, Here, we give a redescription of Opatina triangulata Metcalf, 1923, collected from the rectum of the frog Fejervarya limnocharis, based on detailed morphological and molecular data. Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed the monophyly of Opalinata. Within it, Opalinea were monophyletic with O. triangulata and O. undulata as well as two Protoopalina species grouping together. Karotomorpha and Proteromonas did not group together confirming the paraphyly of Proteromonadea. Meanwhile, the ITS2 secondary structural similarities as well as G-C content revealed greater similitudes between Opalina species and P. lacertae than with Blastocystis hominis, which is in accordance with their position as sister clades in the SSU rDNA-based phylogenies. (C) 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.