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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Christophe Noel
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Small subunit rRNA sequences were obtained by polymerase chain reaction from trichomonad symbionts of termites that belong to the polymastigont Calonymphidae, including Snyderella tabogae, Calonympha grassii, and Metacoronympha senta. The yet-unidentified sequence Nk9 previously obtained from the termite Neotermes koshunensis, has also been shown to derive from the Devescovinidae Devescovina sp. by in situ hybridization. These new sequences were analyzed by distance, parsimony, and likelihood methods in a broad phylogeny including all identified parabasalid sequences available in databases. All analyses revealed the emergence of a very well supported Devescovinidae/Calonymphidae group but showed an unexpected dichotomy of the Calonymphidae represented by the "Coronympha" and "Calonympha" groups. It strongly suggests that the polymastigont state observed in the Calonymphidae might be explained by at least two independent evolutionary events. In a second phylogenetic analysis, some yet-unidentified parabasalid sequences likely deriving from the Devescovinidae/Calonymphidae taxa, were added to our data set. This analysis confirmed the polyphyly of the Calonymphidae. A tentative identification is proposed for each of these sequences, and hypotheses on the origin of the Devescovinidae and Calonymphidae are discussed. Tritrichomonas foetus or a close relative might be the best candidate for the ancestor of the Devescovinidae, fairly consistent with morphology-based hypotheses. Regarding the Calonymphidae, the origin of the "Coronympha" group might be found within the Devescovinidae, related to Foaina, whereas the "Calonympha" group may directly descend from Tritrichomonas or related species.
Author(s): Noel C; Gerbod D; Dolan MF; Edgcomb VP; Kitade O; Noda S; Dufernez F; Ohkuma M; Kudo T; Capron M; Sogin ML; Viscogliosi E
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Year: 2002
Volume: 25
Issue: 3
Pages: 545-556
ISSN (print): 1055-7903
ISSN (electronic): 1095-9513
Publisher: Academic Press
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00300-7
DOI: 10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00300-7
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