Biomedical subjects

Christer Erséus

Publications and source records attributed to Christer Erséus.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Molecular evidence for the non-monophyletic status of Naidinae (Annelida, Clitellata, Tubificidae).

Naidinae (former Naididae) is a group of small aquatic clitellate annelids, common worldwide. In this study, we evaluated the phylogenetic status of Naidinae, and examined the phylogenetic relationships within the group. Sequence data from two mitochondrial genes (12S rDNA and 16S rDNA), and one nuclear gene (18S rDNA), were used. Sequences were obtained from 27 naidine species, 24 species from the other tubificid subfamilies, and five outgroup taxa. New sequences (in all 108) as well as GenBank data were used. The data were analysed by parsimony and Bayesian inference. The tree topologies emanating from the different analyses are congruent to a great extent. Naidinae is not found to be monophyletic. The naidine genus Pristina appears to be a derived group within a clade consisting of several genera (Ainudrilus, Epirodrilus, Monopylephorus, and Rhyacodrilus) from another tubificid subfamily, Rhyacodrilinae. These results demonstrate the need for a taxonomic revision: either Ainudrilus, Epirodrilus, Monopylephorus, and Rhyacodrilus should be included within Naidinae, or Pristina should be excluded from this subfamily. Monophyly of four out of six naidine genera represented by more than one species is supported: Chaetogaster, Dero, Paranais, and Pristina, respectively.

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PubMed2006

Myxozoan parasites disseminated via oligochaete worms as live food for aquarium fishes: descriptions of aurantiactinomyxon and raabeia actinospore types.

A total of 7 samples of live freshwater oligochaetes (mixed species), sold as 'tubifex' worms as food for aquarium fishes, were purchased over a 1 yr period from several pet shops in Munich, Germany, and screened for parasitic infections of myxozoans. The water associated with 5 samples contained actinospores at the time of purchase; 6 samples subsequently released spores in the laboratory. In all, 12 types of actinospores (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) from 4 collective groups were released by the oligochaetes. In the current study we provide descriptions of 2 aurantiactinomyxons (Myxobolus intimus Zaika, 1965 and type 1 nov.) and 3 raabeias (type 1 and 2 nov., Raabeia type 1 of Oumouna et al., 2003); descriptions of the 5 triactinomyxon and 2 hexactinomyxon types have been published previously. We include both raabeia and echinactinomyxon types in differential diagnoses of our raabeia forms because a clear distinction between these groups no longer exists in the literature. Comparison of 18S rDNA sequence data revealed that 1 of the novel aurantiactinomyxons was Myxobolus intimus. The sale of worms hundreds of km away from their point of origin is a means of dissemination of myxozoan parasites.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed2006

Phylogeny of 16S rRNA, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase genes from gamma- and alphaproteobacterial symbionts in gutless marine worms (oligochaeta) from Bermuda and the Bahamas.

Gutless oligochaetes are small marine worms that live in obligate associations with bacterial endosymbionts. While symbionts from several host species belonging to the genus Olavius have been described, little is known of the symbionts from the host genus Inanidrilus. In this study, the diversity of bacterial endosymbionts in Inanidrilus leukodermatus from Bermuda and Inanidrilus makropetalos from the Bahamas was investigated using comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and fluorescence in situ hybridization. As in all other gutless oligochaetes examined to date, I. leukodermatus and I. makropetalos harbor large, oval bacteria identified as Gamma 1 symbionts. The presence of genes coding for ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase form I (cbbL) and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase (aprA) supports earlier studies indicating that these symbionts are chemoautotrophic sulfur oxidizers. Alphaproteobacteria, previously identified only in the gutless oligochaete Olavius loisae from the southwest Pacific Ocean, coexist with the Gamma 1 symbionts in both I. leukodermatus and I. makropetalos, with the former harboring four and the latter two alphaproteobacterial phylotypes. The presence of these symbionts in hosts from such geographically distant oceans as the Atlantic and Pacific suggests that symbioses with alphaproteobacterial symbionts may be widespread in gutless oligochaetes. The high phylogenetic diversity of bacterial endosymbionts in two species of the genus Inanidrilus, previously known only from members of the genus Olavius, shows that the stable coexistence of multiple symbionts is a common feature in gutless oligochaetes.

Adenosine Phosphosulfate↗

PubMed2005

Life cycle studies of Myxobolus parviformis sp. n. (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae) from bream.

We experimentally followed the life cycle of Myxobolus parviformis sp. n., a myxozoan parasite from the gills of common bream Abramis brama L. Establishing the development of both stages (myxospore and actinospore) in 2 consecutive, full transmission trials, we were able to separate plasmodia of a common genotype from sympatric Myxobolus spp. occurring in naturally infected gill lamellae. Therefore, isolated gill plasmodia representing individual myxosporean 'clones' were used for subsequent infection of oligochaetes after molecular and morphological identification. The plasmodia of this species are located in median to distal regions of the primary gill filaments, forming small spherical pseudocysts. The comparatively small myxospores share some uniform characteristics: they taper posteriorly, have 2 inward inclining polar capsules that occupy half of the spores' interior space, and usually show 4 posterior sutural edge markings. The corresponding actinosporean has already been described morphologically and molecularly. The 18S rDNA sequence of the actinosporean stage was identical in all our samples, including myxospores. The triactinomyxon had a stout style, 32 sporozoites and short tapering caudal processes, and was shed by the tubificid oligochaete Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri. The ellipsoid sporoplasm was covered by a soft sheath which was emitted after valve shell opening upon stimulation by agitation or fish mucus. The molecular data (unique restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern and a 1586 bp 18S rDNA sequence) clearly differ from those for similar species and, together with the morphological data, justify the description of this parasite as a new species.

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PubMed2005

Phylogeny of Tubificidae (Annelida, Clitellata) based on mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data.

The tubificid clitellates are a common component in the freshwater bottom fauna and are also the most abundant oligochaete group in marine habitats. There are over 800 described species classified in six subfamilies; Tubificinae, Limnodriloidinae, Rhyacodrilinae, Telmatodrilinae, Phallodrilinae, and Naidinae. In this study we examine the phylogenetic relationships in Tubificidae using a combination of mitochondrial 16S rDNA and nuclear 18S rDNA sequence data. Sequences were obtained from five outgroup and 56 ingroup taxa, including five of the six subfamilies of Tubificidae. The data were analysed by maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The resulting tree topologies are virtually without conflict. Several associations traditionally recognized within the family Tubificidae are supported, in the Bayesian analysis including a sister group relationship between Tubificinae and Limnodriloidinae. The results also indicate that Rhyacodrilinae is polyphyletic--some of its members (Heterodrilus spp.) fall into a clade with Phallodrilinae, all other groups with Naidinae. Naidinae is also polyphyletic with two rhyacodriline genera, Monopylephorus and Ainudrilus, nested within. Most of the tubificid genera included in the study are supported as monophyletic; however, Tubifex and Limnodriloides are refuted, and Tubificoides is unresolved from other tubificine taxa.

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PubMed2005

Coexistence of bacterial sulfide oxidizers, sulfate reducers, and spirochetes in a gutless worm (Oligochaeta) from the Peru margin.

Olavius crassitunicatus is a small symbiont-bearing worm that occurs at high abundance in oxygen-deficient sediments in the East Pacific Ocean. Using comparative 16S rRNA sequence analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we examined the diversity and phylogeny of bacterial symbionts in two geographically distant O. crassitunicatus populations (separated by 385 km) on the Peru margin (water depth, approximately 300 m). Five distinct bacterial phylotypes co-occurred in all specimens from both sites: two members of the gamma-Proteobacteria (Gamma 1 and 2 symbionts), two members of the delta-Proteobacteria (Delta 1 and 2 symbionts), and one spirochete. A sixth phylotype belonging to the delta-Proteobacteria (Delta 3 symbiont) was found in only one of the two host populations. Three of the O. crassitunicatus bacterial phylotypes are closely related to symbionts of other gutless oligochaete species; the Gamma 1 phylotype is closely related to sulfide-oxidizing symbionts of Olavius algarvensis, Olavius loisae, and Inanidrilus leukodermatus, the Delta 1 phylotype is closely related to sulfate-reducing symbionts of O. algarvensis, and the spirochete is closely related to spirochetal symbionts of O. loisae. In contrast, the Gamma 2 phylotype and the Delta 2 and 3 phylotypes belong to novel lineages that are not related to other bacterial symbionts. Such a phylogenetically diverse yet highly specific and stable association in which multiple bacterial phylotypes coexist within a single host has not been described previously for marine invertebrates.

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PubMed2005

Dissemination of triactinomyxons (Myxozoa) via oligochaetes used as live food for aquarium fishes.

Freshwater 'tubifex' oligochaetes sold as live food for aquarium fishes were purchased from several pet shops in Munich, Germany, over a 1 yr period (March 2001 to February 2002). These samples were screened for parasitic infections of actinosporean myxozoans to gauge the possibility of parasite dispersal via this route. Of 7 samples, 6 contained infected oligochaetes; waterborne spores were present in 5 samples at the time of purchase. In the laboratory, 12 different types of actinosporeans were released by the oligochaetes. These could be assigned to 4 collective groups: triactinomyxon, aurantiactinomyxon, raabeia and hexactinomyxon; 4 novel triactinomyxons are described herein, a fifth triactinomyxon has been described earlier. Phenotypic descriptions of the spores are accompanied by molecular sequence data (18S rDNA). Descriptions of the other actinosporean types appear elsewhere. The worms sold as 'tubifex' originated from eastern European countries and were identified as a mix of Tubifex tubifex, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and L. udekemianus. Sale of live worms (and their accompanying parasite load) has clearly the potential to facilitate introduction both of parasites and suitable hosts to new areas.

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PubMed2004

Molecular methods clarify morphometric variation in triactinomyxon spores (Myxozoa) released from different oligochaete hosts.

Thirty-nine freshwater tubificid oligochaetes were isolated, each of which harboured a triactinomyxon infection. Spore characteristics include the typical triactinomyxon anchor shape, eight germ cells within the sporoplasm and three unequal (two long and one shorter) caudal processes with square tips. Despite morphological similarities between the spores from the different hosts, their morphometrical data varied considerably; significantly, the ranges of dimensions of the smallest and largest exemplars were mutually exclusive. In order to ascertain the true number of spore types present, molecular methods were employed. Samples of waterborne spores, including the smallest and largest representatives, were selected from 11 host oligochaetes (all Tubifex tubifex Müller) and a nested PCR-RFLP 'riboprint' analysis performed. The small subunit ribosomal DNA gene (18S rDNA) was targetted and amplified through two rounds of PCR, then digested with the restriction enzymes Dde I and Hha I. The resultant major cleavage patterns produced by both enzymes indicated a single triactinomyxon form; however, the pattern of several less intense bands varied between the samples. From a subset of five samples drawn from across the full spectrum of spore sizes, a 327 bp region near the 5' was sequenced and was identical for all five samples. Comparison of this 327 bp region with that of 12 other triactinomyxons in GenBank showed 68.7-96.9% similarity (at least 9 base differences). A further 469 bp generated for each of the smallest, largest and mid-range (= reference) spore samples was identical also. The reference sample was sequenced further to yield 1,554 bp of 18S rDNA (GenBank accession number AY162270); comparison with other Myxozoa indicated this sequence was novel. The morphometrics of our triactinomyxon did not correlate with any published description. The morphometrical variation exhibited by spores of the triactinomyxon type in this study raises questions about the validity of using morphometrical data to distinguish spore types and suggests that there could be taxonomic redundancy in the diversity of actinosporeans recorded in the literature. The additional information provided by molecular data in this study was pivotal in the clarification of morphometrical variation exhibited by morphologically similar triactinomyxon spores released from different oligochaete hosts.

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PubMed2002

18S rDNA phylogeny of the Tubificidae (Clitellata) and its constituent taxa: dismissal of the Naididae.

The phylogeny of the Tubificidae, and of most of its subfamilies and some of its genera, is revisited, on the basis of sequences of 18S ribosomal DNA in a selection of species. Forty-six new 18S sequences of Naididae (6), Tubificidae (37), Phreodrilidae (1), Lumbriculidae (1), and Enchytraeidae (1) are reported and aligned together with corresponding sequences of 21 previously studied taxa. The 18S gene of Insulodrilus bifidus provides the first molecular evidence that phreodrilids are closely related to tubificids, corroborating previous conclusions based on morphology. The data further support the monophyletic status of Tubificidae, provided that the "Naididae" is regarded a part of this family; "naidids" may not even constitute a monophyletic group. It is thus suggested that the family name Naididae is formally suppressed as a junior synonym of the Tubificidae. The 18S gene also resolves a number of relationships within the tubificids. Among the subfamilies, Tubificinae is supported, Rhyacodrilinae and Phallodrilinae are revealed as nonmonophyletic, and Limnodriloidinae remains unresolved. Most tubificid genera tested for monophyly are corroborated by the data, only one (Tubifex) is refuted, and two (Tubificoides and Limnodriloides) are unresolved from other taxa. It is concluded that it will be valuable to expand the taxonomic sampling for 18S rDNA in clitellates, and in annelids in general, as this is likely to improve the resolution at many levels. However, it will be equally important to combine the annelid 18S data with other gene sequences and nonmolecular characters, to estimate the phylogeny of these common and diverse worms with greater precision.

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