Txikispora is a genus of parasitic protists made up solely of the species Txikispora philomaios. It is the only genus in the family Txikisporidae, which is a member of the class Filasterea and is closely related to Ministeriidae. The lineage was first described in 2022 based on specimens identified from the United Kingdom. The species represents a previously undiscovered type of life that diverged extremely early from animals and fungi.[1] It parasitizes amphipods in the genera Echinogammarus and Orchestia and most frequently infects their hemolymph and hemocytes.
| Txikispora | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| (unranked): | Filozoa |
| Class: | Filasterea |
| Family: | Txikisporidae |
| Genus: | Txikispora |
| Species: | T. philomaios
|
| Binomial name | |
| Txikispora philomaios Urrutia, Feist & Bass
| |
Description
editThe species goes through several stages of life. The first is as a single spherical cell, called the monokaryotic stage.[2] It usually has a cell wall, and is characterized by a nucleus with a small nucleolus on its periphery and many small mitochondria with diverse lipoid structures.[3] The next stage is multinucleated, and consists of four cells joined together and is somewhat larger.[2] It appears to have three cells, with the fourth often hidden from view. The unicellular stage is often split off from the multicellular one.[3]
Taxonomy and etymology
editThe Filozoan species was described in 2022 in the Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology by Ander Urrutia, Stephen Feist, and David Bass.[4] The new generic and specific combination Txikispora philomaios means "May-loving spore", in reference to its presence in collections during only a few days during the month of May.[1] Txikispora is derived from a Basque word: txiki meaning "small" and a latin one spora meaning "spore". The specific epithet philomaios is: philo meaning "love" and maios meaning "May".[2]
A Rel homology region (RHR) was identified in Txikispora philomaios. The characteristics of the RHR of Txikispora philomaios was most similar to Tunicaraptor unikontum, suggesting a phylogenetic relationship between the two species.[5]
Ecology
editTxikispora philomaios parasitizes the amphipod genera Echinogammarus and Orchestia, but is not found in the related genera Gammarus and Melita. Individuals infected by the parasite displayed yellowing tegument, a less rigid carapace, less visible internal organs, and increased lethargy and unresponsiveness.[6] Txikispora philomaios specifically infects the hemolymph and individual hemocytes, with up to ten parasites found in a single hemocyte. Other organs that are infected are the hepatopancreas, testes, and ovaries.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Txikispora philomaios, a parasite that will help to explain the origin of animal multicellularity". ScienceDaily. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ a b c Urrutia, Feist & Bass 2022, p. 17.
- ^ a b Urrutia, Feist & Bass 2022, p. 8-9.
- ^ Urrutia, Feist & Bass 2022, p. 1.
- ^ Leger, Ros-Rocher & Najle 2022, p. 5.
- ^ Urrutia, Feist & Bass 2022, p. 7.
- ^ Urrutia, Feist & Bass 2022, p. 8.
Bibliography
edit- Leger, Michelle; Ros-Rocher, Nuria; Najle, Sebastian (2022). "Rel/NF-kB Transcription Factors Emerged at the Onset of Opisthokonts". Genome Biology and Evolution. 14 (1). doi:10.1093/gbe/evab289. hdl:10261/272058. PMC 8763368. PMID 34999783.
- Urrutia, Ander; Feist, Stephen; Bass, David (2022). "Txikispora philomaios n. sp., n. g., a micro-eukaryotic pathogen of amphipods, reveals parasitism and hidden diversity in Class Filasterea" (PDF). Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 69 (2): e12875. doi:10.1111/jeu.12875. PMID 34726818.