| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4558104 | Journal of Invertebrate Pathology | 2011 | 4 Pages |
We studied the spore morphology and molecular systematics of a novel microsporidian isolate from Phyllobrotica armata Baly collected in China. The spores were long-oval and measured 4.7 × 2.6 μm on fresh smears. Ultrastructure of the spores was characteristic for the genus Nosema: 13–14 polar filament coils, posterior vacuole, and a diplokaryon. The complete rRNA gene sequence of the isolate was 4308 bp long. The organization of the rRNA gene was 5′-LSU rRNA-ITS-SSU rRNA-IGS-5S-3′, which corresponds to that of the Nosema species. Phylogenetic analysis based on the rRNA gene sequence indicated that this isolate, designated as Nosema sp. PA, is closely related to Nosemabombycis and is correctly assigned to the “true” Nosema group.
Graphical abstractElectron micrography of a longitudinal section of a Nosema sp. PA spore (left panel) and phylogenetic tree constructed by the maximum parsimony method based on the LSU rRNA sequences of this isolate and 16 microsporidian species (right panel).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► Complete rRNA gene sequence of a new microsporidian Nosema sp. PA was reported. ► This paper provides a potential tool for resolving closely related species by using phylogenetic analysis based on several genes of the ribosomal operon. The novel arrangement of the rRNA gene may be an important feature of the “true” Nosema group. ► Nosema species that infect only Lepidoptera species are more closely related to each other than they are to the Nosema species infecting non-lepidopteran hosts.
