New Finds on the Systematics of Cycloposthiid Ciliates (Ciliophora: Entodiniomorphida: Cycloposthiidae) Based on New 18S-rDNA Sequences from a Brazilian Capybara

Fregulia, Priscila; Cedrola, Franciane; Senra, Marcus Vinicius Xavier; D’Agosto, Marta; Dias, Roberto Júnio Pedroso

doi:10.1007/s00284-021-02651-1

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…In a recent genomic study of capybara's cecal microbiome, Cabral et al [5] presented the role of Eubacteria in breaking down structural carbohydrates. Although ciliates constitute most of this microbiome biomass [8], their functional role remains unknown; so far, studies have focused mainly on their morphology and systematics [7][8][9]18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giants’ cooperation: a draft genome of the giant ciliate Muniziella cunhai suggests its ecological role in the capybara’s digestive metabolism

Cedrola,

Senra,

Morales

et al. 2024

Microbial Genomics

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Several hundred ciliate species live in animals’ guts as a part of their microbiome. Among them, Muniziella cunhai (Trichostomatia, Pycnotrichidae), the largest described ciliate, is found exclusively associated with Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (capybara), the largest known rodent reaching up to 90 kg. Here, we present the sequence, structural and functional annotation of this giant microeukaryote macronuclear genome and discuss its phylogenetic placement. The 85 Mb genome is highly AT rich (GC content 25.71 %) and encodes a total of 11 397 protein-coding genes, of which 2793 could have their functions predicted with automated functional assignments. Functional annotation showed that M. cunhai can digest recalcitrant structural carbohydrates, non-structural carbohydrates, and microbial cell walls, suggesting a role in diet metabolization and in microbial population control in the capybara’s intestine. Moreover, the phylogenetic placement of M. cunhai provides insights on the origins of gigantism in the subclass Trichostomatia.

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