Redescription of Cardiosporidium cionae (Van Gaver and Stephan, 1907) (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida), a plasmodial parasite of ascidian haemocytes

Ciancio, Aurelio; Scippa, Silvia; Finetti-Sialer, M.; Candia, A. de; Avallone, Bice; Vincentiis, M. De

doi:10.1016/j.ejop.2007.11.005

Cited by 16 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…This assumption rules out ticks as the initial hosts in which the early evolution of the piroplasmids might have occurred (Allsopp et al, 1994;Criado-Fornelio et al, 2003). Additionally, it is noteworthy that Nephromyces parasites of Molgula species (sea grapes) and Cardiosporidium cionae of ascidian Ciona intestinalis, which share a common ancestor with the piroplasmids, are not known to be vector transmitted (Ciancio et al, 2008;Saffo et al, 2010). If the piroplasmids initially evolved in vertebrate hosts, the next question is obvious: how did the ancestral piroplasmids complete their lifecycles?…”

Section: Criadomentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution and genetic diversity of Theileria

Sivakumar

Hayashida

Sugimoto

et al. 2014

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

188

165

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Theileria parasites infect a wide range of domestic and wild ruminants worldwide, causing diseases with varying degrees of severity. A broad classification, based on the parasite's ability to transform the leukocytes of host animals, divides Theileria into two groups, consisting of transforming and non-transforming species. The evolution of transforming Theileria has been accompanied by drastic changes in its genetic makeup, such as acquisition or expansion of gene families, which are thought to play critical roles in the transformation of host cells. Genetic variation among Theileria parasites is sometimes linked with host specificity and virulence in the parasites. Immunity against Theileria parasites primarily involves cell-mediated immune responses in the host. Immunodominance and major histocompatibility complex class I phenotype-specificity result in a host immunity that is tightly focused and strain-specific. Immune escape in Theileria is facilitated by genetic diversity in its antigenic determinants, which potentially results in a loss of T cell receptor recognition in its host. In the recent past, several reviews have focused on genetic diversity in the transforming species, Theileriaparva and Theileriaannulata. In contrast, genetic diversity in Theileriaorientalis, a benign non-transforming parasite, which occasionally causes disease outbreaks in cattle, has not been extensively examined. In this review, therefore, we provide an outline of the evolution of Theileria, which includes T. orientalis, and discuss the possible mechanisms generating genetic diversity among parasite populations. Additionally, we discuss the potential implications of a genetically diverse parasite population in the context of Theileria vaccine development.

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Section: Criadomentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution and genetic diversity of Theileria

Sivakumar

Hayashida

Sugimoto

et al. 2014

Infection, Genetics and Evolution

188

165

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“…Evolutionary theories about the origins of piroplasms are confounded by the lack of analogues, intermediates or relic taxa in other vertebrate or invertebrate animals. Nonetheless, speculation that an ancient piroplasm lineage evolved in invertebrates first is supported by the discovery of a piroplasm-like organism, Cardiosporidium , in ascidian haemocytes ( Ciancio et al., 2008 ). Various molecular dating algorithms have also estimated the deepest node ages amongst piroplasms to range from 300 to 17 MYA ( Lack et al., 2012 , Schnittger et al., 2012 ), despite the lack of fossil records to calibrate molecular clocks.…”

Section: Piroplasmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haemoprotozoa: Making biological sense of molecular phylogenies

O’Donoghue

2017

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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A range of protistan parasites occur in the blood of vertebrates and are transmitted by haematophagous invertebrate vectors. Some 48 genera are recognized in bood primarily on the basis of parasite morphology and host specificity; including extracellular kinetoplastids (trypanosomatids) and intracellular apicomplexa (haemogregarines, haemococcidia, haemosporidia and piroplasms). Gene sequences are available for a growing number of species and molecular phylogenies often link parasite and host or vector evolution. This review endeavours to reconcile molecular clades with biological characters. Four major trypanosomatid clades have been associated with site of development in the vector: salivarian or stercorarian for Trypanosoma, and supra- or peri-pylorian for Leishmania. Four haemogregarine clades have been associated with acarine vectors (Hepatozoon A and B, Karyolysus, Hemolivia) and another two with leeches (Dactylosoma, Haemogregarina sensu stricto). Two haemococcidian clades (Lankesterella, Schellackia) using leeches and mosquitoes (as paratenic hosts!) were paraphyletic with monoxenous enteric coccidia. Two major haemosporidian clades have been associated with mosquito vectors (Plasmodium from mammals, Plasmodium from birds and lizards), two with midges (Hepatocystis from bats, Parahaemoproteus from birds) and two with louse-flies and black-flies (Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon from birds). Three major piroplasm clades were recognized: one associated with transovarian transmission in ticks (Babesia sensu stricto); one with pre-erythrocytic schizogony in vertebrates (Theileria/Cytauxzoon); and one with neither (Babesia sensu lato). Broad comparative studies with allied groups suggest that trypanosomatids and haemogregarines evolved first in aquatic and then terrestrial environments, as evidenced by extant lineages in invertebrates and their radiation in vertebrates. In contrast, haemosporidia and haemococcidia are thought to have evolved first in vertebrates from proto-coccidia and then incorporated invertebrate vectors. Piroplasms are thought to have evolved in ticks and diversified into mammals. More molecular studies are required on more parasite taxa to refine current thought, but ultimately transmission studies are mandated to determine the vectors for many haemoprotozoa.

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“…Every metazoan likely plays host to at least one apicomplexan (Morrison 2009), and this is probably an underestimation, as many species can host multiple apicomplexan species. Apicomplexans have been described in a vast array of vertebrates from avians to marine mammals (Jeurissen et al 1996;Conrad et al 2005), and also in cnidarians (Kwong et al 2019), molluscs (Suja et al 2016;Dyson, Grahame, and Evennett 1993), arthropods (Criado-Fornelio et al 2017;Alarcón et al 2017), and urochordates (Ciancio et al 2008;Mary Beth Saffo et al 2010). Their host range is enormous, and their diversity and adaptation to the parasitic lifestyle is unparalleled.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cardiosporidium cionae was originally described in 1907 by Van Gaver and Stephan, who correctly identified it as a novel sporozoan parasite of the invasive tunicate Ciona intestinalis. This species wasn't mentioned again until it was observed by Scippa, Ciancio, and de Vincentiis in 2000, and then formally redescribed by Ciancio et al in 2008, a full century after its initial discovery. Similar to other haemosporidians such as Plasmodium, C. cionae is found in the blood of its host.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ciona intestinalis is highly invasive; this prolific species has spread globally traveling in the hulls and bilgewater of ships and is now found on every continent except Antarctica. While C. cionae infection has only been formally confirmed in The Gulf of Naples, Italy (Ciancio et al in 2008), and Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA, it likely has a broad range as well. Additionally, TEM data from the redescription of C. cionae revealed a bacterial endosymbiont (Ciancio et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Metabolic contributions of an alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont in the apicomplexanCardiosporidium cionae

Hunter

Paight

Lane

2020

Preprint

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Apicomplexa is a diverse protistan phylum composed almost exclusively of metazoan-infecting parasites, including the causative agents of malaria, cryptosporidiosis, and toxoplasmosis. A single apicomplexan genus, Nephromyces, was described in 2010 as a mutualist partner to its tunicate host. Here we present genomic and transcriptomic data from the parasitic sister species to this mutualist, Cardiosporidium cionae, and its associated bacterial endosymbiont. Cardiosporidium cionae and Nephromyces both infect tunicate hosts, localize to similar organs within these hosts, and maintain bacterial endosymbionts. Though many other protists are known to harbor bacterial endosymbionts, these associations are completely unknown in Apicomplexa outside of the Nephromycidae clade. Our data indicate that a vertically transmitted 𝝰-proteobacteria has been retained in each lineage since Nephromyces and Cardiosporidium diverged. This 𝝰-proteobacterial endosymbiont has highly reduced metabolic capabilities, but contributes the essential amino acid lysine, and essential cofactor lipoic acid to C. cionae. This partnership likely reduces resource competition with the tunicate host. However, our data indicate that the contribution of the single 𝝰-proteobacterial endosymbiont in C. cionae is minimal compared to the three taxa of endosymbionts present in the Nephromyces system, and is a potential explanation for the virulence disparity between these lineages.

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Redescription of Cardiosporidium cionae (Van Gaver and Stephan, 1907) (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida), a plasmodial parasite of ascidian haemocytes

Cited by 16 publications

References 40 publications

Evolution and genetic diversity of Theileria

Evolution and genetic diversity of Theileria

Haemoprotozoa: Making biological sense of molecular phylogenies

Metabolic contributions of an alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont in the apicomplexanCardiosporidium cionae

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