Molecular identification of rickettsial endosymbionts in the non-phagotrophic volvocalean green algae.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The order Rickettsiales comprises gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria (also called rickettsias) that are mainly associated with arthropod hosts. This group is medically important because it contains human-pathogenic species that cause dangerous diseases. Until now, there has been no report of non-phagotrophic photosynthetic eukaryotes, such as green plants, harboring rickettsias.

Methodology/principal findings

We examined the bacterial endosymbionts of two freshwater volvocalean green algae: unicellular Carteria cerasiformis and colonial Pleodorina japonica. Epifluorescence microscopy using 4'-6-deamidino-2-phenylindole staining revealed the presence of endosymbionts in all C. cerasiformis NIES-425 cells, and demonstrated a positive correlation between h

SUBMITTER: Kawafune K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3283676 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature