biostudies-literatureTice AKDivision of Environmental BiologyEuropean Research CouncilEuropean CommissionNIGMS NIH HHS69https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5192571biostudies-literatureUnknown11(1)<h4>Background</h4>Acanthamoebidae is a "family" level amoebozoan group composed of the genera Acanthamoeba, Protacanthamoeba, and very recently Luapeleamoeba. This clade of amoebozoans has received considerable attention from the broader scientific community as Acanthamoeba spp. represent both model organisms and human pathogens. While the classical composition of the group (Acanthamoeba + Protacanthamoeba) has been well accepted due to the morphological and ultrastructural similarities of its members, the Acanthamoebidae has never been highly statistically supported in single gene phylogenetic reconstructions of Amoebozoa either by maximum likelihood (ML) or Bayesian analyses.<h4>Results</h4>Here we show using a phylogenomic approach that the Acanthamoebidae is a fully supported monophylBiology directExpansion of the molecular and morphological diversity of Acanthamoebidae (Centramoebida, Amoebozoa) and identification of a novel life cycle type within the group.PMC5192571ERC-Adv 260-55290FP7-264465P20 GM1034761456054Zhang JKang SSpiegel FWVoelcker EClauß SBrown MWTice AKLahr DJFiore-Donno AMWilkinson KABonkowski MSchuler GADumack KShadwick LLGeisen SfalseExpansion of the molecular and morphological diversity of Acanthamoebidae (Centramoebida, Amoebozoa) and identification of a novel life cycle type within the group.<h4>Background</h4>Acanthamoebidae is a "family" level amoebozoan group composed of the genera Acanthamoeba, Protacanthamoeba, and very recently Luapeleamoeba. This clade of amoebozoans has received considerable attention from the broader scientific community as Acanthamoeba spp. represent both model organisms and human pathogens. While the classical composition of the group (Acanthamoeba + Protacanthamoeba) has been well accepted due to the morphological and ultrastructural similarities of its members, the Acanthamoebidae has never been highly statistically supported in single gene phylogenetic reconstructions of Amoebozoa either by maximum likelihood (ML) or Bayesian analyses.<h4>Results</h4>Here we show using a phylogenomic approach that the Acanthamoebidae is a fully supported monophyl2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Dec2026-06-10T05:44:29.517Z2019-03-27T02:32:41ZS-EPMC51925712803104510.1186/s13062-016-0171-0