A New Genus of Anaerobic Scuticociliate with Endosymbiotic Methanogens and Ectobiotic Bacteria

Authors: Esteban, G. and Finlay, B.J.

Journal: Archiv fur Protistenkunde

Volume: 144

Issue: 4

Pages: 350-356

ISSN: 0003-9365

DOI: 10.1016/S0003-9365(11)80237-X

Abstract:

Isocyclidium globosum n.gen. n.sp. is a freshwater anaerobic scuticociliate with endosymbiotic methanogens and ectobiotic bacteria. It has been retrieved from anoxic water and sediments in Spain and England. The ciliate has mitochondria-like microbodies: these form a continuous sheet, lying immediately beneath the cell membrane in the posterior half of the ciliate. The endosymbiotic methanogens lie next to the microbodies. Rod-shaped bacteria attached to the external surface of the ciliate were observed only when the ciliate was obtained from sulphate-rich anoxic water. We describe the morphology, infraciliature and ultrastructure of the ciliate and its associated symbionts and other bacteria. © 1994, Gustav Fischer Verlag Jena. All rights reserved.

Source: Scopus