Last of the human protists: the phylogeny and genetic diversity of Iodamoeba

Mol Biol Evol. 2012 Jan;29(1):39-42. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msr238. Epub 2011 Sep 22.

Abstract

Iodamoeba is the last genus of obligately parasitic human protist whose phylogenetic position is unknown. Iodamoeba small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences were obtained using samples from three host species, and phylogenetic analyses convincingly placed Iodamoeba as a sister taxon to Endolimax. This clade in turn branches among free-living amoeboflagellates of the genus Mastigamoeba. Two Iodamoeba ribosomal lineages (RL1 and RL2) were detected whose sequences differ by 31%, each of which is found in both human and nonhuman hosts.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Amebiasis / parasitology
  • Animals
  • Archamoebae / classification
  • Archamoebae / genetics*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cysts
  • DNA / analysis
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Genetic Variation
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Ribosome Subunits, Small, Eukaryotic / genetics
  • Swine

Substances

  • DNA