Amblyosporidae
| Amblyosporidae | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | Amblyosporida
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| Family: | Amblyosporidae Weiser, 1977
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The Amblyosporidae are a family of microsporidian fungi from the order Amblyosporida.[1] They are obligate intracellular parasites known for infecting insects, particularly mosquitoes, and crustaceans such as copepods, with complex life cycles involving multiple hosts and transmission strategies.
Description
Amblyosporidae are microsporidia, a group of unicellular, spore-forming fungi classified within the Rozellomycota.[1] They are characterized by their polymorphic development, producing morphologically distinct spores adapted for different hosts and transmission modes. Their life cycles often include both vertical (parent-to-offspring) and horizontal transmission (between individuals), making them significant in host-parasite ecology.[2]
Hosts and life cycle
Amblyosporidae primarily parasitize mosquitoes (e.g., Aedes, Culex) and copepods (e.g., Mesocyclops, Acanthocyclops). Their life cycle is complex, involving multiple developmental stages and hosts:
- In copepods: Infections occur in female ovaries, producing orally infectious spores through binary and multiple fission, often leading to host death.[3] Infection rates in copepods can range from 15.0% to 57.1% annually.
- In mosquitoes: Both sexes are infected, with development in testes (males) and ovaries (females). Vertical transmission occurs via infected eggs, while horizontal transmission involves spore consumption. Prevalence in mosquitoes varies, with vertically acquired infections in Aedes communis ranging from 1.6% to 3.6%, and horizontally acquired infections reaching up to 69.0% in males.[3]
The life cycle includes haplophasic and diplokaryotic stages, with sporogony producing distinct spore types, such as binucleate spores for vertical transmission and meiospores in male mosquito larvae.[3]
Ecological and applied significance
Amblyosporidae play a significant role in the ecology of their hosts, particularly in regulating copepod and mosquito populations. Their high prevalence in natural populations, such as over 50% weekly infection rates in copepods from May to September, can impact host reproduction and survival.[4] Their infection of mosquitoes, vectors of human diseases, makes them of interest for biological control strategies, although their complex life cycles pose challenges for practical application.
Phylogeny
Phylogenetic studies suggest that Amblyosporidae exhibit cospeciation with their hosts, with species like Amblyospora forming monophyletic groups with mosquito hosts.[5] However, the genus Amblyospora is paraphyletic, with some species, such as Amblyospora californica, forming sister taxa to others.[5] This complexity highlights the evolutionary adaptability of Amblyosporidae to diverse host environments.
Genera
- Aedispora
- Amblyospora
- Andreanna
- Becnelia
- Crepidulospora
- Cristulospora
- Culicospora
- Culicosporella
- Dimeiospora
- Edhazardia
- Hyalinocysta
- Intrapredatorus
- Novothelohania
- Parastempellia
- Parathelohania
- Trichoctosporea
- Tricornia
References
- ^ a b Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Al-Ani LK, Tedersoo L, Haelewaters D, Rajeshkumar KC, et al. (2020). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa" (PDF). Mycosphere. 11 (1): 1060–1456. doi:10.5943/mycosphere/11/1/8. ISSN 2077-7019.
- ^ Baker, Michael D.; Vossbrinck, Charles R.; Becnel, James J.; Maddox, Joseph V. (1997). "Phylogenetic Position of Amblyospora Hazard & Oldacre (Microspora: Amblyosporidae) Based on Small Subunit rRNA Data and Its Implication for the Evolution of the Microsporidia". Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 44 (3): 220–225. doi:10.1111/j.1550-7408.1997.tb05704.x. ISSN 1066-5234.
- ^ a b c Andreadis, Theodore G.; Thomas, Michael C.; Shepard, John J. (2018). "Amblyospora khaliulini (Microsporidia: Amblyosporidae): Investigations on its life cycle and ecology in Aedes communis (Diptera: Culicidae) and Acanthocyclops vernalis (Copepoda: Cyclopidae) with redescription of the species". Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 151: 113–125. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2017.11.007.
- ^ Micieli, Maria V; Garcia, Juan J; Andreadis, Theodore G (2001). "Epizootiological Studies of Amblyospora albifasciati (Microsporidiida: Amblyosporidae) in Natural Populations of Aedes albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Mesocyclops annulatus (Copepoda: Cyclopidae) in a Transient Floodwater Habitat". Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 77 (1): 68–74. doi:10.1006/jipa.2000.4995.
- ^ a b Vossbrinck, Charles R.; Andreadis, Theodore G. (1997). "The phylogenetic position of Amblyospora species (Microspora, Amblyosporidae) as determined by ribosomal RNA sequencing". Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 70 (3): 179–184. doi:10.1006/jipa.1997.4725. ISSN 0022-2011.