Allobodo chlorophagus n. gen. n. sp., a Kinetoplastid that Infiltrates and Feeds on the Invasive Alga Codium fragile

摘要: A novel biflagellate protist that consumed chloroplasts inside material of the invasive marine green alga Codium fragile was reported from U.S. east coast in 2003. We observed a similar association C. five sites Nova Scotia, Canada during 2013 and 2014. After incubating fragments for 2–3 days, some utricles filaments contained numerous chloroplast-consuming cells. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed these were kinetoplastids with pankinetoplast, large electron-dense droplets cytoplasm connective between paraxonemal rod bases, but no conspicuous para-cytopharyngeal rod, all consistent The ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2 sequences 13 Scotia isolates identical. SSU rRNA gene phylogenies placed Codium-associated kinetoplastid neobodonid clade ‘1E’. Clade 1E likely contains previously described species, branches outside other major groups, either as their sister or separate lineage, depending on rooting. These results indicate represents single species merits new genus (and family), we describe it Allobodo chlorophagus n. gen., sp. lack evidence food sources than is parasitic association, possibilities exist (e.g. necrotrophy).