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Flagella number among Naegleria flagellates.

Scanning electron microscopy was used to determine the number of flagella on the flagellates of Naegleria australiensis, N. fowleri, N. gruberi, and N. jadini. Although the majority of flagellates had 2 flagella, there was considerable variation among individual cells. The number of flagella per flagellate varied from 1-8, with 2.4 being the average number per cell. For the different species, the average number of flagella per cell ranged from 2.0 in N. jadini to 3.1 for N. australiensis. The greatest amount of variation occurred in N. australiensis, with only 43% of the cells having 2 flagella. By contrast, 92% of N. fowleri cells had 2 flagella. Naegleria jadini and N. gruberi were intermediate with 80% and 74% biflagellates, respectively.

Animals↗

Kinetoplastid flagellates: surface-reactive carbohydrates detected by fluorescein-conjugated lectins.

Membrane-associated carbohydrate residues of 3 isolates of Leishmania derived from etiological agents of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), postkala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), as well as 2 other nonpathogenic insect gut kinetoplastid flagellates, Bodo sp. and Herpetomonas sp., were characterized with the aid of 8 fluorescein-conjugated lectins. Four lectins, concanavalin A, Dolichos biflorus, phytohemagglutinin P, Ricinus communis agglutinin, bound to all kinetoplastid flagellates at different concentrations. All Leishmania promastigotes showed reactions with Ulex agglutinin. Although these lectins were bound to all kinetoplastids, the site and intensity of binding was different. All skin-dwelling Leishmania parasites, viz., Leishmania donovani of PKDL and Leishmania tropica of CL showed unique selectivity toward peanut agglutinin (PNA), soybean agglutinin, and wheatgerm agglutinin (WGA). More interestingly, Herpetomonas showed positive fluorescence with PNA and WGA, whereas Bodo was negative. The results demonstrated that no lectin could distinguish between the pathogenic and nonpathogenic status of kinetoplastid flagellates. Moreover, the antigenic (carbohydrate) profiles of Herpetomonas corresponded more closely to those of L. tropica, whereas Bodo shared some common lectin receptors with L. donovani of VL.

Animals↗

[Ultrafine organization of Leptomonas peterhoffi flagellates cultured in broth and solid nutrient media].

The morphology of in vitro grown lower trypanosomatids L. peterhoffi was studied by means of electron microscopy. The flagellates from both liquid and solid culture media are represented by uninucleate cells of two structural types. Type I flagellates are characterized by dense cytoplasm enriched with numerous ribosomes. Type II flagellates are most abundant in the cultures; they display a less dense cytoplasm and fewer ribosomes. The flagella of L. peterhoffi of both types form enlargements, which are most expressed at the outlet of the flagellar pocket. The nuclei of some cells contain twisted threads about 10 nm in diameter. L. peterhoffi from the liquid media usually possess long, narrow and curved flagellar pockets. On the solid medium, amoeboid and hemispherical colonies composed of both uninucleate and giant multinucleate cells are formed. In these cells the flagellar pockets are usually short and straight. Outside the flagellar pocket, the axoneme often becomes looped in the flagellar enlargements of the colonial uninucleate cells.

Animals↗

A comparison of various methods for the determination of viability of parasitic flagellates.

To find out a simple, rapid, accurate, and reliable viability assay for in vitro anti-protozoa drug testing, a comparison among the various methods for the determination of flagellate viability was made. Micro-colony forming efficiency up to 90% for three different flagellates was obtained by the agar plate method. Macro-colony forming efficiency obtained by the culture tube method was generally lower (20-45%). Viability determined by trypan blue exclusion correlated closely with viability determined by micro-colony count (r = 0.94). The growth of the remaining parasites survived from serum treatment was not inhibited while that from metronidazole pretreatment was inhibited. The standard regrowth assay based on the 48-hr cultivation could be applied only for those survival not inhibited. The inhibitory effect of metronidazole on parasites was further testified by the longer generation time for metronidazole-pretreated flagellates in comparison with that for control (p less than 0.001). If the inhibitory effect of a drug is involved in the mechanisms against parasites, only the trypan blue exclusion and the micro-colony count can give an accurate and reliable viability determination. Moreover, the simple and rapid diagnosis provided by trypan blue exclusion is especially useful for the in vitro anti-protozoa drug susceptibility test.

Animals↗

Cinemicrographic analysis of the movement of flagellated bacteria. II. The ratio of the propulsive velocity to the frequency of the wave propagation along flagellar tail.

We took cinemicrographs of the movement of the flagellar tail of the peritrichously flagellated bacterium, Salmonella, swimming in a medium containing methylcellulose under a dark-ground microscope. By analysing the film, the velocity of translation u, the frequency of the propagation of helical waves along the tail fF and the frequency of the induced rotation of bacterial body fB of individual organism were measured and the experimental values of the ratios u/fF, u/fB and fF/fB were obtained. On the other hand, the theoretical values of these ratios were calculated by inserting the geometrical parameters describing the shapes and the sizes of the body and the tail of individual organism into the equations previously derived for the hydrodynamic model of the propulsion of flagellated bacteria (Holwill and Burge, 1963; Chwang and Wu, 1971). For four bacterial specimens presently analysed, the experimental values of u/fF ranged from 0.5 to 0.9, whereas the theoretical values were about 0.3. As reported by the preceding paper, such a tendency for the experimental values to exceed the theoretical ones by two or three times was also seen in u/fB and, consequently, the experimental and the theoretical values of fF/fB showed good agreement. From the results of these quantitative analyses of the movements of flagellated bacteria, it was concluded that the validity of the hydrodynamic model was further supported experimentally.

Cell Movement↗

Growth and flagellation of Vibrio fischeri during initiation of the sepiolid squid light organ symbiosis.

A pure culture of the luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri is maintained in the light-emitting organ of the sepiolid squid Euprymna scolopes. When the juvenile squid emerges from its egg it is symbiont-free and, because bioluminescence is part of an anti-predatory behavior, therefore must obtain a bacterial inoculum from the surrounding environment. We document here the kinetics of the process by which newly hatched juvenile squids become infected by symbiosis-competent V. fischeri. When placed in seawater containing as few as 240 colony-forming-units (CFU) per ml, the juvenile became detectably bioluminescent within a few hours. Colonization of the nascent light organ was initiated with as few as 1 to 10 bacteria, which rapidly began to grow at an exponential rate until they reached a population size of approximately 10(5) cells by 12 h after the initial infection. Subsequently, the number of bacteria in the established symbiosis was maintained essentially constant by a combination of both a > 20-fold reduction in bacterial growth rate, and an expulsion of excess bacteria into the surrounding seawater. While V. fischeri cells are normally flagellated and motile, these bacteria did not elaborate these appendages once the symbiosis was established; however, they quickly began to synthesize flagella when they were removed from the light organ environment. Thus, two important biological characteristics, growth rate and flagellation, were modulated during establishment of the association, perhaps as part of a coordinated series of symbiotic responses.

Animals↗

Growth, morphology and division of flagellates of the genus Trypanoplasma (Protozoa, Kinetoplastida) in vitro.

Nine strains of trypanoplasms were grown in axenic culture. Cultures of Trypanoplasma borreli Laveran and Mesnil, 1901 from fish hosts Blicca bjoerkna, Cyprinus carpio, Scardinius erythrophthalmus and Tinca tinca and of T. guerneyorum Minchin, 1909 from Esox lucius and Trypanoplasma spp. from the leech Piscicola geometra were maintained in biphasic blood-agar medium SNB-9 supplemented with vitamins and antibiotics. In culture, the flagellates transformed into smaller, elongated stages with a little-developed undulating membrane and into short flagella that were morphologically similar to stages in the leech vector. The cultures were passaged weekly at 17-20 degrees C, but they also grew at 4 degrees C. The flagellates divided by binary fission, which was initiated by the formation of two new anterior flagella. The original anterior flagellum of the mother individual was gradually apposed to the cell surface and became the recurrent flagellum of one of the daughter individuals. In the meantime, nuclear division took place, followed by transverse cleavage of the kinetoplast. The division was completed by longitudinal fission of the mother individual into two offspring. Multiple fission that resulted in rosettes, which then cleaved into several daughter cells, was also observed, as well as some dyskinetoplastic and other anomalous forms. In cultures isolated from tenches with high parasitaemia, non-dividing, long filiform stages were observed. Culture stages were not infective for susceptible fishes.

Animals↗

Graviperception and graviorientation in flagellates.

In the flagellate Euglena gracilis Klebs, gravitaxis is mediated by an active physiological receptor and is not the result of passive alignment of the cells in the water column. The threshold of this response was found at 0.08 < threshold < 0.16 g during a recent space flight on the American shuttle Columbia, where the cells were subjected to different accelerations between 0 and 1.5 g; the response saturated at 0.32 < saturation < or = 0.64 g. Over the whole duration of the mission no adaptation of the response to microgravity was observed. The whole body of the cell, rather than intracellular organelles, seems to act as statolith since suspending the cells in a density-adjusted medium (Ficoll) resulted in an inhibition of gravitaxis and even reversal of orientation at higher densities. Thus, the cytoplasm seems to exert a pressure on the respective lower membrane where it is hypothesized to activate stretch-sensitive specific ion channels, as indicated by inhibitor studies with gadolinium. One of the early steps in the sensory transduction chain seems to be a modulation of the membrane potential since ion-channel blockers, ionophores and ATPase inhibitors strongly inhibit gravitaxis in this flagellate without seriously affecting motility and phototaxis.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

[Shiitake dermatitis: flagellate dermatitis after eating mushrooms].

The name of flagellate dermatitis originates from self-flagellating medieval people. This dermatitis is not rare as a drug eruption following bleomycin therapy. An identical skin eruption caused by the mushroom shiitake Lentinus edodes is more common but reported mostly from Japan. We saw a 67-year-old patient who presented with the typical linear scratch marks after a dinner in a Chinese restaurant. The basic mechanism is a toxic epidermal damage. Since it is not clear why the dermatitis does not occur frequently since Shiitake is the second most popular mushroom in the world, we discuss possible cofactors that may trigger the toxic reaction.

Administration, Oral↗

Viral lysis, flagellate grazing potential, and bacterial production in Lake Pavin.

Abundances of different compartments of the microbial loop (i.e., viruses, heterotrophic bacteria, nonpigmented nanoflagellates, and pigmented nanoflagellates), bacterial heterotrophic production (BHP), viral lysis, and potential flagellate grazing impacts on the bacterial assemblages were estimated during a short-term study (24 h) conducted in June 1998 in the epilimnion (5 m) and metalimnion (10 m) of a moderate-altitude oligomesotrophic lake (Lake Pavin, France). Viral and bacterial abundances were higher in the metalimnion than in the epilimnion, whereas pigmented and nonpigmented nanoflagellates were more numerous in the epilimnion. The control of the BHP due to viral lysis (determined by examination of viral-containing bacteria using a transmission electron microscope) was significantly higher in the meta- (range = 6.0-33.7%, mean = 15.6%) than in the epilimnion (3.5-10.3%, 6.4%). The same was for the losses of BHP from the potential predation by nanoflagellates which ranged from 0.5 to 115.4% (mean = 38.7%) in the epilimnion, and from 0.7 to 97.5% (mean = 66.7%) in the metalimnion. Finally, estimated viral mediated mortality rates from the percentage of visibly infected cells and potential nanoflagellate grazing rates based on assumed clearance rates suggest that flagellates consumed a larger proportion of bacterial production than was lost to viral lysis.

Animals↗

Growth of Amoebae and Flagellates on Bacteria Deposited on Filters.

> Abstract Artificial bacterial biofilms were formed by making microwave-irradiated, dual-radioisotope-labelled Vibrio bacteria adhere to 0.4 µm pore size filters with albumin. The rate of release of 3H from thymidine label in these bacteria into the surrounding seawater when protozoa were incubated with the biofilm indicated the predator's grazing rate, and the rate of accumulation of 14C in the predators from leucine label in the bacteria indicated the assimilation rate of the protozoa. The amoeba Vanella septentrionalis consumed about 60% of the available bacteria between the 5th and 15th days of incubation with a gross growth efficiency of 22 +/- 6%, compared with about 75% consumption at 29 +/- 8% efficiency for the surface-feeding flagellate Caecitellus parvulus, and about 55% consumption at 16 +/- 5% efficiency for the suspension-feeding flagellate Pteridomonas danica. As a result of their grazing and metabolism these protozoa regenerated about 70-85% of the nutrients present in their food and released these nutrients in the immediate vicinity of the bacterial biofilm. The biomass of the amoeba Vanella was calculated to be 166 pg protein cell-1 during maximum growth and 93 pg protein cell-1 in the stationary phase.

Journal Article↗

Insertional inactivation of the flaH gene in the archaeon Methanococcus voltae results in non-flagellated cells.

The marine methanogen Methanococcus voltae possesses two transcriptional units that encode a total of four flagellins. Immediately downstream of the flagellin genes are a number of ORFs, some of which are cotranscribed with the flagellin genes. These putative genes have been named flaCDEFGHIJ, although no biochemical data has implicated them in flagellar morphogenesis. None of the flaC-J genes has homology to any bacterial gene, with the exception of flaI, which shows homology to pilT, a gene that encodes a nucleotide binding protein of the type IV pilus family. In this study, insertional mutations in flaH of M. voltae were identified. The mutants were non-motile and non-flagellated as determined by electron microscopy. Southern hybridization experiments confirmed the insertion of a mutagenic vector into flaH and indicated that two, tandem, copies of the vector were present. It is believed that insertion of the vector into flaH should disrupt the transcription of flaIJ due to polar effects. The flaH mutant displayed the same pattern of multiple mRNA transcripts, all originating upstream of flaB1, as the wild-type cells. Northern hybridization experiments failed to detect a flaHIJ transcript in either wild-type or mutant cells. Immunoblotting experiments indicated, however, that the mutants produced similar amounts of flagellin, FlaD and FlaE to wild-type cells. Flagellin localization experiments suggest that the flaH mutant is deficient in flagellin secretion and/or assembly. The mutant also displayed similar preflagellin peptidase activity to the wild-type cells, indicating that none of the genes flaHIJ is likely to be the gene that encodes this enzyme, which is required for cleaving the leader peptide from the preflagellins prior to their incorporation into the flagellar filament. This is the first data indicating that the flaHIJ gene cluster is essential for flagellation in methanogens.

Archaeal Proteins↗

Devescovinid features, a remarkable surface cytoskeleton, and epibiotic bacteria revisited in Mixotricha paradoxa, a parabasalid flagellate.

This work reports on the flagellate systematics and phylogeny, cytoskeleton, prokaryote-eukaryote cell junction organisation, and epibiotic bacteria identification. It confirms the pioneer 1964 study on Mixotricha paradoxa and supplies new information. Mixotricha paradoxa has a cresta structure specific to devescovinid parabasalid flagellates, a slightly modified recurrent flagellum, and an axostylar tube containing two lamina-shaped parabasal fibres. However, many parabasal profiles are distributed throughout the cell body. There is a conspicuous cortical microfibrillar network whose strands are related to cell junction structures subjacent to epibiotic bacteria. The supposed actin composition of this network could not be demonstrated with anti-actin antibodies or phalloidin labelling. Four types of epibiotic bacteria were described. Bacillus-shaped bacteria with a Gram-negative organisation are nested in alternate rows on most of the surface of the protozoon. They induce a striated calyxlike junction structure beneath the adhesion zone linked to the cortical microfibrillar network. Slender spirochetes are attached by one differentiated end to the plasma membrane of the protozoon, forming knobs on the cell surface. Two very similar long rod-shaped bacteria are also attached on the knobs of the plasma membrane. A large spirochete attributed to the genus Canaleparolina is also attached to the protozoon. Observations on epibiotic bacteria and of their attachments are compared with several described epibiotic bacteria of symbiotic protozoa and with the results of the molecular identification of the epibiotic bacteria of M. paradoxa.

Animals↗

Requirement of phosphatidylglycerol for flagellation of Escherichia coli.

We report that phosphatidylglycerol is required for flagellation of Escherichia coli. Cells carrying the pgsA3 mutation did not form swarm rings in semisolid agar. P1 transduction experiments revealed that the potential for phosphatidylglycerol synthesis and for the formation of swarm rings was co-transducible. The pgsA3 mutant transformed with the wild type pgsA+ gene cloned into the R-plasmid vector had the potential for both phosphatidylglycerol synthesis and cell motility. Electromicroscopic and SDS-PAGE analyses showed that the pgsA3 mutation causes the lack of flagellation.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

Leishmaniasis in Brazil. XXIV. Natural flagellate infections of sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Pará State, with particular reference to the rôle of Psychodopygus wellcomei as the vector of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis in the Serra dos Carajás.

Between July 1983 and December 1984 natural flagellate infections were found in 114 (1%) of 11,586 female phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) of 21 species. A further 1084 females of 17 other species were not infected. Identification of the organisms on a number of occasions confirms the exclusive parasite/vector relationship of Leishmania mexicana amazonensis/Lutzomyia flaviscutellata and Le. braziliensis braziliensis/Psychodopygus "wellcomei". Undescribed or unidentified Leishmania spp. were isolated from Lu. shawi, Lu. ubiquitalis, Lu. whitmani, Ps. hirsutus, Ps. paraensis Ps. "wellcomei", and trypanosomes from Lu. nordestina and Lu. trinidadensis. Flagellate infections were recorded in 8 of 21 species examined for the first time, and some were isolated directly from insects into cultures. Le. b. braziliensis was transmitted to a hamster by the bite of a wild-caught, naturally infected Ps. "wellcomei". 7 of the 35 infected Ps. "wellcomei" were allowed to oviposit and the eggs were reared to adults. Four produced Ps. wellcomei males only, confirming the rôle of this species as the major vector of Le. b. braziliensis.

Animals↗

Possible formation and development of spirochaete attachment sites found on the surface of symbiotic polymastigote flagellates of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes.

We propose that spirochaete attachment sites arise from peripheral protrusions which appear on the surface of polymastigote flagellates. These protrusions develop into bracket-shaped structures which then form the mature attachment site. Next the site becomes detached from the surface of the cell; this latter process may be facilitated by the fusion of vesicles located in the region immediately beneath the spirochaete attachment site. This theory could explain the variability in the number and distribution of attachment sites on the surface of the flagellates.

Animals↗

The gut flagellate community of the termite Neotermes cubanus with special reference to Staurojoenina and Trichocovina hrdyi nov. gen. nov. sp.

At least seven species of flagellates have been found to inhabit the paunch of the termite Neotermes cubanus. Staurojoenina sp. is the largest species, measuring 100-150mum in length. Three small parabasalids belong to the genera Tritrichomonas, Metadevescovina, and Foaina. A fourth small type is described as Trichocovina hrdyi nov. gen. nov. sp.; the combination of features in this flagellate, such as the presence of a costa, undulating membrane and spiralled dictyosome, does not fit to any known genus. The two oxymonad species do not possess a rostellum. One belongs to the family Polymastigidae; it has one unattached flagellum and three partially attached flagella. The second is a member of the family Pyrsonymphidae, but this one possesses ring-like surface structures, one free flagellum and three spirally attached flagella. It is the first report of a pyrsonymphid in a kalotermitid termite.

Animals↗

Identification of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase from the photosynthetic flagellate, Euglena gracilis Z.

A gene named epk2 that encodes the amino acid sequence of a protein kinase was identified from the photosynthetic flagellate, Euglena gracilis Z. Homology search and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of epk2 is most similar to that of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Northern blot analysis showed that Euglena cells express a 1.4-kb transcript of this gene. When the EPK2 protein was coexpressed with the rat regulatory subunit of PKA in cultured mammalian cells, these two proteins were coimmunoprecipitated. The association of EPK2 and the rat regulatory subunit of PKA was not detected in the cell lysate incubated with cAMP. EPK2 immunoprecipitated from the transfected cells phosphorylated Kemptide, a synthetic peptide substrate for PKA, and the phosphorylation was inhibited by PKI, a PKA-selective protein kinase inhibitor. These results indicate that EPK2 is a PKA homologue in the photosynthetic flagellate, and this is the first evidence for the occurrence of the PKA catalytic subunit in photosynthetic organisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗