Authors
Clarence Wei Hung Sim, Marie Walde, Hanna Strindberg, Avneet Kaur, Sophie Le Panse, Priscillia Gourvil, Jens Jahren, Daniel Vaulot, Adriana Lopes Dos Santos
Published in
The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology. Volume 73. Issue 5. Pages e70111.
Abstract
Labyrinthulomycetes are a class of fungus-like heterotrophic protists from the Stramenopiles lineage, recognized for their ecological role as decomposers and contributors to nutrient cycling. They colonize various substrates, from seaweed to terrestrial environments, utilizing ectoplasmic networks for nutrient absorption. This study characterized a novel Labyrinthula strain associated with the marine diatom Biddulphia. Phylogenetic analysis of the full-length 18S rRNA gene positioned this strain as a new species, Labyrinthula merlionensis sp. nov. Scanning electron and light microscopy observations revealed bi-flagellated zoospores and spindle-shaped vegetative cells with ectoplasmic networks. Time-series observations of the interactions between L. merlionensis and Biddulphia were categorized into different phases: establishment, infection, and aggregation. Scanning electron and confocal microscopy observations during the infection phase established the use of ectoplasmic nets to target the marginal ridge regions between diatoms, and the detection of labyrinthulid cells within diatom frustules. These findings enhance the understanding of the diversity, morphology, and ecological roles of Labyrinthulomycetes, particularly their intra- and extra-cellular interactions with diatom hosts.
PMID:
42554213
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 05 Aug 2026.
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