Ultrastructural description of a new chytrid genus of caecum anaerobe, Caecomyces equi gen. nov., sp. nov., assigned to the Neocallimasticaceae.
Abstract: Vegetative and reproductive stages of Caecomyces equi gen. nov., sp. nov. isolated from the horse caecum were examined by light and electron microscopy. This organism, which is similar to isolates known as Sphaeromonas communis, produces uniflagellate, uninucleate zoospores whose perikinetosomal structures, i.e. circumflagellar ring, spur, struts and scoop, are similar in many respects to those described in species of Neocallimastix. Microtubular roots extend basally from the spur and associate with hydrogenosomes and the nucleus. Another group of microtubules radiates laterally in a fan-shaped array close to the plasmalemma. Zoospores encyst, shedding their flagella with basal bodies, and germinate to diglobular thalli. Either coralloid or bulbous rhizoids form in plant material, but only the latter in axenic culture. Incipient zoospores are produced from a multinucleate eucarpic thallus and devlop within cleavage vacuoles containing flagella. An isolate from the cow rumen was found to be similar to C. equi in morphology and zoospore ultrastructure. On the basis of zoospore ultrastructure, we assign the new genus to the Neocallimasticaceae of the order Spizellomycetales. Organisms previously described as Sphaeromonas communis and Piromonas communis are renamed Caecomyces communis and Piromyces communis and assigned to the same family.
Publication Date: 1988-01-01 PubMed ID: 3395694DOI: 10.1016/0303-2647(88)90039-1Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This study presents a detailed examination of a newly identified fungus, Caecomyces equi, found in the gut of horses, which has been identified as a part of the Neocallimasticaceae family. Various features of its life cycle, morphology and cellular structures are examined, largely focusing on the structures associated with its flagellate spore stage.
Microscopic Observation of Caecomyces equi
- The research begins by examining the fungus through both light and electron microscopy, highlighting its similarity to other known fungi such as Sphaeromonas communis.
- Specific focus during the examination falls on the complex flagella structure that is present during this fungus’s zoospore stage. The various structures associated with the flagellum, including the basal ring, spur, struts, and scoop, were studied.
Cellular Structure and Life Cycle
- The microscopes unveiled distinct characteristics which include microtubular roots that extend from the spur and interact with hydrogenosomes and the nucleus of the cell.
- There’s another group of microtubules radiating in a fan-like manner close to the cell’s periphery.
- The researchers also studied the life cycle of the organism, noticing that the zoospore transforms into a cyst and sheds its flagella in the process before germinating into a different form, known as diglobular thalli.
- The research also identified particular features that are only seen when the organism interacts with plant material, including the formation of specific types of hyphae, called coralloid or bulbous rhizoids.
Similarities with Other Species
- In addition, when examining a sample from cow rumen, known for its rich microbial biodiversity, researchers found isolates presenting a similar morphology and zoospore structure with C. equi, pointing out possible similarities within the species.
- To end, the researchers suggest a reclassification of previously described species, Sphaeromonas communis and Piromonas communis, to the same family following findings from the C. equi study.
In conclusion, this research introduces a newly described genus within the Neocallimasticaceae family, Caecomyces equi, providing a thorough analysis of its structure and life cycle. Furthermore, it suggests possible reassignments for other organisms within this family based upon shared features.
Cite This Article
APA
Gold JJ, Heath IB, Bauchop T.
(1988).
Ultrastructural description of a new chytrid genus of caecum anaerobe, Caecomyces equi gen. nov., sp. nov., assigned to the Neocallimasticaceae.
Biosystems, 21(3-4), 403-415.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0303-2647(88)90039-1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Biology Department, York University, North York, Ontario, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cecum / microbiology
- Feces / microbiology
- Fungi / classification
- Fungi / isolation & purification
- Fungi / ultrastructure
- Horses
- Microscopy, Electron
Citations
This article has been cited 22 times.- Wunderlich G, Bull M, Ross T, Rose M, Chapman B. Understanding the microbial fibre degrading communities & processes in the equine gut.. Anim Microbiome 2023 Jan 12;5(1):3.
- Joshi A, Young D, Huang L, Mosberger L, Munk B, Vinzelj J, Flad V, Sczyrba A, Griffith GW, Podmirseg SM, Warthmann R, Lebuhn M, Insam H. Effect of Growth Media on the Diversity of Neocallimastigomycetes from Non-Rumen Habitats.. Microorganisms 2022 Oct 5;10(10).
- Ma J, Zhong P, Li Y, Sun Z, Sun X, Aung M, Hao L, Cheng Y, Zhu W. Hydrogenosome, Pairing Anaerobic Fungi and H(2)-Utilizing Microorganisms Based on Metabolic Ties to Facilitate Biomass Utilization.. J Fungi (Basel) 2022 Mar 24;8(4).
- Cavalier-Smith T. Ciliary transition zone evolution and the root of the eukaryote tree: implications for opisthokont origin and classification of kingdoms Protozoa, Plantae, and Fungi.. Protoplasma 2022 May;259(3):487-593.
- Voigt K, James TY, Kirk PM, Santiago ALCMA, Waldman B, Griffith GW, Fu M, Radek R, Strassert JFH, Wurzbacher C, Jerônimo GH, Simmons DR, Seto K, Gentekaki E, Hurdeal VG, Hyde KD, Nguyen TTT, Lee HB. Early-diverging fungal phyla: taxonomy, species concept, ecology, distribution, anthropogenic impact, and novel phylogenetic proposals.. Fungal Divers 2021;109(1):59-98.
- Stabel M, Schweitzer T, Haack K, Gorenflo P, Aliyu H, Ochsenreither K. Isolation and Biochemical Characterization of Six Anaerobic Fungal Strains from Zoo Animal Feces.. Microorganisms 2021 Aug 3;9(8).
- Edwards JE, Shetty SA, van den Berg P, Burden F, van Doorn DA, Pellikaan WF, Dijkstra J, Smidt H. Multi-kingdom characterization of the core equine fecal microbiota based on multiple equine (sub)species.. Anim Microbiome 2020 Feb 12;2(1):6.
- Edwards JE, Schennink A, Burden F, Long S, van Doorn DA, Pellikaan WF, Dijkstra J, Saccenti E, Smidt H. Domesticated equine species and their derived hybrids differ in their fecal microbiota.. Anim Microbiome 2020 Mar 16;2(1):8.
- Li Y, Meng Z, Xu Y, Shi Q, Ma Y, Aung M, Cheng Y, Zhu W. Interactions between Anaerobic Fungi and Methanogens in the Rumen and Their Biotechnological Potential in Biogas Production from Lignocellulosic Materials.. Microorganisms 2021 Jan 17;9(1).
- Hess M, Paul SS, Puniya AK, van der Giezen M, Shaw C, Edwards JE, Fliegerová K. Anaerobic Fungi: Past, Present, and Future.. Front Microbiol 2020;11:584893.
- Stabel M, Hanafy RA, Schweitzer T, Greif M, Aliyu H, Flad V, Young D, Lebuhn M, Elshahed MS, Ochsenreither K, Youssef NH. Aestipascuomyces dupliciliberans gen. nov, sp. nov., the First Cultured Representative of the Uncultured SK4 Clade from Aoudad Sheep and Alpaca.. Microorganisms 2020 Nov 5;8(11).
- Chang J, Park H. Nucleotide and protein researches on anaerobic fungi during four decades.. J Anim Sci Technol 2020 Mar;62(2):121-140.
- Li Y, Li Y, Jin W, Sharpton TJ, Mackie RI, Cann I, Cheng Y, Zhu W. Combined Genomic, Transcriptomic, Proteomic, and Physiological Characterization of the Growth of Pecoramyces sp. F1 in Monoculture and Co-culture With a Syntrophic Methanogen.. Front Microbiol 2019;10:435.
- Cheng Y, Shi Q, Sun R, Liang D, Li Y, Li Y, Jin W, Zhu W. The biotechnological potential of anaerobic fungi on fiber degradation and methane production.. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2018 Oct 1;34(10):155.
- Kittelmann S, Naylor GE, Koolaard JP, Janssen PH. A proposed taxonomy of anaerobic fungi (class neocallimastigomycetes) suitable for large-scale sequence-based community structure analysis.. PLoS One 2012;7(5):e36866.
- Fliegerová K, Mrázek J, Hoffmann K, Zábranská J, Voigt K. Diversity of anaerobic fungi within cow manure determined by ITS1 analysis.. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2010 Jul;55(4):319-25.
- Toyoda A, Iio W, Mitsumori M, Minato H. Isolation and identification of cellulose-binding proteins from sheep rumen contents.. Appl Environ Microbiol 2009 Mar;75(6):1667-73.
- Teunissen MJ, Op den Camp HJ. Anaerobic fungi and their cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes.. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 1993 Jan;63(1):63-76.
- Teunissen MJ, de Kort GV, Op den Camp HJ, Vogels GD. Production of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes during growth of anaerobic fungi from ruminant and nonruminant herbivores on different substrates.. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 1993 Spring;39-40:177-89.
- Borneman WS, Akin DE, Ljungdahl LG. Fermentation products and plant cell wall-degrading enzymes produced by monocentric and polycentric anaerobic ruminal fungi.. Appl Environ Microbiol 1989 May;55(5):1066-73.
- Barichievich EM, Calza RE. Supernatant protein and cellulase activities of the anaerobic ruminal fungus Neocallimastix frontalis EB188.. Appl Environ Microbiol 1990 Jan;56(1):43-8.
- Teunissen MJ, Smits AA, Op den Camp HJ, Huis in 't Veld JH, Vogels GD. Fermentation of cellulose and production of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes by anaerobic fungi from ruminant and non-ruminant herbivores.. Arch Microbiol 1991;156(4):290-6.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
