Opportunistic but Lethal: The Mystery of Paramoebae. Issue 5 (May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nowak, Barbara F.; Archibald, John M.
• Is Part Of: Trends in parasitology. Volume 34:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 404
• Page End: 419
• Publication Date: 2018-05
• Subjects: paramoebiasis -- Paramoeba -- Neoparamoeba -- parasome -- Perkinsela -- amoebic gill disease; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Parasitology; Biology; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; Online resources; 571.999
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.01.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-4922

Abstract

Abstract : Paramoebae are enigmatic single-celled eukaryotes that can be opportunistic pathogens of marine animals. For example, amoebic gill disease ravages farmed salmonids worldwide, causing tens of millions of dollars in losses annually. Although paramoebae can be found associated with animals ranging from fish and lobster to molluscs and sea urchins, how and how often they actually cause disease is unknown. Here we review recent progress towards understanding the biology and ecology of paramoebid species and the eukaryotic endosymbionts that live inside them. Genomic and transcriptomic sequence data serve as a platform upon which future research on paramoebiasis can build. Highlights: The number of reported paramoebiasis outbreaks has increased in recent years; warming seawater temperature is a likely contributor and future risk. An important challenge is to understand, and ultimately control, the paramoebiases that affect farmed fish. Recent molecular investigations have expanded the known genetic diversity of Paramoeba and Neoparamoeba species, although it is unclear whether these two genera represent monophyletic assemblages. The nuclear genomes and transcriptomes of Neoparamoeba pemaquidensis and its Perkinsela sp. endosymbiont have been sequenced. At ∼9.5 Mbp in size, the Perkinsela sp. nuclear genome is the smallest thus far described for a kinetoplastid protozoan. Metabolic reconstructions of host and endosymbiont suggest that their metabolisms are interconnected but the channel(s) of communication between the two organisms are unclear.