Joyce E. Longcore

Bio: Joyce E. Longcore is an academic researcher from University of Maine. The author has contributed to research in topics: Chytridiomycosis & Chytridiomycota. The author has an hindex of 41, co-authored 93 publications receiving 11682 citations. Previous affiliations of Joyce E. Longcore include University of Alabama.

Reconstructing the early evolution of Fungi using a six-gene phylogeny

Abstract: The ancestors of fungi are believed to be simple aquatic forms with flagellated spores, similar to members of the extant phylum Chytridiomycota (chytrids). Current classifications assume that chytrids form an early-diverging clade within the kingdom Fungi and imply a single loss of the spore flagellum, leading to the diversification of terrestrial fungi. Here we develop phylogenetic hypotheses for Fungi using data from six gene regions and nearly 200 species. Our results indicate that there may have been at least four independent losses of the flagellum in the kingdom Fungi. These losses of swimming spores coincided with the evolution of new mechanisms of spore dispersal, such as aerial dispersal in mycelial groups and polar tube eversion in the microsporidia (unicellular forms that lack mitochondria). The enigmatic microsporidia seem to be derived from an endoparasitic chytrid ancestor similar to Rozella allomycis, on the earliest diverging branch of the fungal phylogenetic tree.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis gen. et sp. nov., a chytrid pathogenic to amphibians

Abstract: Captive and wild frogs from North and Central America and Australia recently have died with epidermal infections by chytridiomycete fungi. We isolated a chytridiomycete into pure culture from a captive, blue poison dart frog that died at the Na- tional Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. Using this isolate, we photographed developmental stages on nutrient agar, examined zoospores with transmission electron microscopy, and inoculated test frogs. This inoperculate chytrid develops either monocentrically or colonially and has thread-like rhizoids that arise from single or multiple areas on the developing zoo- sporangium. The taxonomically important features of the kinetosomal region of the zoospore indicate that this chytrid is a member of the Chytridiales but differs from other chytrids studied with transmission electron microscopy. Its microtubule root, which be- gins at kinetosome triplets 9-1 and extends parallel to the kinetosome into the aggregation of ribosomes, is distinctive. Histologic examination of test frogs re- vealed that the pure culture infected the skin of test frogs, whereas the skin of control frogs remained free of infection. The fungus is described as Batrachochy-

Physiology of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a chytrid pathogen of amphibians

Abstract: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a patho- gen of amphibians that has been implicated in severe population declines on several continents. We inves- tigated the zoospore activity, physiology and protease production of B. dendrobatidis to help understand the epidemiology of this pathogen. More than 95% of zoospores stopped moving within 24 h and swam less than 2 cm before encysting. Isolates of B. den- drobatidis grew and reproduced at temperatures of 4- 25 C and at pH 4-8. Growth was maximal at 17-25 C and at pH 6-7. Exposure of cultures to 30 C for 8 d killed 50% of the replicates. B. dendrobatidis cul- tures grew on autoclaved snakeskin and 1% keratin agar, but they grew best in tryptone or peptonized milk and did not require additional sugars when grown in tryptone. B. dendrobatidis produced extra- cellular proteases that degraded casein and gelatin but had no measurable activity against keratin azure. The proteases were active against azocasein at tem- peratures of 6-37 C and in a pH range of 6-8, with the highest activity at temperatures of 23-30 C and at pH 8. The implications of these observations on disease transmission and development are discussed.

A molecular phylogeny of the flagellated fungi (Chytridiomycota) and description of a new phylum (Blastocladiomycota).

Abstract: Chytridiomycota (chytrids) is the only phylum of true Fungi that reproduces with motile spores (zoospores). Chytrids currently are classified into five orders based on habitat, zoospore characters and life cycles. In this paper we estimate the phylogeny of the chytrids with DNA sequences from the ribosomal RNA operon (18S+5.8S+28S subunits). To our surprise the morphologically reduced para- sites Olpidium and Rozella comprise two entirely new, and separate, lineages on the fungal tree. Olpidium brassicae groups among the Zygomycota, and Rozella spp. are the earliest branch to diverge in the fungal kingdom. The phylogeny also suggests that Chytri- diomycota is not monophyletic and there are four major lineages of chytrids: Rozella spp., Olpidium brassicae, the Blastocladiales and a ''core chytrid clade'' containing the remaining orders and families and the majority of flagellated fungi. Within the core chytrid group 11 subclades can be identified, each of which correlates well with zoospore ultrastructure or morphology. We provide a synopsis of each clade and its morphological circumscription. The Blastocla- diales appears to be the sister taxon of most nonflagellated fungi. Based on molecular phyloge- netic and ultrastructural characters this order is elevated to a phylum, the Blastocladiomycota.

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

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Nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region as a universal DNA barcode marker for Fungi

Abstract: Six DNA regions were evaluated as potential DNA barcodes for Fungi, the second largest kingdom of eukaryotic life, by a multinational, multilaboratory consortium. The region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 used as the animal barcode was excluded as a potential marker, because it is difficult to amplify in fungi, often includes large introns, and can be insufficiently variable. Three subunits from the nuclear ribosomal RNA cistron were compared together with regions of three representative protein-coding genes (largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, and minichromosome maintenance protein). Although the protein-coding gene regions often had a higher percent of correct identification compared with ribosomal markers, low PCR amplification and sequencing success eliminated them as candidates for a universal fungal barcode. Among the regions of the ribosomal cistron, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has the highest probability of successful identification for the broadest range of fungi, with the most clearly defined barcode gap between inter- and intraspecific variation. The nuclear ribosomal large subunit, a popular phylogenetic marker in certain groups, had superior species resolution in some taxonomic groups, such as the early diverging lineages and the ascomycete yeasts, but was otherwise slightly inferior to the ITS. The nuclear ribosomal small subunit has poor species-level resolution in fungi. ITS will be formally proposed for adoption as the primary fungal barcode marker to the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, with the possibility that supplementary barcodes may be developed for particular narrowly circumscribed taxonomic groups.

Animal mitochondrial genomes

Abstract: Animal mitochondrial DNA is a small, extrachromosomal genome, typically ~16 kb in size. With few exceptions, all animal mitochondrial genomes contain the same 37 genes: two for rRNAs, 13 for proteins and 22 for tRNAs. The products of these genes, along with RNAs and proteins imported from the cytoplasm, endow mitochondria with their own systems for DNA replication, transcription, mRNA processing and translation of proteins. The study of these genomes as they function in mitochondrial systems—‘mitochondrial genomics’— serves as a model for genome evolution. Furthermore, the comparison of animal mitochondrial gene arrangements has become a very powerful means for inferring ancient evolutionary relationships, since rearrangements appear to be unique, generally rare events that are unlikely to arise independently in separate evolutionary lineages. Complete mitochondrial gene arrangements have been published for 58 chordate species and 29 non-chordate species, and partial arrangements for hundreds of other taxa. This review compares and summarizes these gene arrangements and points out some of the questions that may be addressed by comparing mitochondrial systems.