Rastrimonas

Rastrimonas is a monotypic genus of parasitic alveolates in the phylum Apicomplexa. It contains the single species Rastrimonas subtilis. It was described in 2002 from the free-living cryptomonad Chilomonas paramaecium and placed in the new genus Cryptophagus.[1] The following year this was renamed Rastrimonas.[2]

Rastrimonas
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
(unranked):
SAR
(unranked):
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Rastrimonadida
Family:
Rastrimonadidae
Genus:
Rastrimonas

Brugerolle 2003
Species:
R. subtilis
Binomial name
Rastrimonas subtilis
(Brugerolle 2002) Brugerolle 2003
Synonyms
  • Cryptophagus Brugerolle 2002 non Herbst 1863 non Rafinesque 1815 nomen nudum
  • Cryptophagus subtilis Brugerolle 2002

Life cycle

The life cycle begins with the adhesion of the anterior tip of the parasite, followed by the penetration of the flagellated sporozoite, into a specialized region at the base of the flagellum of an individual Chilomonas. The trophozoite grows within the host cytoplasm.

After 4 to 5 successive nuclear mitoses the sporozoites bud on the surface where they acquire flagella, micronemes, and other apical structures. Mitosis is closed with an external spindle lacking a paradesmosis.

A sporangium is not formed, but a cyst may occur within the host.

Description

The sporozoite has an elongated shape with an apical complex, a central nucleus and two flagellae which are inserted at the base of the pseudoconoid.

Two microtubular roots lie deep to the plasma membrane and are attached to each basal body.

The apical complex consistes of a set of 10–14 micronemes and a train of dumbbell-like vesicles which converge toward the tip of the pseudoconoid. The micronemes are outlined by a four microtubule fibre. The dumbbell-like vesicles are associated with a three microtubules in a rakelike fibre.

The mitochondrial network has few cristae and a fairly reduced dense matrix.

One large vacuole containing microfilamentous material is present and is connected to the nuclear envelope.

The Golgi body is situated close to the nucleus.

References

  1. Brugerolle, G. (2002). "Cryptophagus subtilis: a new parasite of cryptophytes affiliated with the Perkinsozoa lineage". Eur J Protistol. 37 (4): 379–90. doi:10.1078/0932-4739-00837.
  2. Brugerolle, G. (2003). "Apicomplexan parasite Cryptophagus renamed Rastrimonas gen. nov". Eur J Protistol. 39 (1): 101. doi:10.1078/0932-4739-00910.
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