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Phylogenomics Identifies a New Major Subgroup of Apicomplexans, Marosporida class nov., with Extreme Apicoplast Genome Reduction

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Mathur, Varsha, Kwong, Waldan K, Husnik, Filip, Irwin, Nicholas A T, Kristmundsson, Árni, Gestal, Camino, Freeman, Mark, Keeling, Patrick J·2021·Genome Biology and Evolution
DOI 10.1093/gbe/evaa244PMC PMC7875001
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Abstract

The phylum Apicomplexa consists largely of obligate animal parasites that include the causative agents of human diseases such as malaria. Apicomplexans have also emerged as models to study the evolution of nonphotosynthetic plastids, as they contain a relict chloroplast known as the apicoplast. The apicoplast offers important clues into how apicomplexan parasites evolved from free-living ancestors and can provide insights into reductive organelle evolution. Here, we sequenced the transcriptomes and apicoplast genomes of three deep-branching apicomplexans, Margolisiella islandica, Aggregata octopiana, and Merocystis kathae. Phylogenomic analyses show that these taxa, together with Rhytidocystis, form a new lineage of apicomplexans that is sister to the Coccidia and Hematozoa (the lineages including most medically significant taxa). Members of this clade retain plastid genomes and the canonical apicomplexan plastid metabolism. However, the apicoplast genomes of Margolisiella and Rhytidocystis are the most reduced of any apicoplast, are extremely GC-poor, and have even lost genes for the canonical plastidial RNA polymerase. This new lineage of apicomplexans, for which we propose the class Marosporida class nov., occupies a key intermediate position in the apicomplexan phylogeny, and adds a new complexity to the models of stepwise reductive evolution of genome structure and organelle function in these parasites.

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Authors
Mathur, V., Kwong, W. K., Husnik, F., Irwin, N. A. T., Kristmundsson, Á., Gestal, C., Freeman, M., & Keeling, P. J.
Affiliations
  • University of British Columbia (CA)
  • Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan
  • University of Iceland (IS)
  • Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
  • Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (KN)
Corresponding author
Mathur, Varsha
ORCID
Venue
Genome Biology and Evolution
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2020-11-18
Volume
13
Issue
2
ISSN
1759-6653 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1093/gbe/evaa244
PMC
PMC7875001
OpenAlex
W3104316056
Cited by
50
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9
FWCI
2.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Genome Biology and Evolution (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Mendeley Data (cc-by)
Funders
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP-42517)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protist diversity and phylogeny
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Coccidia and coccidiosis research
Keywords
Apicomplexa, plastid genome evolution, GC content
MeSH terms
Animals, Coccidia, Invertebrates, Phylogeny, DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases, Transcription, Genetic, Protozoan Proteins, Apicomplexa, Evolution, Molecular, Eimeriidae, Biosynthetic Pathways, Genome Size, Apicoplasts

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