A5088177884- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- ATP Synthase and ATPases Research
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Enzyme function and inhibition
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications
- Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Enzyme Structure and Function
University of Victoria
2018-2025
University of British Columbia
2016-2020
Dalhousie University
2007-2016
Mitochondria are the result of a billion years integrative evolution, converting once free-living bacterium to an organelle deeply linked diverse cellular processes. One way in which mitochondria integrated with nonendosymbiotically derived organelles is via endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria contact sites. The ER membrane physically tethered mitochondrial outer by ER-mitochondria encounter structure (ERMES). However, date, ERMES has only ever been found fungal lineage. Here, we...
Abstract Background The Euglenozoa are a protist group with an especially rich history of evolutionary diversity. They include diplonemids, representing arguably the most species-rich clade marine planktonic eukaryotes; trypanosomatids, which notorious parasites medical and veterinary importance; free-living euglenids. These different lifestyles, particularly transition from to parasitic, likely require metabolic capabilities. We carried out comparative genomic analysis across euglenozoan...
Obligate symbioses involving intracellular bacteria have transformed eukaryotic life, from providing aerobic respiration and photosynthesis to enabling colonization of previously inaccessible niches, such as feeding on xylem phloem, surviving in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. A major challenge the study obligate is understand how they arise. Because best studied are ancient, it especially challenging identify early or intermediate stages. Here we report discovery a nascent symbiosis Howardula...
The complexity of mitochondrial complex I (CI; NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) has increased considerably relative to the homologous in bacteria. Comparative analyses CI composition animals, fungi and land plants/green algae suggest that novel components include a set 18 proteins common all eukaryotes variable number lineage-specific subunits. In plants green algae, several purportedly plant-specific gamma-type carbonic anhydrases (gammaCA) have been identified as CI. However, relatively...
Subcomplexes of mitochondrial respiratory complex I (CI; EC 1.6.5.3) are shown to turn over in vivo, and we propose a role an ancestral assembly pathway. By progressively labeling Arabidopsis cell cultures with (15)N isolating mitochondria, have identified CI subcomplexes through differences incorporation into their protein subunits. The 200-kDa subcomplex, containing the γ-carbonic anhydrase (γ-CA), anhydrase-like, 20.9-kDa subunits, had significantly higher turnover rate than intact or...
Diverse, distantly-related eukaryotic lineages have adapted to low-oxygen environments, and possess mitochondrion-related organelles that lost the capacity generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation. A subset of these organelles, hydrogenosomes, has acquired a set characteristic ATP generation enzymes commonly found in anaerobic bacteria. The recipient could not survived prior their acquisition had it still possessed electron transport chain present ancestral...
Abstract Kinetoplastids are heterotrophic flagellated protists, including important parasites of humans and animals (trypanosomatids), ecologically free-living bacterial consumers (bodonids). Phylogenies have shown that the earliest-branching kinetoplastids all or obligate endosymbionts, whose highly-derived state makes reconstructing ancestral group challenging. We isolated new strains unusual flagellates molecular phylogeny shows to be most closely related endosymbiotic parasitic...
Meiotic drivers are selfish genetic elements that bias their own transmission during meiosis or gamete formation. Due to the fundamental differences between male and female in animals plants, meiotic operate through distinct mechanisms two sexes: In females, they exploit asymmetry of ensure inclusion egg, whereas males, eliminate competing gametes after symmetric meiosis. drive is commonly reported where it strongly influences evolution spermatogenesis, while few known cases females have...
Abstract Recent surveys of marine microbial diversity have identified a previously unrecognized lineage diplonemid protists as being among the most diverse heterotrophic eukaryotes in global oceans. Despite their monophyly (and assumed importance), they lack formal taxonomic description, and are informally known deep‐sea pelagic diplonemids ( DSPD s) or diplonemids. Recently, we documented morphology molecular sequences from several s, one which is particularly widespread abundant...
Analyses based on phylogenetic and ultrastructural data have suggested that euglenids (such as Euglena gracilis), trypanosomatids diplonemids are members of a monophyletic lineage termed Euglenozoa. However, many uncertainties associated with reconstructions for ancient rapidly evolving groups; thus, rare genomic characters become increasingly important in reinforcing inferred relationships. We discovered the iron-sulfur subunit (SdhB) mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase is encoded by...
Defenses conferred by microbial symbionts play a vital role in the health and fitness of their animal hosts. An important outstanding question study defensive symbiosis is what determines long term stability effectiveness against diverse natural enemies. In this study, we combine genome transcriptome sequencing, symbiont transfection parasite protection experiments, toxin activity assays to examine evolution between Drosophila flies vertically transmitted Spiroplasma bacterial symbionts,...
Elongation factor-1α (EF-1α) and elongation factor-like (EFL) proteins are functionally homologous to one another, core components of the eukaryotic translation machinery. The patchy distribution two factor types across global phylogeny is suggestive a 'differential loss' hypothesis that assumes EF-1α EFL were present in most recent common ancestor eukaryotes followed by independent differential losses factors descendant lineages. To date, however, just diatom fungus have been found both...
Abstract Together with increasing environmental and anthropogenic pressures, pathogenic diseases are one of the important factors contributing to ongoing decline seagrass meadows worldwide; yet diversity ecology microorganisms acknowledged as parasites remain critically understudied. Here, we investigate phytomyxid (Rhizaria: Endomyxa: Phytomyxea) three different eelgrass ( Zostera spp.) species found in Northern hemisphere. We present molecular evidence that Plasmodiophora bicaudata , a...