A5007931921- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Amoebic Infections and Treatments
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Lysosomal Storage Disorders Research
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Genetic and Kidney Cyst Diseases
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease
- Plant Reproductive Biology
University of Alberta
2016-2025
Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre
2020-2025
Institute of Parasitology
2020-2025
University College London
2022-2025
Centre for Life
2020-2024
Women and Children’s Health Research Institute
2022-2024
Czech Academy of Sciences
2020-2024
University of Calgary
2005-2023
Kyungpook National University
2023
Natural History Museum
2005-2022
We describe the genome sequence of protist Trichomonas vaginalis , a sexually transmitted human pathogen. Repeats and transposable elements comprise about two-thirds ∼160-megabase genome, reflecting recent massive expansion genetic material. This expansion, in conjunction with shaping metabolic pathways that likely transpired through lateral gene transfer from bacteria, amplification specific families implicated pathogenesis phagocytosis host proteins may exemplify adaptations parasite...
Coccolithophores have influenced the global climate for over 200 million years. These marine phytoplankton can account 20 per cent of total carbon fixation in some systems. They form blooms that occupy hundreds thousands square kilometres and are distinguished by their elegantly sculpted calcium carbonate exoskeletons (coccoliths), rendering them visible from space. Although coccolithophores export organic matter calcite to sea floor, they also release CO2 calcification process. Hence, a...
Nearly all of eukaryotic diversity has been classified into 6 suprakingdom-level groups (supergroups) based on molecular and morphological/cell-biological evidence; these are Opisthokonta, Amoebozoa, Archaeplastida, Rhizaria, Chromalveolata, Excavata. However, phylogeny not provided clear evidence that either Chromalveolata or Excavata is monophyletic, nor it resolved the relationships among supergroups. To establish affinities Excavata, which contains parasites global importance organisms...
Cryptophyte and chlorarachniophyte algae are transitional forms in the widespread secondary endosymbiotic acquisition of photosynthesis by engulfment eukaryotic algae. Unlike most plastid-bearing algae, miniaturized versions endosymbiont nuclei (nucleomorphs) persist cryptophytes chlorarachniophytes. To determine why, to address other fundamental questions about eukaryote-eukaryote endosymbiosis, we sequenced nuclear genomes cryptophyte Guillardia theta Bigelowiella natans. Both have >21,000...
Adaptor protein (AP) complexes sort cargo into vesicles for transport from one membrane compartment of the cell to another. Four distinct AP have been identified, which are present in most eukaryotes. We report existence a fifth complex, AP-5. Tagged AP-5 localises late endosomal HeLa cells. does not associate with clathrin and is insensitive brefeldin A. Knocking down subunits interferes trafficking cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor causes form swollen structures emanating...
The eukaryotic phylum Apicomplexa encompasses thousands of obligate intracellular parasites humans and animals with immense socio-economic health impacts. We sequenced nuclear genomes Chromera velia Vitrella brassicaformis, free-living non-parasitic photosynthetic algae closely related to apicomplexans. Proteins from key metabolic pathways the endomembrane trafficking systems associated a lifestyle have been progressively non-randomly lost during adaptation parasitism. ancestor contained...
Lysosomal targeting of ubiquitylated endocytic cargo is mediated in part by the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) complexes, a system conserved between animals and fungi (Opisthokonta). Extensive comparative genomic analysis demonstrates that ESCRT factors are well across eukaryotic lineage complexes I, II, III III‐associated almost completely retained, indicating an early evolutionary origin. The conspicuous exception 0, which functions recognition cargo, restricted...
Abstract Background In membrane trafficking, the mechanisms ensuring vesicle fusion specificity remain to be fully elucidated. Early models proposed that was encoded entirely by SNARE proteins; more recent include contributions from Rab proteins, Syntaxin-binding (SM) proteins and tethering factors. Most information on trafficking derives an evolutionarily narrow sampling of model organisms. However, considering factors a wider diversity eukaryotes can provide both functional core systems...
Currently the shikimate pathway is reported as a metabolic feature of prokaryotes, ascomycete fungi, apicomplexans, and plants. The plant enzymes have similarities to prokaryote homologues are largely active in chloroplasts, suggesting ancestry from plastid progenitor genome. Toxoplasma gondii, which also possesses an alga-derived organelle, encodes with genes, including five-enzyme pentafunctional arom. These data suggests that arom either had ancient origin eukaryotes or was conveyed by...
The presence of a nucleus and other membrane-bounded intracellular compartments is the defining feature eukaryotic cells. Endosymbiosis accounts for origins mitochondria plastids, but evolutionary ancestry remaining cellular incompletely documented. Resolving history organelle-identity encoding proteins within endomembrane system necessity unraveling diversification endogenously-derived organelles. Comparative genomics reveals events after last common ancestor (LECA), resolution prior to...
The heterotetrameric AP and F-COPI complexes help to define the cellular map of modern eukaryotes. To search for related machinery, we developed a structure-based bioinformatics tool, identified core subunits TSET, 'missing link' between APs COPI. Studies in Dictyostelium indicate that TSET is heterohexamer, with two associated scaffolding proteins. non-essential Dictyostelium, but may act plasma membrane turnover, essentially identical recently described TPLATE complex, TPC. However,...
Photosynthetic euglenids are major contributors to fresh water ecosystems. Euglena gracilis in particular has noted metabolic flexibility, reflected by an ability thrive a range of harsh environments. E. been popular model organism and considerable biotechnological interest, but the absence gene catalogue hampered both basic research translational efforts. We report detailed transcriptome partial genome for Z1. The nuclear is estimated be around 500 Mb size, encodes over 36,000 proteins...
Blastocystis is the most prevalent eukaryotic microbe colonizing human gut, infecting approximately 1 billion individuals worldwide. Although has been linked to intestinal disorders, its pathogenicity remains controversial because carriers are asymptomatic. Here, genome sequence of subtype (ST) presented and compared previously published sequences for ST4 ST7. Despite a conserved core genes, there unexpected diversity between these STs in terms their sizes, guanine-cytosine (GC) content,...
Intracellular trafficking and protein sorting are mediated by various complexes, with the retromer complex being primarily involved in retrograde traffic from endosome or lysosome to Golgi complex. Here, comparative genomics, cell biology phylogenetics were used probe early evolution of its function. Retromer subunits Vps26, Vps29 Vps35 near universal, and, inference, was an ancient feature eukaryotic cells. Surprisingly, we found DSCR3, a Vps26 paralogue humans associated Down's syndrome,...