The genus Tetrahymena (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) probably represents the best studied ciliate genus. At present, more than forty species have been described. All are colorless, i.e. they do not harbor symbiotic algae, and as aerobes they need at least microaerobic habitats. Here, we present the morphological and molecular description of the first green representative, Tetrahymena utriculariae n. sp., living in symbiosis with endosymbiotic algae identified as Micractinium sp. (Chlorophyta). The full life cycle of the ciliate species is documented, including trophonts and theronts, conjugating cells, resting cysts and dividers. This species has been discovered in an exotic habitat, namely in traps of the carnivorous aquatic plant Utricularia reflexa (originating from Okavango Delta, Botswana). Green ciliates live as commensals of the plant in this anoxic habitat. Ciliates are bacterivorous, however, symbiosis with algae is needed to satisfy cell metabolism but also to gain oxygen from symbionts. When ciliates are cultivated outside their natural habitat under aerobic conditions and fed with saturating bacterial food, they gradually become aposymbiotic. Based on phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA and mitochondrial cox1 genes T. utriculariae forms a sister group to Tetrahymena thermophila.

• MeSH
• Tracheophyta parasitology   MeSH
• Chlorophyta parasitology   MeSH
• Ciliophora classification   metabolism   physiology   MeSH
• Ecology MeSH
• Ecosystem MeSH
• Phylogeny * MeSH
• Oxygen metabolism   MeSH
• Mitochondria genetics   MeSH
• Oligohymenophorea classification   MeSH
• DNA, Protozoan MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 18S genetics   MeSH
• Plants parasitology   MeSH
• Base Sequence MeSH
• Life Cycle Stages MeSH
• Symbiosis physiology   MeSH
• Tetrahymena thermophila classification   genetics   MeSH
• Tetrahymena classification   cytology   isolation & purification   metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH