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Cellular and nuclear morphological variability within a single species of the toxigenic dinoflagellate genus Gambierdiscus: Relationship to life-cycle processes

Bravo, Isabel ; Figueroa, Rosa LU and Fraga, Santiago (2014) In Harmful Algae 40. p.1-8
Abstract
Dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Gambierdiscus are the causative agent of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). This syndrome, which is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, has recently been reported also in temperate latitudes. Taxonomic studies of Gambierdiscus have yet to completely couple the morphological features of member species with their genetics. In this study, the cellular and nuclear morphology of a single strain of one species of Gambierdiscus was determined in cells grown under different culture conditions. The results showed a wide-ranging variability of cell sizes, together with a clear relationship between cell size and nuclear morphology. Thus, small cells were associated with round to oval or slightly... (More)
Dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Gambierdiscus are the causative agent of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). This syndrome, which is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, has recently been reported also in temperate latitudes. Taxonomic studies of Gambierdiscus have yet to completely couple the morphological features of member species with their genetics. In this study, the cellular and nuclear morphology of a single strain of one species of Gambierdiscus was determined in cells grown under different culture conditions. The results showed a wide-ranging variability of cell sizes, together with a clear relationship between cell size and nuclear morphology. Thus, small cells were associated with round to oval or slightly U-shaped nuclei and large cells with obviously U-shaped nuclei. Most cells exhibited the typical anterio-posteriorly compressed lenticular, shape of Gambierdiscus, with the exception of a few small globular-shaped specimens. In all cells, regardless of their size, the arrangement of the thecal plates was typical of lenticular Gambierdiscus. Dividing cells were consistently the largest. In these cells, nuclear morphology, karyokinesis, and cytokinesis were characterized. Cells underwent division only during the dark. period, thus demonstrating their spontaneous synchronized division. Cellular forms related to the sexual cycle were also present in the cultures and included gamete pairs and putative meiotic planozygotes. The effect of the culture medium was studied by means of principal component analyses, which showed a positive correlation between the medium used and nuclear size and shape but not cell size. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. (Less)
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author
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organization
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Gambierdiscus, Ciguatera fish poisoning, CFP, Benthic dinoflagellates, Harmful algae, Life cycle
in
Harmful Algae
volume
40
pages
1 - 8
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000346549000001
  • scopus:84918510619
ISSN
1878-1470
DOI
10.1016/j.hal.2014.09.009
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a3b1670e-c357-4af6-9eae-02eef70ecd0a (old id 4944668)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:34:16
date last changed
2022-04-20 03:24:09
@article{a3b1670e-c357-4af6-9eae-02eef70ecd0a,
  abstract     = {{Dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Gambierdiscus are the causative agent of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). This syndrome, which is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, has recently been reported also in temperate latitudes. Taxonomic studies of Gambierdiscus have yet to completely couple the morphological features of member species with their genetics. In this study, the cellular and nuclear morphology of a single strain of one species of Gambierdiscus was determined in cells grown under different culture conditions. The results showed a wide-ranging variability of cell sizes, together with a clear relationship between cell size and nuclear morphology. Thus, small cells were associated with round to oval or slightly U-shaped nuclei and large cells with obviously U-shaped nuclei. Most cells exhibited the typical anterio-posteriorly compressed lenticular, shape of Gambierdiscus, with the exception of a few small globular-shaped specimens. In all cells, regardless of their size, the arrangement of the thecal plates was typical of lenticular Gambierdiscus. Dividing cells were consistently the largest. In these cells, nuclear morphology, karyokinesis, and cytokinesis were characterized. Cells underwent division only during the dark. period, thus demonstrating their spontaneous synchronized division. Cellular forms related to the sexual cycle were also present in the cultures and included gamete pairs and putative meiotic planozygotes. The effect of the culture medium was studied by means of principal component analyses, which showed a positive correlation between the medium used and nuclear size and shape but not cell size. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.}},
  author       = {{Bravo, Isabel and Figueroa, Rosa and Fraga, Santiago}},
  issn         = {{1878-1470}},
  keywords     = {{Gambierdiscus; Ciguatera fish poisoning; CFP; Benthic dinoflagellates; Harmful algae; Life cycle}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1--8}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Harmful Algae}},
  title        = {{Cellular and nuclear morphological variability within a single species of the toxigenic dinoflagellate genus Gambierdiscus: Relationship to life-cycle processes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2014.09.009}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.hal.2014.09.009}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}