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Review
. 2021 Apr 1;17(4):e1009362.
doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009362. eCollection 2021 Apr.

Now for something completely different: Prototheca, pathogenic algae

Christopher D Shave  1 , Linda Millyard  1 , Robin C May  1
Affiliations
Review

Now for something completely different: Prototheca, pathogenic algae

Christopher D Shave et al. PLoS Pathog. .
No abstract available

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Probable relationships between species/genotypes within the Prototheca/Helicosporidium/Auxenochlorella/Chlorella lineage.
Left—a consensus cladogram built from analyses using predominantly ribosomal RNA (small subunit, internal transcribed spacer region, and D1/D2 region of the large subunit) sequence data [–5]. Species names are defined by a mixture of assimilation profiles, growth conditions, and sequence data. Right–a cladogram built using a partial mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence [1]. Species names are defined by clustering and cytochrome b sequence similarity. Arrows between the trees indicate equivalent species, where renaming has occurred. All nodes shown are supported by bootstrap values greater than 70 in at least one analysis. Branch lengths are arbitrary. *Discovered recently and therefore not included in the cytochrome b analysis.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Possible infection cycle for Prototheca bovis.
An udder infection results in the presence of Prototheca cells in milk. These cells may be ingested by calves and excreted into the environment. Contaminated milk may also result in Prototheca cells being present on milking machinery, representing a more direct method of transmission. Reentry into an udder is likely through the teat orifice contacting contaminated surfaces. Created with BioRender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Jagielski T, Bakuła Z, Gawor J, Maciszewski K, Kusber WH, Dyląg M, et al.. The genus Prototheca (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) revisited: Implications from molecular taxonomic studies. Algal Res. 2019;43(March):101639.
    1. Suzuki S, Endoh R, Manabe RI, Ohkuma M, Hirakawa Y. Multiple losses of photosynthesis and convergent reductive genome evolution in the colourless green algae Prototheca. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):1–11. 10.1038/s41598-017-17765-5 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Jagielski T, Gawor J, Bakuła Z, Decewicz P, Maciszewski K, Karnkowska A. Cytb as a new genetic marker for differentiation of prototheca species. J Clin Microbiol. 2018;56(10):e00584–18. 10.1128/JCM.00584-18 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Masuda M, Hirose N, Ishikawa T, Ikawa Y, Nishimura K. Prototheca miyajii sp. nov., isolated from a patient with systemic protothecosis. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2016;66(3):1510–20. 10.1099/ijsem.0.000911 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kunthiphun S, Endoh R, Takashima M, Ohkuma M, Tanasupawat S, Savarajara A. Prototheca paracutis sp. nov., a novel oleaginous achlorophyllous microalga isolated from a mangrove forest. Mycoscience. 2019;60(3):165–9.

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