Search results for "Mixotricha paradoxa"

Bacterial Ectosymbionts which Confer Motility: Mixotricha paradoxa from the Intestine of the Australian Termite Mastotermes darwiniensis

2005

Identification of the ectosymbiotic bacteria of Mixotricha paradoxa involved in movement symbiosis

2003

Mixotricha paradoxa, a trichomonad from the hindgut of the Australian termite Mastotermes darwiniensis Froggatt, is a rare example of a movement symbiosis between eukaryotic and prokaryotic microorganisms. The surface of Mixotricha paradoxa is covered with spirochaetes and a rod-shaped bacterium. The four flagella at the anterior end seem only to alter the direction of movement, while the ectosymbiotic spirochaetes propel the flagellate cells. Based on a 16S rDNA sequence analysis after a semi-specific PCR, and subsequent fluorescence in situ hybridization applying helper oligonucleotides and a denaturing step of the 16S rRNA, three different spirochaete clones could be clearly identified o…