New Parabasalia symbionts Snyderella spp. and Daimonympha gen. nov. from South American Rugitermes termites and the parallel evolution of a cell with a rotating “head”

Abstract

Most Parabasalia are symbionts in the hindgut of lower (non-Termitidae) termites, where they widely assist in wood digestion. Here we describe new parabasalian species from two termite genera and investigate their phylogenetic positions using single-cell transcriptomics. Our analyses reveal several novel lineages of Parabasalia and provide insight into the evolutionary history of this important group of symbionts.

Javier del Campo

Group Leader

My research aims at understanding the global diversity and distribution of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbes employing curated phylogenetic frameworks focusing on novel environmental taxa.