Parasites within the new phylogeny of eukaryotes.
In the past few years, molecular phylogenetic and cladistic analyses of the interrelationships of the living phyla have resulted in a radical reorganization of eukaryote groups. This reorganization has significance for parasitologists, in that it places as sister taxa some of the more speciose and highly parasitic phyla (nematodes and insects), reorganizes what is now recognized as paraphyletic sets of 'wormy taxa' as the Aschelmintha, and draws numerous bridges between different realms (plants, fungi and animals). This review attempts to explore the role of parasites within the phylogeny of eukaryotes. Extant described parasitic organisms are less common among the eukaryotes than is commonly admitted in the literature.
de Meeûs
Thierry
T
Centre d'Etudes sur le Polymorphisme des Microorganismes, Equipe E.S.S., UMR CNRS/IRD 9926, 911 Avenue d'Agropolis - B.P. 5045, 34032 Montpellier Cedex 01, France. demeeus@mpl.ird.fr
Renaud
François
F
D000818:Animals; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification*; D010802:Phylogeny