title: Cyclidium porcatum n. sp.: a Free-living anaerobic scuticociliate containing a stable complex of hydrogenosomes, eubacteria and archaeobacteria.
abstract: A new ciliate species (Cyclidium porcatum) is the first freshwater anaerobic scuticociliate to be cultured and described. It contains a unique tripartite structure consisting of hydrogenosomes (confirmed by cytochemical staining for hydrogenase), interspersed with methanogens (confirmed by auto fluorescence and in situ hybridisation with an archaeobacterial 16S rRNA-specific probe) and unidentified eubacteria (confirmed with a eubacterial 16S rRNA-specific probe). This complex structure is stable and persistent, indicating that it is an anaerobic symbiotic consortium incorporating three functional partners.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Freshwater Ecology, Windermere Laboratory, The Ferry House, Ambleside, Cumbria.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Finlay
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Guhl
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Embley