Free-living bodonids and derived parasitic trypanosomatids: but what lies in between?
Inclusion of suitable out-group taxa has been of particular importance in accurate reconstruction of evolutionary relationships among trypanosomatids. However, the persistence of researchers focusing on insect trypansomatids appears to have paid off, and a novel, apparently-monoxenous parasite isolated from mosquitoes has recently been characterised. Critically, phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses robustly position this new species, Paratrypanosoma confusum, between free-living bodonid out-group taxa and other trypanosomatids, thereby overcoming some of the issues associated with previously utilised out-groups.
Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK. Electronic address: J.R.Stevens@exeter.ac.uk.
Jamie R
JR
Stevens
D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology; D016830:Kinetoplastida / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity; D014351:Trypanosomatina / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
Paratrypanosoma confusum; bodonid; monoxenous; trypanosomatid