Blastocladian parasites of invertebrates

Evidence for the involvement of surface carbohydrates in the recognition of Haematococcus pluvialis by the parasitic blastoclad Paraphysoderma sedebokerensis

“…Based on molecular rRNA phylogeny and ultrastructural characters, the Blastocladiales was recently reclassified from the Chytridiomycota to a new phylum, the Blastocladiomycota (Porter et al 2011). Some members of this phylum are saprotrophs; other members are parasites of fungi, algae, plants, and invertebrates (Mitchell & Deacon 1986;Deacon & Saxena 1997;James et al 2006;Gleason et al 2010).…”

14. Zoosporic parasites of freshwater invertebrates

“…Most of the zoosporic true fungal parasites of freshwater invertebrates belong to the Blastocladiomycota (order Blastocladiales). Gleason et al (2010) have listed six blastocladialean genera with invertebrate hosts that include mosquitoes and other dipteran larvae, rotifers, nematodes, crustaceans and tardigrades. Species of zoosporic true fungi which infect Aschelminthes (rotifers and nematodes), insects and protists have been reviewed by Dick (2003), along with oomycete parasites.…”

“…Within the zoosporic true fungi, these dipteran parasites occur in the order Blastocladiales (Gleason et al 2010). Larval blackflies are considered to be model organisms for studying symbiotic associations because they are hosts to several symbionts from a range of phyla and they are also ubiquitous in freshwater streams and rivers (Kim and Alder 2005).…”

Surveying the biodiversity of the Cryptomycota using a targeted PCR approach

“…Fungi have a diversity of ecological roles and, therefore, cataloging their true biodiversity will be essential for understanding ecosystem functioning. Many undescribed fungi are likely to be microscopic and among the early-diverging branches, because these are enriched for obligately biotrophic species, or species with complex growth requirements such as the anaerobic rumen chytrids and the pathogens of invertebrates (Gleason et al, 2010). The difficulty of culturing these obligate parasites greatly limits our ability to research and observe them relative to other fungi.…”