| Anaeramoeba | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Metamonada |
| Phylum: | Anaeramoebae |
| Family: | Anaeramoebidae Táborský, Pánek & Čepička 2017 |
| Genus: | Anaeramoeba Táborský, Pánek & Čepička 2017 |
| Type species | |
| Anaeramoeba flamelloides Táborský, Pánek & Čepička 2017 | |
| Species | |
| |
Anaeramoeba is a free-living anaerobic eukaryotes, first described in 2017.
As the name implies,Anaeramoeba areanaerobicamoeboid organisms which form a fan-like shape similar to that ofFlamella. At least two species can also sometimes assumeflagellate forms; with either two or four flagella. They contain double-membrane boundorganelles calledhydrogenosomes, which is a type of mitochondria-related organelles (MROs) and assumed to be derived frommitochondria,[1] to perform metabolism in anaerobic environments. The hydrogenosomes inAnaeramoeba are closely associated with H2-consuming bacterialsymbionts, which are enveloped byAnaeramoeba host's membrane calledsymbiosome.[2]
Anaeramoeba specimens were first isolated in 2017, from shallow marine sediments around the world.[3] Despite the similarities toFlamella in both morphology and environment, genetic analyses found thatAnaeramoeba do not belong withinAmoebozoa.[3] Instead,Anaeramoeba represents a newly identifiedprotist belonging tometamonads, as a close relative toparabasalids.[1]
Anaeramoeba's symbiosome is a unique highly elaborate membrane-bound structure that houses their bacterial symbionts in close association with their hydrogenosomes that allow efficient metabolic syntrophy between the hosts and the symbionts.[2] InA. flamelloides BUSSELTON2, the symbionts are suggested to beDesulfobacteraceae, that uses the hydrogenosome products from the host, including H2, acetate and propionate,[2] together with sulfate that they acquire through deep membrane-pits of the symbiosome to the cell-surrounding environment, in their metabolic pathways.[2]
