Protistology • 15 (1), 24–33 (2021) |
Symphony of minimalism: peculiar endosymbiosis of mycoplasmas and protists |
Innokentii E. Vishnyakov Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia | Submitted February 28, 2021 | Accepted March 26, 2021 | Summary The interaction of minimal biosystems, such as the smallest prokaryotic cells and the most simply arranged unicellular eukaryotic organisms, can become a very attractive model from both fundamental and applied points of view. This mini-review considers so far the only one known phenomenon of true endosymbiosis between some of the simplest prokaryotic cells capable of autonomous replication (Mycoplasma hominis and Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii), and a minimalistic unicellular obligate human parasite (Trichomonas vaginalis). The description of the T. vaginalis – M. hominis “Trojan horse” supports the speculation about the potential of protists as the probable underestimated natural reservoir for mycoplasmas – pathogens of plants and animals. Fantasizing about the creation of artificial endosymbionts on the platform of natural minimal cell models and the perspectives of their use hopefully will be a tempting bonus to the reader.
Key words: endosymbiosis, minimal biosystems, minimal cells, mycoplasma, natural reservoir, protists
Address for correspondence: Innokentii E. Vishnyakov. Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Cytology of Unicellular Organisms, Group of Molecular Cytology of Prokaryotes and Bacterial Invasion, Tikhoretsky Ave. 4, 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia; e-mail: innvish@incras.ru, innvish@gmail.com |
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