@article {171, title = {Cuticular structure of three Bunonema species and first description of the male of B. penardi Stefanski, 1914 (Nematoda : Bunonematidae)}, journal = {NematologyNematology}, volume = {6}, year = {2004}, note = {Times Cited: 0 Article English Borgonie, G State Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Nematol Sect, KL Ledeganckstr 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 38 889AI BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS PLANTIJNSTRAAT 2, P O BOX 9000, 2300 PA LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS LEIDEN Part 4}, pages = {473-484}, abstract = {This study reanalyses some morphological and ultrastructural aspects of three Bunonema species. Specimens of B. penardi, B. hessi and B.franzi were studied using light microscopy and SEM. Bunonema franzi was also studied by TEM. The male of B. penardi is described, this being the first record of males in the genus Bunonema. Additional morphometric data on the females of this species are presented. SEM pictures show details of the deviant amphid position within the Bunonematidae. In contrast to earlier reports, our TEM results show that the evagination of the cuticle in ridges and tubercles is due to the thickening of the median zone of the cuticle. Ultrastructural details of the species-specific polygonal mesh network on the right body side are revealed. The rods that constitute this network lie above the epicuticle and are therefore extracuticular}, keywords = {BODY WALL, cuticle, FINE-STRUCTURE, GENUS, light microscopy, microscopy, morphology, Nematoda, PROTEIN, RHABDITIDA, SEM, STOMA, TEM, tubercle, ultrastructure, YOLK}, isbn = {1388-5545}, author = {Van Gansbeke, R. and Bert, W. and Govaerts, A. and Claeys, M. and Van Driessche, R. and Manhout, J. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {172, title = {Cuticular structure of three Bunonema species and first description of the male of B-penardi Stefanski, 1914 (Nematoda : Bunonematidae)}, journal = {NematologyNematology}, volume = {6}, year = {2004}, note = {Van Gansbeke, R Bert, W Govaerts, A Claeys, M Van Driessche, R Manhout, J Borgonie, GPart 4}, pages = {473-484}, abstract = {This study reanalyses some morphological and ultrastructural aspects of three Bunonema species. Specimens of B. penardi, B. hessi and B.franzi were studied using light microscopy and SEM. Bunonema franzi was also studied by TEM. The male of B. penardi is described, this being the first record of males in the genus Bunonema. Additional morphometric data on the females of this species are presented. SEM pictures show details of the deviant amphid position within the Bunonematidae. In contrast to earlier reports, our TEM results show that the evagination of the cuticle in ridges and tubercles is due to the thickening of the median zone of the cuticle. Ultrastructural details of the species-specific polygonal mesh network on the right body side are revealed. The rods that constitute this network lie above the epicuticle and are therefore extracuticular.}, isbn = {1388-5545}, author = {Van Gansbeke, R. and Bert, W. and Govaerts, A. and Claeys, M. and Van Driessche, R. and Manhout, J. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {187, title = {Comparative morpho-anatomical studies of the female gonoduct within the Pratylenchidae (Nematoda : Tylenchina)}, journal = {NematologyNematology}, volume = {5}, year = {2003}, note = {Times Cited: 2 Article English Bert, W State Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Ledeganckstr 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 33 712QZ BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS PLANTIJNSTRAAT 2, P O BOX 9000, 2300 PA LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS LEIDEN Part 2}, pages = {293-306}, abstract = {The cellular morphology of the gonoduct of six Pratylenchus species, three Pratylenchoides species, Radopholus similis, Zygorylenchus guevarai, Hirschmanniella loofi and Nacobbus aberrans was revealed by dissection and light microscopy. Except for Nacobbus aberrans, all studied species show an overall similarity in gonoduct construction, i.e., an ovary often ending with a ring of cells, an oviduct formed from two rows of four cells and a 12-celled spermatheca followed by a tricolumella containing 16-24 cells. Pratylenchoides magnicauda and Z guevarai did not diverge from the other Pratylenchidae in this respect, although their gonoduct differs from that of Amplimerlinius and Meloidogyne, both formerly postulated as related genera. The spermatheca structure observed in N. aberrans has not been reported elsewhere in the Nematoda, although the uterus is similar to that reported within the Heteroderinae and Meloidogyninae and the uterus comprises more than 300 cells, enlarging from a tricolumella to a polycolumella. Transmission electron microscopy of Z guevarai revealed details of the cytoplasmatic contact between epithelial cells and the germ cells; a finger-like ovarian wall cell extension was found penetrating the oocyte. The oviduct lacks a preformed lumen and comprises eight cells with highly plicated cell membranes. The spermatheca is constructed from flattened wall cells and is followed by columnar uterus cells where evidence of eggshell formation was demonstrated}, keywords = {CELLS, electron microscopy, ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY, GENUS, gonad, gonoduct, HETERODERINAE, Hirschmanniella, LESION NEMATODE, light microscopy, MELOIDOGYNE, microscopy, morphology, Nacobbus, Nematoda, PENETRANS NEMATA, Pratylenchoides, Pratylenchus, REPRODUCTIVE-SYSTEM, SPERMATHECA, TEM, ultrastructure, Zygotylenchus}, isbn = {1388-5545}, author = {Bert, W. and Van Gansbeke, R. and Claeys, M. and Geraert, E. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {149, title = {The somatic female gonad of Cephalobidae (Nematoda): cellular architecture and associated function}, journal = {NematologyNematology}, volume = {9}, year = {2007}, note = {Times Cited: 0 Article English Bert, W Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Nematol Unit, Ledeganckstr 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 46 197FO BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS PLANTIJNSTRAAT 2, P O BOX 9000, 2300 PA LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS LEIDEN Part 2}, pages = {285-297}, abstract = {The female reproductive system of the free-living nematode family Cephalobidae is examined by means of differential interference contrast, scanning electron and fluorescent microscopy. The model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the predatory nematode Prionchulus punctatus are also included in this study; the former mainly to test our results with the very detailed knowledge of this model organism, the latter to provide a representative of the more distantly related Enoplea. In this comparative approach, the analysed gonad structures are discussed with respect to their functional and phylogenetic significance. The general cellular composition of the cephalobid gonad - namely an oviduct comprising two rows of four cells, a distinctly offset spermatheca consisting of 8-16 cells, and a uterus composed of distinct cell rows - differs from all known Nematoda except that of the plant-parasitic Tylenchomorpha. Despite the striking evolutionary conservation of the cellular architecture of the cephalobid gonad there is a complex subcellular specialisation, namely a significant and functionally relevant variation in myofilament organisation, both among Cephalobidae and between major groups of nematodes. We demonstrate the presence of microfilaments that vary in pattern among species and that may play an important role in egg propulsion. The phenomenon of endotokia matricida, in which eggs do not leave the female body, is found to be associated with a massive rupture of the cytoskeleton in the uterus wall. The complexity of the myofibril structure and the associated potential to propagate oocytes actively cannot be solely explained by differences in phylogenetic history, but is also linked to body diameter. In the larger Acrobeloides maximus, the proximal end of the ovary sheath is adorned with 12 distinct longitudinal bands, antibody binding positively for paramyosin, while in the smaller Cephalobus cubaensis myofilament organisation is at random}, keywords = {Acrobeloides, Caenorhabditis, Caenorhabditis elegans, caenorhabditis-elegans, CALIFORNIA, CELLS, CEPHALOBIDAE, Cephalobus, Chiloplacus, cytoskeleton, Evolution, FAMILY, gonad, gonoduct, HERMAPHRODITE, LINEAGES, microscopy, MODEL, Nematoda, NEMATODE, nematodes, paramyosin, PHYLOGENETIC SIGNIFICANCE, Prionchulus, propulsion, REDESCRIPTION, REPRODUCTIVE-SYSTEM, SPERMATHECA, THORNE, TYLENCHIDA, Zeldia}, isbn = {1388-5545}, author = {Bert, W. and Vangestel, S. and Houthoofd, W. and Van Gansbeke, R. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {150, title = {Nematode communities of small farmland ponds}, journal = {HydrobiologiaHydrobiologia}, volume = {583}, year = {2007}, note = {Times Cited: 0 Article English Bert, W Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Ledeganckstr 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 58 152JQ SPRINGER VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS DORDRECHT}, pages = {91-105}, abstract = {The nematofauna of 14 farmland ponds, selected according to a gradient of surrounding agricultural land-use intensity, from five regions in North-West of Belgium were studied. The total nematode density (9-411 ind./10 cm(2) per pond), and especially the number of species (4-12 species per pond) was especially low in these ponds. In total, 17 genera of free-living benthic nematodes, belonging to 15 families, are identified. Tobrilus gracilis and Eumonhystera filiformis were the most common species and were found in 13 and 12 of the 14 sampled ponds, respectively. The genera Tobrilus and Eumonhystera jointly comprise 77\% of the total nematofauna. Consequently, the investigated water bodies were dominated by deposit feeding Monhysteridae and/or by chewing Tobrilidae. Diplogasteridae and Rhabditidae, normally related with eutrophic habitats, were almost absent. In order to explain the variation of total density, diversity, feeding-types composition and the individual density of the six most important species within ponds as well, sets of environmental variables were statistically selected. It was demonstrated that morphologically very similar species can show highly different ecological properties. The presence of a substantial mud layer and of an overall high level of eutrophication as well as the presence of possibly associated anaerobic conditions are put forward as the main factors explaining the observed low density and diversity. Total phosphate concentration and sediment characteristics seem to be the most important variables to explain the nematode community structure. However, a clear pattern of environmental variables, agricultural land use and nematode assemblages was not observed}, keywords = {BENTHIC NEMATODES, diversity, ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS, FAMILY, FREE-LIVING NEMATODES, freshwater, LIFE-HISTORY, MATURITY INDEX, meiofauna, NATIONAL-PARK BERCHTESGADEN, Nematoda, NEMATODE, nematodes, OLIGOTROPHIC LAKE KONIGSSEE, pool, SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION, SOUTHWEST GERMANY, SUBMOUNTAIN CARBONATE STREAM, water body}, isbn = {0018-8158}, author = {Bert, W. and Messiaen, M. and Hendrickx, F. and Manhout, J. and De Bie, T. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {153, title = {Different roads to form the same gut in nematodes}, journal = {Evolution \& DevelopmentEvolution \& Development}, volume = {8}, number = {4}, year = {2006}, note = {Times Cited: 1 Article English Borgonie, G Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, KL Ledeganckstr 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 40 058HC BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 9600 GARSINGTON RD, OXFORD OX4 2DQ, OXON, ENGLAND OXFORD}, pages = {362-369}, abstract = {The morphogenesis of a gut from the endoderm has been well studied among the animal kingdom and is also well described in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. But are there other ways to build a nematode intestine? Sulston et al. (1983) described a different intestinal cell lineage in the species Panagrellus redivivus and Turbatrix aceti that includes two programmed cell deaths. However, no details are known about the three-dimensional (3D) configuration and the role of the cell deaths. Here, we describe the intestinal morphogenesis of P. redivivus and five other nematode species by means of four-dimensional microscopy, which gives us a 3D representation of gut formation at the cellular level. The morphological pathway of gut formation is highly conserved among these distantly related species. However, we found the P. redivivus pattern in another related species Halicephalobus gingivalis. In this pattern, the intestinal precursors migrate inward in concert with the mesoderm precursors. Based on the observations, we propose a hypothesis that could explain the differences. The positions of the mesoderm precursors create a possible spatial constraint, by which the establishment of bilateral symmetry in the intestine is delayed. This symmetry is corrected by cell migrations; other cells are eliminated and compensated by supplementary cell divisions. This pattern leads to the same result as in the other nematodes: a bilateral symmetrical intestine with nine rings. This illustrates how conserved body plans can be achieved by different developmental mechanisms}, keywords = {C-ELEGANS, Caenorhabditis, Caenorhabditis elegans, caenorhabditis-elegans, CELLS, EMBRYOGENESIS, EMBRYONIC-CELL LINEAGE, Evolution, FATE, INDUCTION, microscopy, MODEL, NEMATODE, nematodes, SPECIFICATION}, isbn = {1520-541X}, author = {Houthoofd, W. and Willems, M. and Vangestel, S. and Mertens, C. and Bert, W. and Borgonie, G.} } @proceedings {157, title = {Tylenchina (Nematoda) phylogeny: Evidence from molecules and gonoduct morphology}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, year = {2006}, note = {Times Cited: 0 Meeting Abstract English Cited References Count: 0 086KM SOC NEMATOLOGISTS}, pages = {262-263}, keywords = {gonoduct, morphology, Nematoda, PHYLOGENIES, phylogeny}, isbn = {0022-300X}, author = {Bert, W. and Weekers, P. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {158, title = {Evolutionary loss of parasitism by nematodes? Discovery of a free-living filaroid nematode}, journal = {Journal of ParasitologyJournal of Parasitology}, volume = {92}, number = {3}, year = {2006}, note = {Times Cited: 2 Article English Bert, W Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Ledeganckstr 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 15 065CD AMER SOC PARASITOLOGISTS 810 EAST 10TH STREET, LAWRENCE, KS 66044 USA LAWRENCE}, pages = {645-647}, abstract = {A cattle-drinking pool in nature reserve "Zwin" on the Belgian coast contained free-living third-stage infective filaroid juveniles. These juveniles clearly differ morphologically from all known nematodes. Morphological and molecular analyses indicate a position within the Filaroidea. The aberrant biology of this nematode, namely. a free-living stage in ail aquatic environment. is unknown within this superfamily. and the evolution of the parasitic phenotype to a free-living state is generally thought to be unlikely. However, the obtained placement in the small subunit molecular phylogenetic tree suggests that this free-living stage is most likely a secondary adaptation. It is reasonable to assert that nematodes with complex life cycles still have the genetic potential for a reversion from parasitism to a (partial) free-living stage}, keywords = {Evolution, NEMATODE, nematodes, pool, SEQUENCE}, isbn = {0022-3395}, author = {Bert, W. and Messiaen, M. and Manhout, J. and Houthoofd, W. and Borgonie, G.} } @conference {159, title = {Nematode communities of small pools in an agricultural landscape}, booktitle = {Journal of NematologyJournal of Nematology}, volume = {38}, number = {2}, year = {2006}, note = {Times Cited: 0 Meeting Abstract English Cited References Count: 0 086KM SOC NEMATOLOGISTS}, pages = {262-262}, keywords = {NEMATODE, pool}, isbn = {0022-300X}, author = {Bert, W. and Messiaen, M. and Hendrickx, F. and Manhout, J. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {160, title = {The comparative cellular architecture of the female gonoduct among Tylenchoidea (Nematoda : Tylenchina)}, journal = {Journal of NematologyJournal of Nematology}, volume = {38}, number = {3}, year = {2006}, note = {Times Cited: 1 Article English Bert, W Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Nematol Unit, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 30 115AX SOC NEMATOLOGISTS}, pages = {362-375}, abstract = {The cellular architecture of the female gonoduct of 68 nematode populations representing 42 species belonging to Tylenchidae, Belonolaimidae, Hoplolaimidae and Meloinema is shown to have an overall similarity in cellular gonoduct structure. The oviduct consists of two rows of four cells; the spermatheca is comprised of 10 to 20 cells, and the uterus cells, except in the case of Psilenchus, are arranged in four (Tylenchidae) or three (Belonolaimidae, Hoplolaimidae and Meloinema) regular rows. Although the genus Meloinema is classified within Meloidogynidae, its spermatheca is clearly hoplolaimid-like and lacks the spherical shape with lobe-like protruding cells typical of Meloidogyne. Detailed morphology of expelled gonoducts may provide a valuable character set in phylogenctic analysis, and the cellular morphology of the spermatheca appears to be a distinguishing feature at species level, especially in the genera Tylenchus and Geocenamus. Ultrastructural data on the oviduct-spermatheca region of Meloidogvne incognita complement light-microscopic (LM) results. The combination of LM of expelled organs and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on selected sections is put for-ward as a powerful tool to combine three-dimensional knowledge with ultrastructural detail}, keywords = {analysis, Belonolaimidae, CELLS, electron microscopy, ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY, Evolution, GENITAL SYSTEM, GENUS, gonoduct, Hoplolaimidae, MELOIDOGYNE, Meloinema, microscopy, morphology, Nematoda, NEMATODE, ORDER TYLENCHIDA, POPULATIONS, REPRODUCTIVE-SYSTEM, SPERMATHECA, taxonomy, TEM, Tylenchidae, ultrastructure}, isbn = {0022-300X}, author = {Bert, W. and Claeys, M. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {161, title = {The comparative cellular architecture of the female gonoduct among Tylenchoidea (Nematoda : Tylenchina)}, journal = {Journal of NematologyJournal of Nematology}, volume = {38}, number = {3}, year = {2006}, note = {Bert, W. Claeys, M. Borgonie, G.}, month = {Sep}, pages = {362-375}, abstract = {The cellular architecture of the female gonoduct of 68 nematode populations representing 42 species belonging to Tylenchidae, Belonolaimidae, Hoplolaimidae and Meloinema is shown to have an overall similarity in cellular gonoduct structure. The oviduct consists of two rows of four cells; the spermatheca is comprised of 10 to 20 cells, and the uterus cells, except in the case of Psilenchus, are arranged in four (Tylenchidae) or three (Belonolaimidae, Hoplolaimidae and Meloinema) regular rows. Although the genus Meloinema is classified within Meloidogynidae, its spermatheca is clearly hoplolaimid-like and lacks the spherical shape with lobe-like protruding cells typical of Meloidogyne. Detailed morphology of expelled gonoducts may provide a valuable character set in phylogenctic analysis, and the cellular morphology of the spermatheca appears to be a distinguishing feature at species level, especially in the genera Tylenchus and Geocenamus. Ultrastructural data on the oviduct-spermatheca region of Meloidogvne incognita complement light-microscopic (LM) results. The combination of LM of expelled organs and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on selected sections is put for-ward as a powerful tool to combine three-dimensional knowledge with ultrastructural detail.}, isbn = {0022-300X}, author = {Bert, W. and Claeys, M. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {139, title = {Molecular phylogeny of the Tylenchina and evolution of the female gonoduct (Nematoda : Rhabditida)}, journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and EvolutionMolecular Phylogenetics and Evolution}, volume = {48}, number = {2}, year = {2008}, note = {Times Cited: 1 Article English Bert, W Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Nematol Sect, Ledeganckstr 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 82 339CQ ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE 525 B ST, STE 1900, SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-4495 USA SAN DIEGO}, pages = {728-744}, abstract = {Tylenchina are a morphologically and functionally diverse group of nematode species that range from free-living bacteriovores, over transitory grazing root-hair feeders to highly specialized plant-parasites with complex host associations. We performed phylogenetic analyses of small subunit rDNA sequences from 97 species including an analysis that account for the RNA secondary structure in the models of evolution. The present study confirms the sister relationship of the bacteriovore Cephalobiclae with the predominantly plant-parasitic Tylenchomorpha. All analyses appoint the fungal-feeding Aphelenchidae and Aphelenchoididae as being polyphyletic but the morphology based hypothesis of their monophyly could not be significantly rejected. Within the Tylenchomorpha, the families that exclusively parasitize higher plants are joined in a single clade. However, only the monophyletic position of the (super)families Hoplolaimidae and Criconematoidea were supported; Anguinidae, Tylenchidae, Belonolaimidae and Pratylenchidae appeared to be paraphyletic or polyphyletic. Parsimony and likelihood ancestral state reconstruction revealed that burrowing endoparasitism and sedentary encloparasitism each evolved, respectively, at least six and at least three times independently, mostly from migratory ectoparasitic ancestors. Only root-knot nematodes have evolved from burrowing endoparasitic nematodes. Traditional classifications are partially misled by this convergent evolution of feeding type and associated morphology. Contrastingly, mapping attributes of the gonoduct cellular architecture, including newly obtained data of 18 species belonging to the Aphelenchoidea, Criconematoidea, Anguinidae and Panagrolaimidae, revealed a broad congruence of the gonoduct characters and the molecular phylogenetic hypothesis. Yet, the presence of an offset spermatheca and proliferation of uterus cells has evolved multiple times, the latter associated with derived endoparasitic feeding specialization and resulting reproduction mode. Ancestral state reconstruction further revealed that the gonoduct of the morphologically and ecologically dissimilar tylenchid and cephalobid nematodes evolved from a common ancestor. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved}, keywords = {analysis, ANCESTRAL CHARACTER STATES, ancestral state reconstruction, Bayesian inference, Belgium, Belonolaimidae, caenorhabditis-elegans, CELLS, CEPHALOBINA NEMATODA, CLASSIFICATION, D2-D3 EXPANSION SEGMENTS, DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, doublet model, EMBRYONIC CELL LINEAGES, Evolution, FAMILY, feeding type, gonad, gonoduct, Hoplolaimidae, long branch attraction, MODEL, MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY, morphology, Nematoda, NEMATODE, nematodes, parsimony, PHYLOGENIES, phylogeny, plant-parasitic nematodes, RHABDITIDA, ribosomal DNA, RIBOSOMAL-RNA, secondary structure model, SEQUENCE, SEQUENCES, SPERMATHECA, TYLENCHIDA, Tylenchidae, TYLENCHOIDEA NEMATODA}, isbn = {1055-7903}, author = {Bert, W. and Leliaert, F. and Vierstraete, A. R. and Vanfleteren, J. R. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {141, title = {An improved molecular phylogeny of the Nematoda with special emphasis on marine taxa}, journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and EvolutionMolecular Phylogenetics and Evolution}, volume = {42}, number = {3}, year = {2007}, note = {Times Cited: 2 Review English Meldal, B. H. M Univ Cambridge, Hutchison MRC Res Ctr, Dept Oncol, Addenbrookes Hosp, Hills Rd, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, England Cited References Count: 102 157KB ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE 525 B ST, STE 1900, SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-4495 USA SAN DIEGO}, pages = {622-636}, abstract = {Phylogenetic reconstructions of relations within the phylum Nematoda are inherently difficult but have been advanced with the introduction of large-scale molecular-based techniques. However, the most recent revisions were heavily biased towards terrestrial and parasitic species and greater representation of clades containing marine species (e.g. Araeolaimida, Chromadorida, Desmodorida, Desmoscolecida, Enoplida, and Monhysterida) is needed for accurate coverage of known taxonomic diversity. We now add small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequences for 100 previously un-sequenced species of nematodes, including 46 marine taxa. SSU rDNA sequences for > 200 taxa have been analysed based on Bayesian inference and LogDet-transformed distances. The resulting phylogenies provide support for (i) the re-classification of the Secernentea as the order Rhabditida that derived from a common ancestor of chromadorean orders Araeolaimida, Chromadorida, Desmodorida, Desmoscolecida, and Monhysterida and (ii) the position of Bunonema close to the Diplogasteroidea in the Rhabditina. Other, previously controversial relationships can now be resolved more clearly: (a) Alaimus, Campydora, and Trischistoma belong in the Enoplida, (b) Isolaimium is placed basally to a big clade containing the Axonolaimidae, Plectidae, and Rhabditida, (c) Xyzzors belongs in the Desmodoridae, (d) Comesomatidae and Cyartonema belongs in the Monhysterida, (e) Globodera belongs in the Hoplolaimidae and (0 Paratylenchus dianeae belongs in the Criconematoidea. However, the SSU gene did not provide significant support for the class Chromadoria or clear evidence for the relationship between the three classes, Enoplia, Dorylaimia, and Chromadoria. Furthermore, across the whole phylum, the phylogenetically informative characters of the SSU gene are not informative in a parsimony analysis, highlighting the short-comings of the parsimony method for large-scale phylogenetic modelling. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved}, keywords = {Adenophorea, analysis, Bayesian inference, BAYESIAN-INFERENCE, Chromadorea, CLASSIFICATION, DNA, DORYLAIMIDA, Enoplea, Evolution, FOSSIL EVIDENCE, Globodera, Hoplolaimidae, LogDet transformation, marine nematodes, MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA, N-SP, Nematoda, NEMATODE, nematodes, parsimony, phylogenetic reconstruction, PHYLOGENIES, phylogeny, PHYLUM NEMATODA, RHABDITIDA, RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE, Secernentea, SEQUENCES, SSU rDNA, systematics, taxonomy}, isbn = {1055-7903}, author = {Meldal, B. H. M. and Debenham, N. J. and De Ley, P. and De Ley, I. T. and Vanfleteren, J. R. and Vierstraete, A. R. and Bert, W. and Borgonie, G. and Moens, T. and Tyler, P. A. and Austen, M. C. and Blaxter, M. L. and Rogers, A. D. and Lambshead, P. J. D.} } @article {128, title = {Nematode assemblages in a nature reserve with historical pollution}, journal = {Belgian Journal of ZoologyBelgian Journal of Zoology}, volume = {139}, number = {1}, year = {2009}, note = {Bert, Wim Manhout, Joeri Van Colen, Carl Borgonie, Gaetan Decraemer, Wilfrida}, month = {Jan}, pages = {3-14}, abstract = {Nematodes, and especially nematode communities, have significant potential as bio-indicators. The present study aimed to assess thee nematode community structure of several sites with different historical pollution Long-term polluted municipal waste-, tar- and sludge- sites were compared with less disturbed annex sites At each site heavy metal and PAHs concentrations were measured together with soil texture classes. pH and total organic matter Identification of three hundred nematodes at each location resulted in the discrimination of 63 genera from 32 different families of which the Cephalobidae. Belonolaimidae, Tylenchidae, Hoplolaimidae, Belonolaimidae and Plectidae were the most abundant families The sampling sites harbour significantly different nematode communities and significant differences of life-strategy-related parameters (cp-groups, MI Indexes) were observed. The significant augmentation of the proportion of the cp 2 nematodes in historically-polluted sites was especially informative. Omitting the cp 1 group from the MI (=MI2-5) better reflects putative historical pollution-induced community changes However, the current study did not reveal significant relationships between historical pollution and the feeding type composition, or the Shannon-Wiener diversity The observed results are critically assessed in the light of possible flaws such as sampling and analyzing limitations.}, isbn = {0777-6276}, author = {Bert, W. and Manhout, J. and Van Colen, C. and Borgonie, G. and Decraemer, W.} } @article {132, title = {Assessment of the configuration of the posterior cells of the nematode embryo as potential phylogenetic marker}, journal = {Russian Journal of NematologyRussian Journal of Nematology}, volume = {16}, number = {2}, year = {2008}, note = {Times Cited: 0 Article English Vangestel, S Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Nematol Sect, KL Ledeganckstr 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 55 383BP MYLNEFIELD RESEARCH SERVICES INVERGOWRIE, DUNDEE DD2 5DA, SCOTLAND DUNDEE}, pages = {107-120}, abstract = {We have reconstructed the evolutionary history of an early developmental character by mapping the configuration of the posterior cells in the early embryo onto the SSU-based molecular phylogeny of Holterman (2006). We have analyzed the early embryonic development of 19 species, complemented with 20 species from the literature, covering representatives in each clade. We show that the Caenorhabditis elegans configuration, found in most species in clade III-X, is the ancestral state for these clades. alternative configurations arose inependently in clade IX, (Diploscapter coronatus), X (Halicephalobus gingivalis), XI (all investigated species) and XII (Meloidogyne incognita). A variable configuration of the posterior cells arose at least twice independently during nematode evolution, once in clade IX (D. coronatus) and once in an ancestor, shared by clade XI and XII and thus can be used as a phylogenetic marker to delineate these clades. Statistical tests based on our data-set show that the presence of a variable configuration is related to developmental tempo and egg shape}, keywords = {Belgium, C-ELEGANS EMBRYOS, Caenorhabditis, Caenorhabditis elegans, caenorhabditis-elegans, CELLS, CLEAVAGE, EARLY EMBRYOGENESIS, embryology, ENOPLIDA, Evolution, GUT, LINEAGE, MELOIDOGYNE, MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY, Nematoda, NEMATODE, phylogenetic marker, PHYLOGENIES, phylogeny, spatial configuration, SPECIFICATION}, isbn = {0869-6918}, author = {Vangestel, S. and Houthoofd, W. and Bert, W. and Vanholme, B. and Calderon-Urrea, A. and Willems, M. and Artois, T. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {133, title = {The early embryonic development of the satellite organism Pristionchus pacificus: differences and similarities with Caenorhabditis elegans}, journal = {NematologyNematology}, volume = {10}, year = {2008}, note = {Times Cited: 1 Article English Borgonie, G Univ Ghent, Dept Biol, Nematol Sect, KL Ledeganckstr 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Cited References Count: 47 293NC BRILL ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS PLANTIJNSTRAAT 2, P O BOX 9000, 2300 PA LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS LEIDEN Part 3}, pages = {301-312}, abstract = {As a comparative counterpart for the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, the nematode Pristionchus pacificus was established as a satellite organism to study developmental processes. However, these studies mainly focused on post-embryonic development and little is known about the early embryonic development. Using 4D microscopy we reconstructed the early embryonic cell lineage of 12 individuals of P. pacificus. By analysing several parameters of early development, including the division sequence, the spatial arrangement of blastomeres, the cell cycle patterns of the AB lineage and cell-cell contacts in different cell stages of the embryo, it was shown that the early embryonic development is nearly identical to C. elegans. Known cell-cell contacts necessary for induction of blastomere fates in C. elegans are also present in P pacificus. Thus, the spatio-temporal conditions that would allow possible homologous inductions are present. However, at least one model for blastomere specification seems not to apply to P pacificus since the third division in the AB lineage differs from that of C elegans. Furthermore, naturally occurring variability of early development was demonstrated, which is clearly permitted since there seems to be no influence on further development into an adult worm}, keywords = {4D microscopy, Belgium, C-ELEGANS, Caenorhabditis, Caenorhabditis elegans, caenorhabditis-elegans, cell lineage, CELL-CELL INTERACTIONS, development, EARLY EMBRYOGENESIS, EMBRYOGENESIS, Evolution, FATE, INDUCTION, LINEAGE, microscopy, MODEL, NEMATODE, neodiplogastridae, PATTERN-FORMATION, PHYLOGENETIC IMPLICATIONS, SEQUENCE, SPECIFICATION, VULVA DEVELOPMENT}, isbn = {1388-5545}, author = {Vangestel, S. and Houthoofd, W. and Bert, W. and Borgonie, G.} } @article {82, title = {Nematoda from the terrestrial deep subsurface of South Africa}, journal = {NatureNature}, volume = {474}, number = {7349}, year = {2011}, note = {Borgonie, G. Garcia-Moyano, A. Litthauer, D. Bert, W. Bester, A. van Heerden, E. Moeller, C. Erasmus, M. Onstott, T. C.}, month = {Jun}, pages = {79-82}, abstract = {Since its discovery over two decades ago, the deep subsurface biosphere has been considered to be the realm of single-cell organisms, extending over three kilometres into the Earth{\textquoteright}s crust and comprising a significant fraction of the global biosphere(1-4). The constraints of temperature, energy, dioxygen and space seemed to preclude the possibility of more-complex, multicellular organisms from surviving at these depths. Here we report species of the phylum Nematoda that have been detected in or recovered from 0.9-3.6-kilometre-deep fracture water in the deep mines of South Africa but have not been detected in the mining water. These subsurface nematodes, including a new species, Halicephalobus mephisto, tolerate high temperature, reproduce asexually and preferentially feed upon subsurface bacteria. Carbon-14 data indicate that the fracture water in which the nematodes reside is 3,000-12,000-year-old palaeometeoric water. Our data suggest that nematodes should be found in other deep hypoxic settings where temperature permits, and that they may control the microbial population density by grazing on fracture surface biofilm patches. Our results expand the known metazoan biosphere and demonstrate that deep ecosystems are more complex than previously accepted. The discovery of multicellular life in the deep subsurface of the Earth also has important implications for the search for subsurface life on other planets in our Solar System.}, isbn = {0028-0836}, author = {Borgonie, G. and Garcia-Moyano, A. and Litthauer, D. and Bert, W. and Bester, A. and van Heerden, E. and Moller, C. and Erasmus, M. and Onstott, T. C.} } @article {88, title = {Nematode succession during composting and the potential of the nematode community as an indicator of compost maturity}, journal = {PedobiologiaPedobiologia}, volume = {53}, number = {3}, year = {2010}, note = {Steel, Hanne de la Pena, Eduardo Fonderie, Pamela Willekens, Koen Borgonie, Gaetan Bert, Wim}, pages = {181-190}, abstract = {One of the key issues in compost research is to assess when the compost has reached a mature stage. The maturity status of the compost determines the quality of the final soil amendment product. The nematode community occurring in a Controlled Microbial Composting (CMC) process was analyzed with the objective of assessing whether the species composition could be used as a bio-indicator of the compost maturity status. The results obtained here describe the major shifts in species composition that occur during the composting process. Compared to terrestrial ecosystems, nematode succession in compost differs mainly in the absence of K-strategists and numerical importance of diplogastrids. At the beginning of the composting process (thermophilic phase), immediately after the heat peak, the nematode population is primarily built by bacterial feeding enrichment opportunists (cp-1) (Rhabditidae, Panagrolaimidae, Diplogastridae) followed by the bacterial-feeding general opportunists (cp-2) (Cephalobidae) and the fungal-feeding general opportunists (Aphelenchoididae). Thereafter, during the cooling and maturation stage, the bacterial-feeding-predator opportunistic nematodes (Mononchoides sp.) became dominant. Finally, at the most mature stage, the fungal-feeding Anguinidae (mainly Ditylenchus filimus) were most present. Both, the Maturity Index (MI) and the fungivorous/bacterivorous ratio (f/b ratio), increase as the compost becomes more mature (ranging, respectively, from 1 to 1.86 and from 0 to 11.90). Based on these results, both indices are suggested as potential suitable tools to assess compost maturity. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.}, isbn = {0031-4056}, author = {Steel, H. and de la Pena, E. and Fonderie, P. and Willekens, K. and Borgonie, G. and Bert, W.} } @article {102, title = {Refuge From Predation, the Benefit of Living in an Extreme Acidic Environment?}, journal = {Biological BulletinBiological Bulletin}, volume = {219}, number = {3}, year = {2010}, note = {Borgonie, Gaetan Dierick, Manuel Houthoofd, Wouter Willems, Maxime Jacobs, Patric Bert, Wim}, month = {Dec}, pages = {268-276}, abstract = {Organisms living in extreme habitats require costly adaptations to cope with these conditions. Among the suggested potential benefits that trade off these costs is refuge from predation. To study these interactions in extreme environments, samples were taken in the cave Cueva de Villa Luz, Tabasco, Mexico, where more than 32 subterranean springs, some H,S rich, rise from the floor. Hydrogen sulfide gas plus oxygen is absorbed by freshwater, and oxidation forms concentrated sulfuric acid. Snottites, whitish hollow mucous tubes, hang from the ceiling of the cave. Fluid drops from these snottites were recorded as having pH values of 0-3. We report the discovery of a new species of nematode that thrives in the highly acidic environment of the snottite. Micro CT scan of snottites reveals a complex interaction between the acidic snottite, nematodes, and abundant nematode-eating mites. The nematode adaptation to low pH probably protects them against mite predation, for which nematodes are most likely the most important source of carbon in this sulfur-driven ecosystem.}, isbn = {0006-3185}, author = {Borgonie, G. and Dierick, M. and Houthoofd, W. and Willems, M. and Jacobs, P. and Bert, W.} } @article {103, title = {Morphological, morphometrical and molecular characterisation of Filenchus fungivorus n. sp., a fungivorous nematode from Japan in a most likely polyphyletic genus (Nematoda: Tylenchina)}, journal = {NematologyNematology}, volume = {12}, year = {2010}, note = {Bert, Wim Okada, Hiroaki Tavernier, Ines Borgonie, Gaetan Houthoofd, WouterPart 2}, pages = {235-246}, abstract = {Filenchus fungivorus n. sp., isolated from autumn bellflower (Gentiana scrabra Bunge) in Japan and maintained on a fungus culture, is described based on LM, SEM and molecular data. The new species is characterised by combination of the following features: two lateral lines, short body (284-331 mu m), short stylet (7.0-8.7 mu m), amphid aperture associated with characteristic depression, short ovary, undifferentiated spermatheca, post-vulval sac shorter than corresponding body diam. and short (59-80 mu m) nonfiliform, almost straight tail and absence of males. According to a principal component analysis, a small tail/ vulva-anus (1.3-1.8) and V{\textquoteright} ratio have the highest morphometrical power to separate F. fungivorus n. sp. from the remaining analysed Filenchus spp. (with the exception of F. misellus). Molecular analyses based on SSU rDNA placed F. fungivorus n. sp. within a clade that contained Filenchus sp. (heathland, Belgium), F. (Ottolenchus) discrepans, Malenchus andrassyi and F. misellus. However, the position of this clade could not be resolved within the Tylenchomorpha. Although the phylogenetic analyses, confirmed by Shimodaira-Hasegawa tests, significantly rejected the monophyly of Filenchus (P < 0.001), F. fungivorus n. sp. is placed within Filenchus in anticipation of a review of the Tylenchidae.}, isbn = {1388-5545}, author = {Bert, W. and Okada, H. and Tavernier, I. and Borgonie, G. and Houthoofd, W.} }