Myxozoa is a diverse group of microscopic, obligate parasitic animals that infect a wide range of aquatic hosts, including both freshwater and marine fish, as well as some invertebrates. Traditionally, myxozoans were classified as protozoans due to their spore-forming capability and microscopic sizes, but molecular phylogenetic studies have since placed them within the animal kingdom as a sister group to the cnidarians (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, and their relatives). The evolutionary history and phylogeny of Myxozoa have been subjects of considerable interest and debate. These organisms exhibit highly reduced morphologies and complex life cycles, often involving multiple hosts, which can include an invertebrate, typically an annelid or a bryozoan, and a vertebrate, usually a fish.
The drastic simplification of their body plans and the loss of features commonly found in other multicellular animals have made it challenging to understand their origins and to trace their evolutionary relationships. Recent advances in molecular techniques, such as next-generation sequencing, have provided new insights into the phylogenetic position of Myxozoa. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses have revealed that myxozoans possess genes that are characteristic of cnidarians, including those coding for stinging cell toxins and other cnidarian-specific features. These findings support that Myxozoa are highly derived cnidarians that have undergone significant morphological and genomic reductions as an adaptation to parasitism. The evolution of Myxozoa is also closely linked to the evolution of their complex life cycles involving alternation between invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, raises critical questions about the evolutionary pressures and mechanisms that have driven sub adaptations. Understanding these dynamics is essential not only for comprehending the success and diversity of myxozoans but also for addressing their impacts on aquaculture and wild fish populations, where they can cause significant disease outbreaks.
The goal of this Research Topic is to unravel the complex evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships within Myxozoa. By integrating molecular, morphological, and ecological data, researchers aim to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree of Myxozoa, understand their evolutionary transitions, particularly the origins of their reduced complexity, and clarify their placement within the broader context of metazoan evolution. This research seeks to resolve the taxonomic challenges posed by the Myxozoan life cycles and phenotypic plasticity, and to explore the implications of their evolutionary adaptations for host-parasite interactions, disease management in aquaculture, and biodiversity conservation.
Authors are invited to contribute original research articles, reviews, and brief communications that advance the understanding of the evolution and phylogeny of Myxozoa. Submissions should focus on the following themes:
o Genetic, morphological, and ecological analyses illuminate the current diversity and distribution of Myxozoa.
o Studies utilize molecular phylogenetics, comparative genomics, or bioinformatics to decipher evolutionary relationships within Myxozoa.
o Investigations into host-parasite interactions and life cycle evolution.
o Research on the impact of environmental changes on Myxozoan biodiversity.
o Novel insights into the evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships of Myxozoa, supported by rigorous methodology and robust data analysis.
Keywords:
Myxozoa, Evolution biology, Phylogenetic analysis, Classification, Host-Parasite Interactions
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Myxozoa is a diverse group of microscopic, obligate parasitic animals that infect a wide range of aquatic hosts, including both freshwater and marine fish, as well as some invertebrates. Traditionally, myxozoans were classified as protozoans due to their spore-forming capability and microscopic sizes, but molecular phylogenetic studies have since placed them within the animal kingdom as a sister group to the cnidarians (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, and their relatives). The evolutionary history and phylogeny of Myxozoa have been subjects of considerable interest and debate. These organisms exhibit highly reduced morphologies and complex life cycles, often involving multiple hosts, which can include an invertebrate, typically an annelid or a bryozoan, and a vertebrate, usually a fish.
The drastic simplification of their body plans and the loss of features commonly found in other multicellular animals have made it challenging to understand their origins and to trace their evolutionary relationships. Recent advances in molecular techniques, such as next-generation sequencing, have provided new insights into the phylogenetic position of Myxozoa. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses have revealed that myxozoans possess genes that are characteristic of cnidarians, including those coding for stinging cell toxins and other cnidarian-specific features. These findings support that Myxozoa are highly derived cnidarians that have undergone significant morphological and genomic reductions as an adaptation to parasitism. The evolution of Myxozoa is also closely linked to the evolution of their complex life cycles involving alternation between invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, raises critical questions about the evolutionary pressures and mechanisms that have driven sub adaptations. Understanding these dynamics is essential not only for comprehending the success and diversity of myxozoans but also for addressing their impacts on aquaculture and wild fish populations, where they can cause significant disease outbreaks.
The goal of this Research Topic is to unravel the complex evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships within Myxozoa. By integrating molecular, morphological, and ecological data, researchers aim to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree of Myxozoa, understand their evolutionary transitions, particularly the origins of their reduced complexity, and clarify their placement within the broader context of metazoan evolution. This research seeks to resolve the taxonomic challenges posed by the Myxozoan life cycles and phenotypic plasticity, and to explore the implications of their evolutionary adaptations for host-parasite interactions, disease management in aquaculture, and biodiversity conservation.
Authors are invited to contribute original research articles, reviews, and brief communications that advance the understanding of the evolution and phylogeny of Myxozoa. Submissions should focus on the following themes:
o Genetic, morphological, and ecological analyses illuminate the current diversity and distribution of Myxozoa.
o Studies utilize molecular phylogenetics, comparative genomics, or bioinformatics to decipher evolutionary relationships within Myxozoa.
o Investigations into host-parasite interactions and life cycle evolution.
o Research on the impact of environmental changes on Myxozoan biodiversity.
o Novel insights into the evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships of Myxozoa, supported by rigorous methodology and robust data analysis.
Keywords:
Myxozoa, Evolution biology, Phylogenetic analysis, Classification, Host-Parasite Interactions
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.