• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.203-211
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• 2023

Five ciliate species of Euplotes were isolated from fresh and coastal water during a sampling survey to identify unrecorded ciliates in South Korea. Their morphology was investigated using live observation, protargol and "wet" silver nitrate staining methods. Brief descriptions and microphotographs of each species and a comparison with related species are provided. Euplotes focardii is characterized by an average size of 65×47 ㎛ after protargol impregnation, 6 dorsal and 3 ventral ridges and dorsal argyrome pattern of double-eurystomus type. Euplotes nobilii shows an average size of 34×20 ㎛ after protargol staining, 6 dorsal and 3 ventral ridges and dorsal argyrome pattern of double-patella type. Euplotes octocarinatus, the only freshwater species described in the present study, is characterized by an average size of 66×46 ㎛ after protargol impregnation, 6 dorsal and 3 ventral ridges and dorsal argyrome pattern of double-patella type. Euplotes petzi has an average size of 43×30 ㎛ after protargol staining, a macronucleus hook-shaped and dorsal argyrome pattern in double-patella type. Euplotes raikovi is characterized by an average size of 40×24 ㎛ after protargol staining, 6 dorsal and 3 ventral ridges and dorsal argyrome pattern of double-patella type.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2011

Ciliates are considered one of the most diverse protozoa and play significant roles in ecology. For successful taxonomic study of these microscopic eukaryotes, a staining procedure is necessary, due mainly to intrinsic difficulties in recognizing characteristics from living cells. Although molecular taxonomy has been used to resolve the ambiguities associated with traditional morphology-based taxonomy, extraction of genomic DNA from stained ciliate cells is not available yet. In the present study, we describe a method to extract genomic DNA from a single protargol-impregnated euplotid cell. By using $HgCl_2$ as a fixative and modulating the exposure time of bleach solution in the protargol impregnation, high-quality genomic DNA can successfully be extracted from a stained single cell with minimal loss of morphological integrity. This technique will contribute to the effectiveness of combined approaches of molecular and morphological taxonomy from single ciliate cells.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.6 no.spc
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• pp.63-66
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• 2017

Three ciliate species, Frontonia schaefferi Bullington, 1939, Spathidium curiosum Foissner, 2016, and S. muscicola Kahl, 1930, were collected from freshwater and terrestrial habitats in Korea. Their morphology was investigated based on live observations and protargol impregnation. Frontonia schaefferi was characterized by a cell size of $89-112{\times}45-53{\mu}m$ (after protargol impregnation) and three vestibular kineties. Spathidium curiosum was characterized by a cell size of ca. $125{\times}25{\mu}m$ in vivo and the unusual shape of the extrusomes. Spathidium muscicola was characterized by a cell size of ca. $135{\times}40{\mu}m$ in vivo and four to six macronuclear nodules. These three species are new records for Korea.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.90-94
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• 2023

The morphology and infraciliature of three newly recorded Aspidisca species in Korea, two collected from the eastern coast and one collected from Jeju Island, were investigated in vivo and after protargol impregnation. The three species are as follows: A. dentata Kahl, 1928, A. hexeris Quennerstedt, 1869, and A. polystyla Stein, 1859. The three species are characterized by having a "polystyla-arrangement" of frontoventral cirri: 1) A. dentata is characterized by having a broadly rotund body shape, a distinct peristomial spur, and a dorsal thorn; 2) A. hexeris is characterized by a broadly oval body shape, four projections along the left margin of body, and the single peristomial spur; and 3) A. polystyla has the broadly rotund body shape, transverse cirri each split into several parts (especially in vivo), and lacking of the peristomial spur. Among them, A. dentata and A. polystyla are poorly known and lack morphological description based on silver staining. In the present study, we provide a brief diagnosis, remarks, and photomicrographs.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.380-388
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• 2019

We collected ciliate species from diverse habitats (brackish water, marine water, and terrestrial ecosystems) composed of estuarine, coast, and moss samples during 2017-2018 in Korea. The morphology and infraciliature of these species were examined and identified based on the observations of living cells and protargol impregnated specimens. Of the ciliates we identified, we described eight unrecorded species in Korea as followings: class Heterotrichea - Condylostoma vorax, Peritromus kahli; class Protocruziea - Protocruzia labiata; class Spirotrichea - Hemiamphisiella granulifera; class Litostomatea - Loxophyllum chinense; class Phyllopharyngea - Trochilioides recta; and class Oligohymenophorea -Cohnilembus verminus, Uronemella filificum. Among them, Protocruzia labiata is a poorly known species. In this paper, we provide the improved diagnoses and brief descriptions of the species with their microphotographs. The taxonomic classifications of the eight species are summarized as six classes, eight orders, five families, and eight genera. These voucher slides with protargol impregnated specimens have been deposited in the National Institutes.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.278-286
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• 2022

During a field survey of Korean marine ciliates, we collected Pleuronema marinum from a brackish water sample. It is characterized by the presence of a contractile vacuole in mid-body, rather than the subterminal/ terminal contractile vacuole as in other congeners. The cells were examined in vivo and based on protargol and 'wet' silver nitrate impregnation. In addition, the nuclear 18S rRNA gene was sequenced using a single cell. The Korean population morphologically and molecularly resembles a Chinese population of P. marinum. Historical review of the species concludes that 1) two or more species have been assigned into P. marinum, 2) the position of contractile vacuole (e.g., in mid-body) is a valid character state, and 3) P. marinum is probably a rare species. Here we provide a monographic treatment of P. marinum to clarify the issue and for further studies of relevant species. Considering there are about 40 nominal species and complex nomenclatural acts in the genus Pleuronema, further studies should provide descriptions based on protargol and 'wet' silver impregnation with marker gene(s).

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.184-190
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• 2021

The diversity of scuticociliates (subclass Scuticociliatia Small, 1967) had previously been superficially investigated in Korea and only 10 species were reported according to the National Species List of Korea published in 2019. Here, we identify four scuticociliates, collected from three coastal water samples, by observing protargol-impregnated specimens. As a result, the present species belong to the order Pleuronematida Fauré-Fremiet in Corliss, 1956 and their lower taxonomic classifications are as follows: family Eurystomatellidae Miao et al., 2010 - Eurystomatella sinica Miao et al., 2010; family Pleuronematidae Kent, 1881 - Pleuronema grolierei Wang et al., 2008, P. setigerum Calkins, 1902, and Schizocalyptra aeschtae Long et al., 2007. The family Eurystomatellidae and the genus Schizocalyptra Dragesco, 1968 are reported for the first time in Korea. Considering that the scuticociliates are a species-rich group and very common in most habitats(including freshwater and terrestrial habitats), our findings indicate that we are far from understanding the complete diversity of Korean scuticociliates.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.333-342
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• 2016

Based on the taxonomic survey to uncover the ciliate diversity in the eastern Kangwon-province, twenty-six species were identified from moss-covered soils and assigned to 5 classes, 9 orders, 12 families, and 15 genera. Of these, fifteen species are first records from Korea, and brief remarks with photographs were provided.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.514-516
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• 2016

Three marine and one brackish-water ciliates (Dysteria crassipes $Clapar\grave{e}de$ and Lachmann, 1859; Gruberia calkinsi $Beltr\acute{a}n$, 1933; Pleuronema salmastra Dragesco, 1986; Zosterodasys agamaliev Deroux, 1978) were isolated from Incheon in Korea and their morphologies were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.343-347
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• 2016

Two pleurostomatid ciliates, Amphileptus litonotiformis Song, 1991 and Kentrophyllum setigerum (Quennerstedt, 1867), were collected from the coastal waters of Korea. Their morphologies are described based on live observation and protargol impregnation, and their diagnoses and morphometrics are provided. Additionally, sequence information of small subunit ribosomal RNA obtained from two species were reported.