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Metacollinia emscheri n. sp., a novel sanguicolous apostome ciliate of freshwater amphipods (Gammarus spp.) (2024)
Journal Article
Prati, S., Rückert, S., Grabner, D. S., Sures, B., & Bojko, J. (2024). Metacollinia emscheri n. sp., a novel sanguicolous apostome ciliate of freshwater amphipods (Gammarus spp.). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 207, Article 108224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2024.108224

We describe a novel sanguicolous parasitic ciliate, Metacollinia emscheri n. sp., found in the freshwater amphipods Gammarus pulex and G. fossarum. This ciliate infected 8.05 % of the amphipods collected in a German stream catchment, the Boye, a trib... Read More about Metacollinia emscheri n. sp., a novel sanguicolous apostome ciliate of freshwater amphipods (Gammarus spp.).

Description and prevalence of gregarines infecting the amphipod Gammarus pulex, in the Water of Leith, Scotland, UK (2024)
Journal Article
McKinley, K., Tsaousis, A. D., & Rückert, S. (2024). Description and prevalence of gregarines infecting the amphipod Gammarus pulex, in the Water of Leith, Scotland, UK. European Journal of Protistology, 94, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126084

Gregarines are symbiotic protists that are found in a broad spectrum of invertebrates, including insects, crustaceans, and annelids. Among these the globally distributed amphipod Gammarus pulex is one of the earliest recognized hosts for aquatic greg... Read More about Description and prevalence of gregarines infecting the amphipod Gammarus pulex, in the Water of Leith, Scotland, UK.

Where to fish in the forest? Tree characteristics and contiguous seagrass features predict mangrove forest quality for fishes and crustaceans (2023)
Journal Article
Wanjiru, C., Nagelkerken, I., Rueckert, S., Harcourt, W., & Huxham, M. (2023). Where to fish in the forest? Tree characteristics and contiguous seagrass features predict mangrove forest quality for fishes and crustaceans. Journal of Applied Ecology, 60(7), 1340-1351. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14421

Mangroves often support rich fish and crustacean communities, although faunal abundance and diversity show strong spatiotemporal variability. Consistent patterns in mangrove animal communities might be dictated by forest characteristics, by seascape... Read More about Where to fish in the forest? Tree characteristics and contiguous seagrass features predict mangrove forest quality for fishes and crustaceans.

Where to fish in the forest? Tree characteristics and contiguous seagrass features predict mangrove forest quality for fishes and crustaceans (Dataset) (2023)
Data
Wanjiru, C., Nagelkerken, I., Rueckert, S., Harcourt, W., & Huxham, M. (2023). Where to fish in the forest? Tree characteristics and contiguous seagrass features predict mangrove forest quality for fishes and crustaceans (Dataset). [Data]. https://doi.org/10.17869/enu.2023.3069847

1) Mangroves often support rich fish and crustacean communities, although faunal abundance and diversity show strong spatio-temporal variability. Consistent patterns in mangrove animal communities might be dictated by forest characteristics, by seasc... Read More about Where to fish in the forest? Tree characteristics and contiguous seagrass features predict mangrove forest quality for fishes and crustaceans (Dataset).

Raccoons contraband – The metazoan parasite fauna of free-ranging raccoons in central Europe (2023)
Journal Article
Peter, N., Dörge, D. D., Cunze, S., Schantz, A. V., Skaljic, A., Rueckert, S., & Klimpel, S. (2023). Raccoons contraband – The metazoan parasite fauna of free-ranging raccoons in central Europe. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 20, 79-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.01.003

The invasive raccoon (Procyon lotor) is an abundant carnivore and considered as an important potential vector of infectious diseases and parasites in Europe. Raccoons show a broad, opportunistic, omnivorous food spectrum. Food supply and habitat qual... Read More about Raccoons contraband – The metazoan parasite fauna of free-ranging raccoons in central Europe.

Coinfection patterns of two marine apicomplexans are not associated with genetic diversity of their polychaete host (2022)
Journal Article
Hiillos, A., Rony, I., Rueckert, S., & Knott, E. (2023). Coinfection patterns of two marine apicomplexans are not associated with genetic diversity of their polychaete host. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 70(1), Article e12932. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeu.12932

Coinfections of two or more parasites within one host are more of a rule than an exception in nature. Interactions between coinfecting parasites can greatly affect their abundance and prevalence. Characteristics of the host, such as genetic diversity... Read More about Coinfection patterns of two marine apicomplexans are not associated with genetic diversity of their polychaete host.

Fluctuating starvation conditions modify host-symbiont relationship between a leaf beetle and its newly identified gregarine species (2022)
Journal Article
Wolz, M., Rueckert, S., & Müller, C. (2022). Fluctuating starvation conditions modify host-symbiont relationship between a leaf beetle and its newly identified gregarine species. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 10, Article 850161. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2022.850161

Gregarines are ubiquitous endosymbionts in invertebrates, including terrestrial insects. However, the biodiversity of gregarines is probably vastly underestimated and the knowledge about their role in shaping fitness-related traits of their host in d... Read More about Fluctuating starvation conditions modify host-symbiont relationship between a leaf beetle and its newly identified gregarine species.

Composition and structure of the mangrove fish and crustacean communities of Vanga Bay, Kenya (2022)
Journal Article
Wanjiru, C., Rueckert, S., & Huxham, M. (2022). Composition and structure of the mangrove fish and crustacean communities of Vanga Bay, Kenya. Western Indian Ocean journal of marine science, 20(2), 25-44. https://doi.org/10.4314/wiojms.v20i2.3

Mangroves support coastal fisheries, particularly by providing nurseries for juvenile fish. However, much remains unknown about the fish and crustacean communities in mangroves and about the lifecycles and behaviours of individual species. This study... Read More about Composition and structure of the mangrove fish and crustacean communities of Vanga Bay, Kenya.

Parasites, pathogens, and other symbionts of copepods (2021)
Journal Article
Bass, D., Rueckert, S., Stern, R., Cleary, A. C., Taylor, J. D., Ward, G. M., & Huys, R. (2021). Parasites, pathogens, and other symbionts of copepods. Trends in Parasitology, 37(10), 875-889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2021.05.006

Copepods are vectors of pathogens of other aquatic organisms, including commercially harvested species and those used for aquaculture.

Extensive supplementary materials are provided, referencing copepod-associated eukaryotes, bacteria, and... Read More about Parasites, pathogens, and other symbionts of copepods.

Gregarine single-cell transcriptomics reveals differential mitochondrial remodeling and adaptation in apicomplexans (2021)
Journal Article
Salomaki, E. D., Terpis, K. X., Rueckert, S., Kotyk, M., Kotyková Varadínová, Z., Čepička, I., Lane, C. E., & Kolisko, M. (2021). Gregarine single-cell transcriptomics reveals differential mitochondrial remodeling and adaptation in apicomplexans. BMC Biology, 19, Article 77 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-021-01007-2

Background
Apicomplexa is a diverse phylum comprising unicellular endobiotic animal parasites and contains some of the most well-studied microbial eukaryotes including the devastating human pathogens Plasmodium falciparum and Cryptosporidium hominis... Read More about Gregarine single-cell transcriptomics reveals differential mitochondrial remodeling and adaptation in apicomplexans.

Increasing intensities of Anisakis simplex third-stage larvae (L3) in Atlantic salmon of coastal waters of Scotland (2020)
Journal Article
Kent, A. J., Pert, C. C., Briers, R. A., Diele, K., & Rueckert, S. (2020). Increasing intensities of Anisakis simplex third-stage larvae (L3) in Atlantic salmon of coastal waters of Scotland. Parasites & vectors, 13, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-3942-5

Background: Red Vent Syndrome (RVS), a haemorrhagic inflammation of the vent region in Atlantic salmon, is associated with high abundance of Anisakis simplex (s.s.) third-stage larvae (L3) in the vent region. Despite evidence suggesting that increasi... Read More about Increasing intensities of Anisakis simplex third-stage larvae (L3) in Atlantic salmon of coastal waters of Scotland.

First genetic evidence that invasive bullhead (Cottus L. 1758) in Scotland is of English origin and the difficulty of resolving the European Cottus species taxonomy (2020)
Journal Article
McLeish, J., Briers, R., Dodd, J., & Rueckert, S. (2020). First genetic evidence that invasive bullhead (Cottus L. 1758) in Scotland is of English origin and the difficulty of resolving the European Cottus species taxonomy. Journal of Fish Biology, 96(3), 617-630. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14247

The European bullhead (Cottus gobio) is widely distributed across Europe and within the UK is native to England and Wales, where it is protected under the Habitats Directive. In Scotland, however, the species is considered invasive and thriving popul... Read More about First genetic evidence that invasive bullhead (Cottus L. 1758) in Scotland is of English origin and the difficulty of resolving the European Cottus species taxonomy.

Evolution: Parallel Paths to Parasitism in the Apicomplexa (2019)
Journal Article
Rueckert, S., Pipaliya, S. V., & Dacks, J. B. (2019). Evolution: Parallel Paths to Parasitism in the Apicomplexa. Current Biology, 29(17), 836-839. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.07.047

A new study presents the first comprehensive genome and transcriptome data for an enigmatic group of apicomplexan parasites, the gregarines. The findings provide insights into the early evolution of parasitism in the apicomplexans and illustrate the... Read More about Evolution: Parallel Paths to Parasitism in the Apicomplexa.

The symbiotic spectrum: where do the gregarines fit? (2019)
Journal Article
Rueckert, S., Betts, E. L., & Tsaousis, A. D. (2019). The symbiotic spectrum: where do the gregarines fit?. Trends in Parasitology, 35(9), 687-694. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2019.06.013

Gregarine apicomplexans are closely related to parasites such as Plasmodium, Toxoplasma, and Cryptosporidium, which are causing severe health and economic burdens. Colonizing only invertebrates and having no obvious medical relevance, they are mostly... Read More about The symbiotic spectrum: where do the gregarines fit?.

Pathogen detection in bathing waters using microfluidic technology, image processing and deep learning (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Kerrouche, A., Muhammad, I., Rueckert, S., & Lawson, A. (2019, June). Pathogen detection in bathing waters using microfluidic technology, image processing and deep learning. Poster presented at Research Conference, Edinburgh Napier University

Monitoring the quality of recreational waters such as beaches and rivers is becoming a global concern to protect human health (e.g. the EU Bathing Water Directive (BWD) in Europe). In Scotland, water quality at 86 designated bathing water sites is as... Read More about Pathogen detection in bathing waters using microfluidic technology, image processing and deep learning.

Morphology and molecular systematic of marine gregarines (Apicomplexa) from Southwestern Atlantic spionid polychaetes (2018)
Journal Article
Rueckert, S., Glasinovich, N., Diez, M., Cremonte, F., & Vázquez, N. (2018). Morphology and molecular systematic of marine gregarines (Apicomplexa) from Southwestern Atlantic spionid polychaetes. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 159, 49-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2018.10.010

Gregarines are a common group of parasites that infect the intestines of marine invertebrates, and particularly polychaetes. Here, we describe for the first time four gregarine species that inhabit the intestines of three spionid species: Dipolydora... Read More about Morphology and molecular systematic of marine gregarines (Apicomplexa) from Southwestern Atlantic spionid polychaetes.

Revisions to the Classification, Nomenclature, and Diversity of Eukaryotes (2018)
Journal Article
Adl, S. M., Bass, D., Lane, C. E., Lukeš, J., Schoch, C. L., Smirnov, A., Agatha, S., Berney, C., Brown, M. W., Burki, F., Cárdenas, P., Čepička, I., Chistyakova, L., del Campo, J., Dunthorn, M., Edvardsen, B., Eglit, Y., Guillou, L., Hampl, V., Heiss, A. A., …Zhang, Q. (2019). Revisions to the Classification, Nomenclature, and Diversity of Eukaryotes. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 66(1), 4-119. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeu.12691

This revision of the classification of eukaryotes follows that of Adl et al., 2012 [J. Euk. Microbiol. 59(5)] and retains an emphasis on protists. Changes since have improved the resolution of many nodes in phylogenetic analyses. For some clades even... Read More about Revisions to the Classification, Nomenclature, and Diversity of Eukaryotes.

Consistent patterns of high alpha and low beta diversity in tropical parasitic and free-living protists (2018)
Journal Article
Lentendu, G., Mahé, F., Bass, D., Rueckert, S., Stoeck, T., & Dunthorn, M. (2018). Consistent patterns of high alpha and low beta diversity in tropical parasitic and free-living protists. Molecular Ecology, 27(13), 2846-2857. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.14731

Tropical animals and plants are known to have high alpha diversity within forests, but low beta diversity between forests. By contrast, it is unknown if microbes inhabiting the same ecosystems exhibit similar biogeographic patterns. To evaluate the b... Read More about Consistent patterns of high alpha and low beta diversity in tropical parasitic and free-living protists.

Archigregarines of the English Channel revisited: New molecular data on Selenidium species including early described and new species and the uncertainties of phylogenetic relationships (2017)
Journal Article
Rueckert, S., & Horák, A. (2017). Archigregarines of the English Channel revisited: New molecular data on Selenidium species including early described and new species and the uncertainties of phylogenetic relationships. PLOS ONE, 12(11), Article e0187430. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187430

Background

Gregarines represent an important transition step from free-living predatory (colpodellids s.l.) and/or photosynthetic (Chromera and Vitrella) apicomplexan lineages to the most important pathogens, obligate intracellular parasites of hu... Read More about Archigregarines of the English Channel revisited: New molecular data on Selenidium species including early described and new species and the uncertainties of phylogenetic relationships.