Ciliates as Potential Single-Celled Eukaryotes for Biological Research

Ciliates are unicellular organisms with hair-like cilia and nuclear dualism. They are used in genome evolution studies and are adaptable to different environments due to their diverse shapes and behaviors [1]. More than 8000 species of ciliates have been identified. However, their taxonomy, biodiversity and functions still need to be better understood [2].

Ciliates play important roles in ecosystems, contributing to ecological balance and nutrient cycling. Some key aspects of their role are:
a) Food web and nutrient recycling: Ciliates break organic matter in aquatic environments. As decomposers, they recycle nutrients by consuming bacteria and other organic particles and converting them into more readily available forms for other organisms [3].
b) Microbial Control: Ciliates control bacteria and maintain water quality in wastewater treatment plants [4].
c) Bioindicator: Ciliates can be used as indicators of environmental health, as they are sensitive to changes in water quality and can signal shifts in ecosystem health or disturbances caused by pollution [5].
d) Symbiotic Relationships: Ciliates form symbiotic relationships with larger eukaryotic organisms in their digestive tracts. Additionally, many ciliates host bacteria and algae as symbionts within their cytoplasm [6].
e) Model organism: Certain ciliates, such as Paramecium and Tetrahymena, are used in research as a model organism due to their genetic tractability and simplicity [1]. They are valuable in environmental toxicology and molecular biology studies [7]..

The study of ciliate phylogeny has revealed connections between species that challenge our current understanding of the tree of eukaryotic life. These studies provide valuable insights into the complex microscopic world and challenge our knowledge of evolutionary relationships. It is essential to understand the roles of ciliates in diverse environments to grasp their impact on the complex web of interactions that sustain life. Therefore, examining omics data is necessary for understanding the function of ciliates. Additionally, studying the genomic structure of ciliates will help in understanding the evolution of genomes in the tree of eukaryotic life.

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No conflict of interest

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