Pyrsonymphidae

Pyrsonympha (pierce-o-nymph-a) is an oxymonad flagellate, a group found as endobionts within termites etc. This one came from Reticulotermes. Pyrsonympha may or may not have an anterior holdfast as can be seen here, four - eight flagella, typically adhering to the cell surface. With an axostyle which may or may not emerge from the end of the cell (not here). Not all cells have the associated epibiotic bacteria. Differential interference contrast.

Pyrsonympha (pierce-o-nymph-a) is an oxymonad flagellate, a group found as endobionts within termites etc. This one came from Reticulotermes. Pyrsonympha may or may not have an anterior holdfast, four - eight flagella, typically adhering to the cell surface, but as evident here, not always adhering. With an axostyle, seen here as a dark curving internal structure, which may or may not emerge from the end of the cell (not here). They may or may not have associated epibiotic bacteria, not here. Phase contrast.

Pyrsonympha (pierce-o-nymph-a) is an oxymonad flagellate, a group found as endobionts within termites etc. This one came from Reticulotermes. Pyrsonympha may or may not have an anterior holdfast, four - eight flagella, typically adhering to the cell surface. With an axostyle which may or may not emerge from the end of the cell (not here). They may or may not have associated epibiotic bacteria, not here. Differential interference contrast.

Pyrsonympha (pierce-o-nymph-a) is an oxymonad flagellate, a group found as endobionts within termites etc. This one came from Reticulotermes. Pyrsonympha may or may not have an anterior holdfast, four - eight flagella, typically adhering to the cell surface. With an axostyle which may or may not emerge from the end of the cell (not here). They may or may not have associated epibiotic bacteria, not here. Differential interference contrast.

Pyrsonympha (pierce-o-nymph-a) is an oxymonad flagellate, a group found as endobionts within termites etc. This one came from Reticulotermes. Pyrsonympha may or may not have an anterior holdfast, four - eight flagella, typically adhering to the cell surface. With an axostyle which may or may not emerge from the end of the cell . They may or may not have associated epibiotic bacteria, as here. Phase contrast.

Pyrsonympha (pierce-o-nymph-a) is an oxymonad flagellate, a group found as endobionts within termites etc. This one came from Reticulotermes. Pyrsonympha may or may not have an anterior holdfast, four - eight flagella, typically adhering to the cell surface, but as evident here, not always adhering. With an axostyle, seen here as a dark internal structure passing over the round anterior nucleus. They may or may not have associated epibiotic bacteria. Phase contrast.

Pyrsonympha are oxymonad flagellates with a spirally twisted and contractile pyriform cell body of 20-150 µm according to species. Four to eight flagella wrapped around the cell body with a posterior trailing portion. Nucleus anterior or median; contractile axostyle arising at the anterior end and traversing the body to protrude posteriorly with a sheath. Anterior finger-like holdfast to attach to the cuticle of the termite gut. Phagocytoses wood particles. Several species such as P. vertens and P. flagellata from Reticulitermes and Hodotermopsis. Pyrsonympha vertens from Reticulitermes lucifugus grassei showing the anterior holdfast, the nucleus and adherent flagella along the cell body (phase contrast). 

Central contractile axostyle, nucleus and adherent flagella (Immunofluorescence).

Central contractile axostyle and nucleus revealed by immunofluorescence microscopy.

Oxymonad flagellates with a spirally twisted and contractile cell body of 20-100 µm in length and 3 -10 µm in breath. Four flagella arise at the anterior end and adhere to the cell body in gutters but have a posterior free portion. The nucleus is anterior or median and the cell is traversed by a contractile axostyle generally not protruding posteriorly. There is no developed anterior holdfast in contrast to Pyrsonympha. It phagocytoses wood particles, about six species, occuring in several termites such as Reticulitermes and Hodotermopsis species. Dinenympha exilis from Hodotermopsis sjoestedti, Giemsa. 

Oxymonad flagellates with a spirally twisted and contractile cell body of 20-100 µm in length and 3 -10 µm in breath. Four flagella arise at the anterior end and adhere to the cell body in gutters but have a posterior free portion. The nucleus is anterior or median and the cell is traversed by a contractile axostyle generally not protruding posteriorly. There is no developed anterior holdfast in contrast to Pyrsonympha. It phagocytoses wood particles, about six species, occuring in several termites such as Reticulitermes and Hodotermopsis species. Dinenympha exilis from Hodotermopsis sjoestedti showing the central axostyle (left) and the four flagella adhering to the cell body (right) (immunofluorescence micrograph). 

Scanning EM showing the adhering flagella to the twisted cell body with a posterior protruding axostyle