Morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization of Herpetomonas samuelpessoai camargoi n. subsp., a trypanosomatid isolated from the flowerof the squash Cucurbita moschata

We report the morphological, biochemical and molecular characteristics of a trypanosomatid isolated from the flower of Cucurbita moschata. Although th e trypanosomatid was isolated from a plant, the lack of recognition of Phyt omonas-specific molecular markers based on spliced-leader and ribosomal gen es as well as by monoclonal antibodies specific for Phytomonas argues again st assigning it to this genus. Because the isolate displayed typical opisth omastigote forms in culture, it is assigned to the genus Herpetomonas. Anal ysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns and characteriza tion of ribosomal SSU and ITS markers suggest that it is more closely relat ed to H. samuelpessoai than to any other species. However, the presence of spined flagellates in culture (displaying lateral expansions of the plasma membrane originating near the flagellar pocket) and isolate-specific RAPD f ingerprints argue strongly that the trypanosomatid belongs to a new subspec ies, for which the name Herpetomonas samuelpessoai camargoi n. subsp. is pr oposed.