For most eukaryotes, the genetic sequences received from parents are used directly by the offspring. However, in some species the germline and somatic genomes differ dramatically in their composition. For example, the germ cells of sea lampreys possess

(1) Background: An estuary is a zone in which sea and river waters mix. It is a specific area with a very non-stable environment and salinity gradient. However, little is known about the diversity of ciliate communities in estuarine benthic ecosystems

Strombidium is a species-rich genus of oligotrichid ciliates mainly inhabiting the marine pelagial. In molecular phylogenies, the genus emerged as non-monophyletic, and cladistic analyses suggest that it is largely characterized by plesiomorphies. A reliable

Exogenous RNA poses a continuous threat to genome stability and integrity across various organisms. Accumulating evidence reveals complex mechanisms underlying the cellular response to exogenous RNA, including endo-lysosomal degradation, RNA-dependent