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Yushin VV, Gliznutsa LA, Ryss A. Ultrastructural detection of intracellular bacterial symbionts in the wood-inhabiting nematode Bursaphelenchus mucronatus (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae). NEMATOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/15685411-bja10192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Summary
Ultrastructural observations of the wood-inhabiting fungal- and plant-feeding nematode, Bursaphelenchus mucronatus, revealed intracellular bacteria in the male and female gonads. In males, bacteria were present inside the testis epithelial cells, spermatocytes, spermatids and immature spermatozoa. Spermatheca of females contained amoeboid pseudopod-bearing mature spermatozoa with bacteria closely associated with the sperm nucleus. Tissues of the females studied were free from bacteria. The gram-negative bacteria in their localisation, size, ultrastructure, and especially characteristic internal bundle of parallel filaments, were identified preliminary as related to the genus Cardinium (Bacteroidetes), which includes obligate endosymbionts of diverse arthropods and is known to be associated with several species of plant-parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir V. Yushin
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Lyubov A. Gliznutsa
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
| | - Alexander Ryss
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg 199034, Russia
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Kustra M, Carrier TJ. On the spread of microbes that manipulate reproduction in marine invertebrates. Am Nat 2022; 200:217-235. [DOI: 10.1086/720282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Interactions of the Intracellular Bacterium Cardinium with Its Host, the House Dust Mite Dermatophagoides farinae, Based on Gene Expression Data. mSystems 2021; 6:e0091621. [PMID: 34726490 PMCID: PMC8562489 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00916-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dermatophagoides farinae is inhabited by an intracellular bacterium, Cardinium. Using correlations between host and symbiont gene expression profiles, we identified several important molecular pathways that potentially regulate/facilitate their interactions. The expression of Cardinium genes collectively explained 95% of the variation in the expression of mite genes assigned to pathways for phagocytosis, apoptosis, the MAPK signaling cascade, endocytosis, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway, the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway, lysozyme, and the Toll/Imd pathway. In addition, expression of mite genes explained 76% of the variability in Cardinium gene expression. In particular, the expression of the Cardinium genes encoding the signaling molecules BamD, LepA, SymE, and VirD4 was either positively or negatively correlated with the expression levels of mite genes involved in endocytosis, phagocytosis, and apoptosis. We also found that Cardinium possesses a complete biosynthetic pathway for lipoic acid and may provide lipoate, but not biotin, to mites. Cardinium gene expression collectively explained 84% of the variation in expression related to several core mite metabolic pathways, and, most notably, a negative correlation was observed between bacterial gene expression and expression of mite genes assigned to the glycolysis and citric acid cycle pathways. Furthermore, we showed that Cardinium gene expression is correlated with expression levels of genes associated with terpenoid backbone biosynthesis. This pathway is important for the synthesis of pheromones, thus providing an opportunity for Cardinium to influence mite reproductive behavior to facilitate transmission of the bacterium. Overall, our study provided correlational gene expression data that can be useful for future research on mite-Cardinium interactions. IMPORTANCE The molecular mechanisms of mite-symbiont interactions and their impacts on human health are largely unknown. Astigmatid mites, such as house dust and stored-product mites, are among the most significant allergen sources worldwide. Although mites themselves are the main allergen sources, recent studies have indicated that mite-associated microbiomes may have implications for allergen production and human health. The major medically important house dust mite, D. farinae, is known to harbor a highly abundant intracellular bacterium belonging to the genus Cardinium. Expression analysis of the mite and symbiont genes can identify key mite molecular pathways that facilitate interactions with this endosymbiont and possibly shed light on how this bacterium affects mite allergen production and physiology in general.
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Hubert J, Kopecky J, Nesvorna M, Alejandra Perotti M, Erban T. Detection and localization of Solitalea-like and Cardinium bacteria in three Acarus siro populations (Astigmata: Acaridae). EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2016; 70:309-327. [PMID: 27502113 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-016-0080-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria associated with mites influence their fitness, nutrition and reproduction. Previously, we found Solitalea-like (Sphingobacteriales) and Candidatus Cardinium (Cytophagales) bacteria in the stored product mite Acarus siro L. by cloning and using pyrosequencing. In this study, taxon-specific primers targeting 16S rRNA gene were used to detect and quantify the bacteria in mites and eggs of three A. siro populations. The specific probes for fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to localize Solitalea-like and Cardinium bacteria in mite bodies. The population growth as an indirect estimator of fitness was used to describe the mite-bacteria interactions on (1) control diet; (2) rifampicin supplemented diet; (3) tetracycline supplemented diet; (4) rifampicin pretreated mites; (5) tetracycline pretreated mites. Solitalea-like 16S rRNA gene sequences from A. siro formed a separate cluster together with sequences from Tyrophagus putrescentiae. qPCR analysis indicated that number of Solitalea-like bacteria 16S rRNA gene copies was ca. 100× higher than that of Cardinium and the numbers differed between populations. FISH analysis localized Solitalea-like bacteria in the parenchymal tissues, mesodeum and food bolus of larvae, nymphs and adults. Solitalea-like, but not Cardinium bacteria were detected by taxon-specific primers in mites and eggs of all three investigated populations. None of the antibiotic treatments eliminated Solitalea-like bacteria in the A. siro populations tested. Rifampicin pretreatment significantly decreased the population growth. The numbers of Solitalea-like bacteria did not correlate with the population growth as a fitness indicator. This study demonstrated that A. siro can host Solitalea-like bacteria either alone or together with Cardinium. We suggest that Solitalea-like bacteria are shared by vertical transfer in A. siro populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Hubert
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, 16106, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Kopecky
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, 16106, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Nesvorna
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, 16106, Czech Republic
| | - M Alejandra Perotti
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Section, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AS, UK
| | - Tomas Erban
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovska 507/73, Prague 6-Ruzyne, 16106, Czech Republic
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Hubert J, Stejskal V, Nesvorna M, Aulicky R, Kopecky J, Erban T. Differences in the Bacterial Community of Laboratory and Wild Populations of the Predatory Mite Cheyletus eruditus (Acarina: Cheyletidae) and Bacteria Transmission From Its Prey Acarus siro (Acari: Acaridae). JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 109:1450-1457. [PMID: 27018441 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tow032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The parthenogenetic predatory mite Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank, 1781) is used for biological control against mite pests produced as CHEYLETIN. Although there is evidence that bacteria are mainly responsible for parthenogeny in several species of predatory mites, the description of association between C. eruditus the specific and parasitic or symbiotic bacteria is still missing. We analyzed the bacterial communities of the predator, C. eruditus , and its prey, Acarus siro L. The 16S rRNA gene was amplified, cloned, and sequenced. The selected bacterial taxa were confirmed by amplification of isolated DNA with taxon-specific primers. The 16S rRNA gene sequences from the predatory and prey mites formed a total of 20 different bacterial taxa. Of these taxa, the predator and prey shared four taxa, six taxa were specific for the predatory, and 10 taxa for the prey mites. Cardinium - and Bartonella -like bacteria were found in both mite species. The reproductive parasite Wolbachia was found only in the predatory mite, and A. siro hosted Solitalea -like (Sphingobacteriales) bacteria that were not detected in C. eruditus . We focused on Cardinium occurrence in the field samples of C. eruditus. Using Cardinium -specific primers, 128 clones were obtained. Cardinium was found in seven field samples of C. eruditus as well as in the laboratory population that was used to produce CHEYLETIN. Phylogenetic analysis of the Cardinium clones identified three separate clusters: two clusters showed high similarity to the Cardinium sequences from astigmatid mites, and one cluster contained only the clones from C. eruditus . Sequences of both Cardinium and Wolbachia were found in the both adults and eggs of C. eruditus , indicating maternal transfer of these endosymbiotic bacteria.
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Santos-Garcia D, Rollat-Farnier PA, Beitia F, Zchori-Fein E, Vavre F, Mouton L, Moya A, Latorre A, Silva FJ. The genome of Cardinium cBtQ1 provides insights into genome reduction, symbiont motility, and its settlement in Bemisia tabaci. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 6:1013-30. [PMID: 24723729 PMCID: PMC4007549 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evu077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many insects harbor inherited bacterial endosymbionts. Although some of them are not strictly essential and are considered facultative, they can be a key to host survival under specific environmental conditions, such as parasitoid attacks, climate changes, or insecticide pressures. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is at the top of the list of organisms inflicting agricultural damage and outbreaks, and changes in its distribution may be associated to global warming. In this work, we have sequenced and analyzed the genome of Cardinium cBtQ1, a facultative bacterial endosymbiont of B. tabaci and propose that it belongs to a new taxonomic family, which also includes Candidatus Amoebophilus asiaticus and Cardinium cEper1, endosymbionts of amoeba and wasps, respectively. Reconstruction of their last common ancestors' gene contents revealed an initial massive gene loss from the free-living ancestor. This was followed in Cardinium by smaller losses, associated with settlement in arthropods. Some of these losses, affecting cofactor and amino acid biosynthetic encoding genes, took place in Cardinium cBtQ1 after its divergence from the Cardinium cEper1 lineage and were related to its settlement in the whitefly and its endosymbionts. Furthermore, the Cardinium cBtQ1 genome displays a large proportion of transposable elements, which have recently inactivated genes and produced chromosomal rearrangements. The genome also contains a chromosomal duplication and a multicopy plasmid, which harbors several genes putatively associated with gliding motility, as well as two other genes encoding proteins with potential insecticidal activity. As gene amplification is very rare in endosymbionts, an important function of these genes cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Santos-Garcia
- Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Spain
| | - Pierre-Antoine Rollat-Farnier
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon1, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne, France
- BAMBOO Research team, INRIA Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes, France
| | - Francisco Beitia
- Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Unidad Asociada de Entomología IVIA/CIB-CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Einat Zchori-Fein
- Department of Entomology, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishay, Israel
| | - Fabrice Vavre
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon1, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne, France
- BAMBOO Research team, INRIA Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes, France
| | - Laurence Mouton
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon1, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR CNRS 5558, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Andrés Moya
- Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Spain
- Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Genómica y Salud (FISABIO-Salud Pública and Universitat de València), Valencia, Spain
| | - Amparo Latorre
- Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Spain
- Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Genómica y Salud (FISABIO-Salud Pública and Universitat de València), Valencia, Spain
- *Corresponding author: E-mail: ;
| | - Francisco J. Silva
- Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Spain
- Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Genómica y Salud (FISABIO-Salud Pública and Universitat de València), Valencia, Spain
- *Corresponding author: E-mail: ;
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Navia D, Mendonça RS, Ferragut F, Miranda LC, Trincado RC, Michaux J, Navajas M. Cryptic diversity inBrevipalpusmites (Tenuipalpidae). ZOOL SCR 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Denise Navia
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology/University of Brasília; Cx. Postal 02372; 70.770-917; Brasilia; Brazil
| | - Renata S. Mendonça
- CNPq- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology/University of Brasília; Cx. Postal 02372; 70.770-900; Brasilia; Brazil
| | - Francisco Ferragut
- Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo; Universidad Politécnica de Valencia; Camino de Vera, s/n; 46022; Valencia; Spain
| | - Letícia C. Miranda
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology/University of Brasília; Cx. Postal 02372; 70.770-917; Brasilia; Brazil
| | - Roberto C. Trincado
- Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero; Cx. Postal 71; Curacaví; Santiago de Chile; Chile
| | - Johan Michaux
- INRA, UMR CBGP (INRA/IRD/Cirad/Montpellier SupAgro); Campus International de Baillarguet; CS 30016; 34988; Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex; France
| | - Maria Navajas
- INRA, UMR CBGP (INRA/IRD/Cirad/Montpellier SupAgro); Campus International de Baillarguet; CS 30016; 34988; Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex; France
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Hubert J, Kopecký J, Perotti MA, Nesvorná M, Braig HR, Ságová-Marečková M, Macovei L, Zurek L. Detection and identification of species-specific bacteria associated with synanthropic mites. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2012; 63:919-28. [PMID: 22057398 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-011-9969-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Internal bacterial communities of synanthropic mites Acarus siro, Dermatophagoides farinae, Lepidoglyphus destructor, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Astigmata) were analyzed by culturing and culture-independent approaches from specimens obtained from laboratory colonies. Homogenates of surface-sterilized mites were used for cultivation on non-selective agar and DNA extraction. Isolated bacteria were identified by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. PCR amplified 16S rRNA genes were analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (T-RFLP) and cloning sequencing. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using universal bacterial probes was used for direct bacterial localization. T-RFLP analysis of 16S rRNA gene revealed distinct species-specific bacterial communities. The results were further confirmed by cloning and sequencing (284 clones). L. destructor and D. farinae showed more diverse communities then A. siro and T. putrescentiae. In the cultivated part of the community, the mean CFUs from four mite species ranged from 5.2 × 10(2) to 1.4 × 10(3) per mite. D. farinae had significantly higher CFUs than the other species. Bacteria were located in the digestive and reproductive tract, parenchymatical tissue, and in bacteriocytes. Among the clones, Bartonella-like bacteria occurring in A. siro and T. putresecentiae represented a distinct group related to Bartonellaceae and to Bartonella-like symbionts of ants. The clones of high similarity to Xenorhabdus cabanillasii were found in L. destructor and D. farinae, and one clone related to Photorhabdus temperata in A. siro. Members of Sphingobacteriales cloned from D. farinae and A. siro clustered with the sequences of "Candidatus Cardinium hertigii" and as a separate novel cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Hubert
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, Praha 6-Ruzyně, Czech Republic.
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Bacterial endosymbiont localization in Hyalesthes obsoletus, the insect vector of Bois noir in Vitis vinifera. Appl Environ Microbiol 2010; 77:1423-35. [PMID: 21183640 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02121-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One emerging disease of grapevine in Europe is Bois noir (BN), a phytoplasmosis caused by "Candidatus Phytoplasma solani" and spread in vineyards by the planthopper Hyalesthes obsoletus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae). Here we present the first full characterization of the bacterial community of this important disease vector collected from BN-contaminated areas in Piedmont, Italy. Length heterogeneity PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis targeting the 16S rRNA gene revealed the presence of a number of bacteria stably associated with the insect vector. In particular, symbiotic bacteria detected by PCR with high infection rates in adult individuals fell within the "Candidatus Sulcia muelleri" cluster in the Bacteroidetes and in the "Candidatus Purcelliella pentastirinorum" group in the Gammaproteobacteria, both previously identified in different leafhoppers and planthoppers. A high infection rate (81%) was also shown for another symbiont belonging to the Betaproteobacteria, designated the HO1-V symbiont. Because of the low level of 16S rRNA gene identity (80%) with the closest relative, an uncharacterized symbiont of the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis, we propose the new name "Candidatus Vidania fulgoroideae." Other bacterial endosymbionts identified in H. obsoletus were related to the intracellular bacteria Wolbachia pipientis, Rickettsia sp., and "Candidatus Cardinium hertigii." Fluorescent in situ hybridization coupled with confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that these bacteria are localized in the gut, testicles, and oocytes. As "Ca. Sulcia" is usually reported in association with other symbiotic bacteria, we propose that in H. obsoletus, it may occur in a bipartite or even tripartite relationship between "Ca. Sulcia" and "Ca. Purcelliella," "Ca. Vidania," or both.
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Harris HL, Brennan LJ, Keddie BA, Braig HR. Bacterial symbionts in insects: balancing life and death. Symbiosis 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s13199-010-0065-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Arruda AP, Milanski M, Romanatto T, Solon C, Coope A, Alberici LC, Festuccia WT, Hirabara SM, Ropelle E, Curi R, Carvalheira JB, Vercesi AE, Velloso LA. Hypothalamic actions of tumor necrosis factor alpha provide the thermogenic core for the wastage syndrome in cachexia. Endocrinology 2010; 151:683-94. [PMID: 19996183 DOI: 10.1210/en.2009-0865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
TNFalpha is an important mediator of catabolism in cachexia. Most of its effects have been characterized in peripheral tissues, such as skeletal muscle and fat. However, by acting directly in the hypothalamus, TNFalpha can activate thermogenesis and modulate food intake. Here we show that high concentration TNFalpha in the hypothalamus leads to increased O(2) consumption/CO(2) production, increased body temperature, and reduced caloric intake, resulting in loss of body mass. Most of the thermogenic response is produced by beta 3-adrenergic signaling to the brown adipose tissue (BAT), leading to increased BAT relative mass, reduction in BAT lipid quantity, and increased BAT mitochondria density. The expression of proteins involved in BAT thermogenesis, such as beta 3-adrenergic receptor, peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha, and uncoupling protein-1, are increased. In the hypothalamus, TNFalpha produces reductions in neuropeptide Y, agouti gene-related peptide, proopiomelanocortin, and melanin-concentrating hormone, and increases CRH and TRH. The activity of the AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway is also decreased in the hypothalamus of TNFalpha-treated rats. Upon intracerebroventricular infliximab treatment, tumor-bearing and septic rats present a significantly increased survival. In addition, the systemic inhibition of beta 3-adrenergic signaling results in a reduced body mass loss and increased survival in septic rats. These data suggest hypothalamic TNFalpha action to be important mediator of the wastage syndrome in cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Arruda
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, University of Campinas, 13084-960 Campinas SP, Brazil
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Engelstädter J, Hurst GD. The Ecology and Evolution of Microbes that Manipulate Host Reproduction. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2009. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.110308.120206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 390] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Engelstädter
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, CH-8092 Switzerland;
| | - Gregory D.D. Hurst
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB United Kingdom
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Hoffmann AA, Reynolds KT, Nash MA, Weeks AR. A high incidence of parthenogenesis in agricultural pests. Proc Biol Sci 2008; 275:2473-81. [PMID: 18647717 PMCID: PMC2603198 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2008.0685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parthenogenetic species are assumed to represent evolutionary dead ends, yet parthenogenesis is common in some groups of invertebrates particularly in those found in relatively constant environments. This suggests that parthenogenetic reproduction might be common in pest invertebrates from uniform agricultural environments. Based on the evaluations of two databases from North America and Italy, we found that parthenogenetic species comprised 45 per cent (North America) or 48 per cent (Italy) of pest species derived from genera where parthenogenesis occurred, compared with an overall incidence of 10 per cent or 16 per cent in these genera. In establishing these patterns, we included only genera containing at least some member species that reproduced by parthenogenesis. The high incidence of parthenogenesis in pest species is spread across different families and several insect orders. Parthenogenetic reproduction may be favoured in agricultural environments when particular clones have a high fitness across multiple generations. Increasing the complexity and variability of agricultural environments represents one way of potentially controlling parthenogenetic pest species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ary A Hoffmann
- Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3052 Victoria, Australia.
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