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Reese C, Graber LC, Ramalho MO, Moreau CS. The Diversity of Wolbachia across the Turtle Ants (Formicidae: Cephalotes spp.). BIOLOGY 2024; 13:121. [PMID: 38392339 PMCID: PMC10886965 DOI: 10.3390/biology13020121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Wolbachia is a widespread and well-known bacterium that can induce a wide range of changes within its host. Ants specifically harbor a great deal of Wolbachia diversity and are useful systems to study endosymbiosis. The turtle ants (Cephalotes) are a widespread group of tropical ants that rely on gut microbes to support their herbivorous diet for their survival, yet little is known of the extent of this diversity. Therefore, studying their endosymbionts and categorizing the diversity of bacteria within Cephalotes hosts could help to delimit species and identify new strains and can help lead to a further understanding of how the microbiome leads to survival and speciation in the wild. In our study, 116 individual samples were initially tested for positive infection with the wsp gene. Of the initial 116 samples, 9 samples were infected with only one strain of Wolbachia, and 7 were able to be used successfully for multilocus sequence typing (MLST). We used the new MLST data to infer a phylogeny with other Formicidae samples from the MLST online database to identify new Wolbachia strains and related genes, of which only one came back as an exact match. The 18 Wolbachia-positive samples ranged across 15 different species and 7 different countries, which we further test for species identity and geographic correlation. This study is the first comprehensive look into the diversity of Wolbachia in the turtle ants, providing insight into how endosymbionts are oriented in widespread species and providing a strong foundation for further research in host-microbe interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey Reese
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Leland C Graber
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Manuela O Ramalho
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, USA
| | - Corrie S Moreau
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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The Facet of Human Impact: Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972 Spreading around the Atlantic Forest. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15020194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The present investigation deals with some aspects of the diversity of fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in their native range. The Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta is native to the tropical and subtropical inland territories of South America. In Brazil, it mainly occurs around the Pantanal region and across the Paraguay river, a region composed of grasslands which are seasonally flooded. Recent studies have evidenced this fire ant species is gradually spreading to other regions of Brazil. In the present investigation, we surveyed the molecular diversity of S. invicta populations across fragments of Atlantic Forest in São Paulo, Brazil, using mtDNA COI haplotypes. Fire ant nests were sampled along the highways lining the northern and southern slope sides of the mountain range Serra do Mar, SP, Brazil. Four haplotypes were identified (H1–H4), which were assessed for similarity to deposited records by other authors, revealing that the haplotypes H1 and H2 are likely of foreign origin through recent reintroduction via a marine port to the south of the Serra do Mar mountain range. On the other hand, the haplotypes H3 and H4, predominating among the inland samples from the northern side of the mountain range, were most similar to previous records from more central regions of Brazil. Haplotypes clustered into distinct supergroups, further pointing to the occurrence of two separate expansion waves of S. invicta in the region. We suggest the obtained pattern indicates the mountain range may function as a geographical barrier deferring gene flow.
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New Strains of Wolbachia Unveiling the Complexity of This Symbiotic Interaction in Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/microbiolres12030040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Wolbachia are widely distributed in arthropods, particularly in ants; nevertheless, it is still little explored with the Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) methodology, especially in the genus Solenopsis, which includes species native to South America. Ants from this genus have species distributed in a cosmopolitan way with some of them being native to South America. In Brazil, they are widely spread and preferentially associated with areas of human activity. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of Wolbachia in ants of the genus Solenopsis through the MLST approach and their phylogenetic relationship, including the relationship between mtDNA from the host and the related Wolbachia strain. We also tested the geographic correlation between the strains to infer transmission and distributional patterns. Fifteen new strains and eleven previously unknown alleles were obtained by sequencing and analyzing the five genes that make up the MLST. The phylogenetic relationship between the strains showed a polyphyletic pattern, indicative of the complexity of the evolutionary history of these bacteria in the analyzed species. We detected the correlation of host’s mitochondrial DNA with Wolbachia diversity which imply that related strains exist in related hosts, strongly suggesting the occurrence of vertical transfer. We found no specificity of the Wolbachia strain for a given geographic region that could indicate either that there is no horizontal transfer of the strain from the environment for the host or that the human action could be shuffling the distribution of the Solenopsis ants and the endosymbiont Wolbachia, as well. Our study highlights the complexity and novelty of Wolbachia diversity with this specific group of ants and the need for further studies that focus on understanding of this intricate relationship.
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Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba A, Zagaja M, Wagner GK, Pietrykowska-Tudruj E, Staniec B. First Insight into Microbiome Profiles of Myrmecophilous Beetles and Their Host, Red Wood Ant Formica polyctena (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)-A Case Study. INSECTS 2020; 11:E134. [PMID: 32092972 PMCID: PMC7073670 DOI: 10.3390/insects11020134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Formica polyctena belongs to the red wood ant species group. Its nests provide a stable, food rich, and temperature and humidity controlled environment, utilized by a wide range of species, called myrmecophiles. Here, we used the high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene on the Illumina platform for identification of the microbiome profiles of six selected myrmecophilous beetles (Dendrophilus pygmaeus, Leptacinus formicetorum, Monotoma angusticollis, Myrmechixenus subterraneus, Ptenidium formicetorum and Thiasophila angulata) and their host F. polyctena. Analyzed bacterial communities consisted of a total of 23 phyla, among which Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes were the most abundant. Two known endosymbionts-Wolbachia and Rickettsia-were found in the analyzed microbiome profiles and Wolbachia was dominant in bacterial communities associated with F. polyctena, M. subterraneus, L. formicetorum and P. formicetorum (>90% of reads). In turn, M. angusticollis was co-infected with both Wolbachia and Rickettsia, while in the microbiome of T. angulata, the dominance of Rickettsia has been observed. The relationships among the microbiome profiles were complex, and no relative abundance pattern common to all myrmecophilous beetles tested was observed. However, some subtle, species-specific patterns have been observed for bacterial communities associated with D. pygmaeus, M. angusticollis, and T. angulata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba
- Department of Genetics and Biosystematics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Mirosław Zagaja
- Isobolographic Analysis Laboratory, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Grzegorz K. Wagner
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland; (G.K.W.); (E.P.-T.); (B.S.)
| | - Ewa Pietrykowska-Tudruj
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland; (G.K.W.); (E.P.-T.); (B.S.)
| | - Bernard Staniec
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland; (G.K.W.); (E.P.-T.); (B.S.)
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Reeves DD, Price SL, Ramalho MO, Moreau CS. The Diversity and Distribution of Wolbachia, Rhizobiales, and Ophiocordyceps Within the Widespread Neotropical Turtle Ant, Cephalotes atratus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:52-60. [PMID: 31912447 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-019-00735-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ants are an ecologically and evolutionarily diverse group, and they harbor a wide range of symbiotic microbial communities that often greatly affect their biology. Turtle ants (genus Cephalotes) engage in mutualistic relationships with gut bacteria and are exploited by microbial parasites. Studies have shown that associations among these microbial lineages and the turtle ant hosts vary geographically. However, these studies have been limited, and thorough within-species analyses of the variation and structure of these microbial communities have yet to be conducted. The giant turtle ant, Cephalotes atratus (Linnaeus 1758), is a geographically widespread, genetically diverse Neotropical species that has been sampled extensively across its geographic range, making it ideal for analysis of microbial associations. In this study, we verified the presence, genetic variation, and geographic patterns at the individual, colony, and population level of three microbial groups associated with the giant turtle ant: Wolbachia, a genus of facultative bacteria which are often parasitic, affecting host reproduction; Rhizobiales, a mutualistic order of bacteria hypothesized to be an obligate nutritional symbiont in turtle ants; and Ophiocordyceps, a genus of endoparasitic fungi infecting many arthropod species by manipulating their behavior for fungal reproduction. In this study, we found varying degrees of prevalence for two distantly related genotypes (haplogroups) of Wolbachia and high degree of prevalence of Rhizobiales across colonies with little genetic variation. In addition, we found low occurrence of Ophiocordyceps. This study highlights a key first step in understanding the diversity, distribution, and prevalence of the microbial community of C. atratus.
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Affiliation(s)
- D D Reeves
- Department of Science and Education, Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - S L Price
- Department of Science and Education, Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - M O Ramalho
- Department of Science and Education, Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - C S Moreau
- Department of Science and Education, Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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6
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Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba A, Zagaja M, Wagner GK, Pietrykowska-Tudruj E, Staniec B. The microbiota of the Lasius fuliginosus – Pella laticollis myrmecophilous interaction. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2020.1844322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A. Kaczmarczyk-Ziemba
- Department of Genetics and Biosystematics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - M. Zagaja
- Isobolographic Analysis Laboratory, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
| | - G. K. Wagner
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - E. Pietrykowska-Tudruj
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - B. Staniec
- Department of Zoology and Nature Protection, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland
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Chen R, Su X, Chen J, Jiang L, Qiao GX. Wolbachia Infection in Two Species: Novel Views on the Colonization Ability of Wolbachia in Aphids. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 48:1388-1393. [PMID: 31644794 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvz122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia pipientis (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) is an intracellular symbiont residing in arthropods and filarial nematodes. Sixteen supergroups have been described from different host taxa. Four supergroups A, B, M, and N were found in aphids according to prior studies. The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, and the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, are typical polyphagous species with global distributions. We conducted an extensive and systematic survey of Wolbachia infections in these aphids from China. High incidences of Wolbachia infection were detected. The total infection incidence was 60% in A. gossypii and 88% in M. persicae. Both aphid species were infected with supergroups A, B and M. Different incidences of infection were observed among the seven geographical regions in China, which suggested a positive relationship between Wolbachia infections and the geographical distribution of aphid species. Furthermore, multiple infection patterns (M, B, A&M, B&M, and A&B&M) were observed. Infection patterns M and B&M were detected in almost all populations. Patterns A&B&M and B showed geographical restriction in North China. Three factors can possibly influence the Wolbachia infection incidences and patterns: the geographical distribution, aphid species, and different supergroup types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomin Su
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jing Chen
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Liyun Jiang
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Ge-Xia Qiao
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
- College of Life Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
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8
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Diversity of Wolbachia Associated with the Giant Turtle Ant, Cephalotes atratus. Curr Microbiol 2019; 76:1330-1337. [PMID: 31254009 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-019-01722-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Symbiotic relationships between organisms are common throughout the tree of life, and often these organisms share an evolutionary history. In turtle ants (Cephalotes), symbiotic associations with bacteria are known to be especially important for supplementing the nutrients that their herbivorous diets do not provide. However, much remains unknown about the diversity of many common bacterial symbionts with turtle ants, such as Wolbachia. Here, we surveyed the diversity of Wolbachia, focusing on one species of turtle ant with a particularly wide geographic range, Cephalotes atratus. Colonies were collected from the entire range of C. atratus, and we detected the presence of Wolbachia by sequencing multiple individuals per colony for wsp. Then, using the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach, we determined each individual's unique sequence type (ST) based on comparison to sequences published in the Wolbachia MLST Database ( https://pubmlst.org/wolbachia/ ). The results of this study suggest that there is a high level of diversity of Wolbachia strains among colonies from different regions, while the diversity within colonies is very low. Additionally, 13 novel variants (alleles) were uncovered. These results suggest that the level of diversity of Wolbachia within species is affected by geography, and the high level of diversity observed among Cephalotes atratus populations may be explained by their wide geographic range.
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Tolley SJA, Nonacs P, Sapountzis P. Wolbachia Horizontal Transmission Events in Ants: What Do We Know and What Can We Learn? Front Microbiol 2019; 10:296. [PMID: 30894837 PMCID: PMC6414450 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While strict vertical transmission insures the durability of intracellular symbioses, phylogenetic incongruences between hosts and endosymbionts suggest horizontal transmission must also occur. These horizontal acquisitions can have important implications for the biology of the host. Wolbachia is one of the most ecologically successful prokaryotes in arthropods, infecting an estimated 50–70% of all insect species. Much of this success is likely due to the fact that, in arthropods, Wolbachia is notorious for manipulating host reproduction to favor transmission through the female germline. However, its natural potential for horizontal transmission remains poorly understood. Here we evaluate the fundamental prerequisites for successful horizontal transfer, including necessary environmental conditions, genetic potential of bacterial strains, and means of mediating transfers. Furthermore, we revisit the relatedness of Wolbachia strains infecting the Panamanian leaf-cutting ant, Acromyrmex echinatior, and its inquiline social parasite, Acromyrmex insinuator, and compare our results to a study published more than 15 years ago by Van Borm et al. (2003). The results of this pilot study prompt us to reevaluate previous notions that obligate social parasitism reliably facilitates horizontal transfer and suggest that not all Wolbachia strains associated with ants have the same genetic potential for horizontal transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J A Tolley
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Peter Nonacs
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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10
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Zhukova M, Sapountzis P, Schiøtt M, Boomsma JJ. Diversity and Transmission of Gut Bacteria in Atta and Acromyrmex Leaf-Cutting Ants during Development. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1942. [PMID: 29067008 PMCID: PMC5641371 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The social Hymenoptera have distinct larval and adult stages separated by metamorphosis, which implies striking remodeling of external and internal body structures during the pupal stage. This imposes challenges to gut symbionts as existing cultures are lost and may or may not need to be replaced. To elucidate the extent to which metamorphosis interrupts associations between bacteria and hosts, we analyzed changes in gut microbiota during development and traced the transmission routes of dominant symbionts from the egg to adult stage in the leaf-cutting ants Acromyrmex echinatior and Atta cephalotes, which are both important functional herbivores in the New World tropics. Bacterial density remained similar across the developmental stages of Acromyrmex, but Atta brood had very low bacterial prevalences suggesting that bacterial gut symbionts are not actively maintained. We found that Wolbachia was the absolute dominant bacterial species across developmental stages in Acromyrmex and we confirmed that Atta lacks Wolbachia also in the immature stages, and had mostly Mollicutes bacteria in the adult worker guts. Wolbachia in Acromyrmex appeared to be transovarially transmitted similar to transmission in solitary insects. In contrast, Mollicutes were socially transmitted from old workers to newly emerged callows. We found that larval and pupal guts of both ant species contained Pseudomonas and Enterobacter bacteria that are also found in fungus gardens, but hardly or not in adult workers, suggesting they are beneficial only for larval growth and development. Our results reveal that transmission pathways for bacterial symbionts may be very different both between developmental stages and between sister genera and that identifying the mechanisms of bacterial acquisition and loss will be important to clarify their putative mutualistic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya Zhukova
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Panagiotis Sapountzis
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Schiøtt
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacobus J Boomsma
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Ramalho MO, Martins C, Silva LMR, Martins VG, Bueno OC. Intracellular Symbiotic Bacteria of Camponotus textor, Forel (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Curr Microbiol 2017; 74:589-597. [PMID: 28261755 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-017-1201-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
This study focuses on the weaver ant, Camponotus textor, Forel which occurs in some areas of the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, and its symbionts: Blochmannia, an obligate symbiont of Camponotus, and Wolbachia, known for causing reproductive alterations in their hosts. The main goal of this study was to investigate the presence, frequency of occurrence, and diversity of Wolbachia and Blochmannia strains in C. textor colonies. We found high infection rates (100%) and the occurrence of at least two distinct strains of Blochmannia (H_1 or H_7) in the same species. The observed haplotype variation within a single species may result from the high mutation rate of the symbiont. Similarly, the Wolbachia was found in all colonies with different rates of infections and a new strain (supergroup A) was deposited in the MLST database. The diversity found in the present study shows that there is still much to explore to understand about these symbiotic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela O Ramalho
- Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" UNESP - Campus Rio Claro, Biologia, CEIS, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil.
| | - Cintia Martins
- Universidade Federal do Piauí - Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Av. São Sebastião, 2819, 64.202-020, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Larissa M R Silva
- Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" UNESP - Campus Rio Claro, Biologia, CEIS, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Vanderlei G Martins
- Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" UNESP - Campus Rio Claro, Biologia, CEIS, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Odair C Bueno
- Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" UNESP - Campus Rio Claro, Biologia, CEIS, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
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de Oliveira CD, Gonçalves DS, Baton LA, Shimabukuro PHF, Carvalho FD, Moreira LA. Broader prevalence of Wolbachia in insects including potential human disease vectors. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2015; 105:305-315. [PMID: 25772521 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485315000085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Wolbachia are intracellular, maternally transmitted bacteria considered the most abundant endosymbionts found in arthropods. They reproductively manipulate their host in order to increase their chances of being transmitted to the offspring, and currently are being used as a tool to control vector-borne diseases. Studies on distribution of Wolbachia among its arthropod hosts are important both for better understanding why this bacterium is so common, as well as for its potential use as a biological control agent. Here, we studied the incidence of Wolbachia in a broad range of insect species, collected from different regions of Brazil, using three genetic markers (16S rRNA, wsp and ftsZ), which varied in terms of their sensitivity to detect this bacterium. The overall incidence of Wolbachia among species belonging to 58 families and 14 orders was 61.9%. The most common positive insect orders were Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera and Hymenoptera, with Diptera and Hemiptera having the highest numbers of Wolbachia-positive families. They included potential human disease vectors whose infection status has never been reported before. Our study further shows the importance of using quantitative polymerase chain reaction for high-throughput and sensitive Wolbachia screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- C D de Oliveira
- Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno Vetor
| | - D S Gonçalves
- Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno Vetor
| | - L A Baton
- Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno Vetor
| | - P H F Shimabukuro
- Estudos em Leishmanioses,Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou (CPqRR),FIOCRUZ,Avenida Augusto de Lima,1715,Barro Preto,Belo Horizonte,Minas Gerais,CEP 30190-002,Brazil
| | - F D Carvalho
- Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno Vetor
| | - L A Moreira
- Mosquitos Vetores: Endossimbiontes e Interação Patógeno Vetor
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13
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Munhae CDB, Morini MSDC, Bueno OC. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in vineyards that are infested or uninfested with Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) in Southeastern Brazil. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2014; 14:142. [PMID: 25347833 PMCID: PMC5634064 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieu004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The association between ants and mealybugs can result in damage to agriculture, including vineyards. In southern Brazil, the ant Linepithema micans F. contributes to the dispersal of Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Wille) (ground pearl), a root mealybug that can lead to economic losses. In this study, the ant communities in vineyards that were infested or uninfested with ground pearls were evaluated in the primary municipalities that produce the Niágara Rosada variety of grapes in southeastern Brazil. The hypothesis of this study was that the composition of the ant community differs between vineyards with and without E. brasiliensis. The ants were collected using subterranean traps in 10 vineyards infested with this mealybug and 10 uninfested vineyards. There was no significant association between ground pearls and the composition or richness of the ant species. Solenopsis invicta (Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) was the most frequently observed, and Pheidole aberrans (Mayr), Pheidole subarmata (Mayr), and Brachymyrmex incisus F. were common, especially in the rainy season when ground-pearl nymphs were prevalent in the state of São Paulo. Species from preserved or specialized environments were recorded in the vineyards, even with the use of conventional management techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina De Bortoli Munhae
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais, Instituto de Biociências, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Santina De Castro Morini
- Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais, Laboratório de Mirmecologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Odair Correa Bueno
- Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais, Instituto de Biociências, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
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Jiang W, Zhu J, Chen M, Yang Q, Du X, Chen S, Zhang L, Yu Y, Yu W. Wolbachia infection status and genetic structure in natural populations of Polytremis nascens (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 27:202-11. [PMID: 25077993 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The maternally inherited obligate bacteria Wolbachia is known for infecting the reproductive tissues of a wide range of arthropods. In this study, we surveyed Wolbachia infections in Polytremis nascens (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from 14 locations in China by amplifying the 16S rRNA gene with a nested PCR method and revealed the effect of Wolbachia on host mitochondrial DNA. The results show that 31% (21/67) are Wolbachia positive among all specimens and mainly prevails in southern populations in China. No significant difference in the prevalence is found between the sexes. Notably, the nucleotide diversity of Wolbachia infected butterflies is smaller compared to that of uninfected butterflies. The mitochondrial DNA of infected group appear to be not evolving neutrally (Tajima's D value=-2.3303 and Fu's F values=-3.7068). The analysis of molecular variance shows significant differentiation of mitochondrial haplotypes between infected and uninfected specimens (FST=0.6064). The mismatch analysis speculated the different expansion pattern in Wolbachia infected specimens and all P. nascens specimens. These results suggest that the populations of P. nascens may have recently been subjected to a Wolbachia-induced sweep. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis differentiated the mitochondrial haplotypes of P. nascens into three major clades. The clades are in perfect agreement with the pattern of Wolbachia infection. One of the clades grouped with the butterflies infected with Wolbachia. The remaining two clades grouped with uninfected butterflies from the central-west of China populations and Eastern and Southern China populations respectively, which are isolated mainly by the Yangtze River. The analysis of haplotype networks, geographic distribution and population size change shows that Haplotype 1 in central-west of China is the ancestral haplotype and the populations of P. nascens are expanded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weibin Jiang
- Shanghai Normal University, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianqing Zhu
- Shanghai Zoological Park, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Minghan Chen
- Shanghai Normal University, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qichang Yang
- Shanghai Normal University, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Du
- Shanghai Normal University, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiyan Chen
- Shanghai Normal University, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Shanghai Normal University, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiming Yu
- Shanghai Normal University, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Weidong Yu
- Shanghai Normal University, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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Martins C, de Souza RF, Bueno OC. Molecular characterization of fire ants, Solenopsis spp., from Brazil based on analysis of mtDNA gene cytochrome oxidase I. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2014; 14:50. [PMID: 25373197 PMCID: PMC4206226 DOI: 10.1093/jis/14.1.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2011] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Species from the Solenopsis saevissima (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) species group are native to South America and have a cosmopolitan distribution because they have been accidentally introduced in many countries around the world. In Brazil, they have a wide distribution, including urban areas. The present study was conducted to investigate the characterization of Solenopsis genus populations associated with urban/human interference sites in Brazil by analyzing the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I and estimating the degree of relatedness of these populations to make inferences about their phylogeny and also observe the patterns of mitochondrial haplotype (mitotype) distribution across their range. The results revealed complete geographical coherence and polyphyly for the Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis saevissima species groups, which confirms the diversity of the genera. It also suggests the possibility that reproductively-isolated populations occur, resulting in the evolutionary process of speciation. No predominant haplotype was found in the populations analyzed, but some were more prevalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cintia Martins
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Campus de Parnaíba, Avenida São Sebastião, 2819, 64202-020, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Fernando de Souza
- UNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquista Filho/ CEIS Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais. Avenida 24A, 1515. CEP 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Odair Correa Bueno
- UNESP Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquista Filho/ CEIS Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais. Avenida 24A, 1515. CEP 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
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