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Yuan F, Xie Z, Li Z, Lian P, Wei C. Screening of reference genes for gene expression study in different tissues from the transcriptome data of the vector leafhopper Psammotettix striatus. Gene 2024; 927:148696. [PMID: 38878986 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Selecting appropriate reference genes is crucial for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of gene expression study using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). To screen the optimal reference genes for analyzing gene expression in different tissues of the vector leafhopper Psammotettix striatus which causes extensive damage to a wide range of crops by vectoring multiple plant pathogenic microorganisms, the transcriptome data from Malpighian tubules (MTs) of P. striatus were mined. Twenty alternative candidate reference genes were initially selected for screening, among which seven genes with diverse Gene Ontology (GO) annotations were choosed as candidate reference genes, i.e., ribosomal protein L7A (RPL7A), ribosomal protein S28 (RPS28), ribosomal protein L22 (RPL22), ribosomal protein LP2 (RPLP2), H3 histone family 3A (H3F3A), elongation factor 1γ (EF-1γ), and elongation factor 1α (EF-1α). Gene expression levels in different tissues of P. striatus adults were examined using RT-qPCR, and their expression stability was analyzed using multiple reference gene screening software. This study revealed EF-1α as the most abundantly expressed gene, while RPL22 exhibited the lowest expression levels. EF-1α showed the most stable expression, whereas RPS28 showed the least stability. Various software tools confirmed EF-1α as the most stable single reference gene, and EF-1α and RPLP2 an optimal combination. This study provides a foundation for future investigation of the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms mediated by the vector leafhoppers, the function of the MTs, the biosynthesis of brochosomes, the coevolutionary processes and nutritional interactions of symbionts and host insects, and the gene expression study of other sap-sucking insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feimin Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management On Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhen Xie
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management On Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zi Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management On Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Pengcheng Lian
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management On Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Cong Wei
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management On Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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Berasategui A, Salem H, Moller AG, Christopher Y, Vidaurre Montoya Q, Conn C, Read TD, Rodrigues A, Ziemert N, Gerardo N. Genomic insights into the evolution of secondary metabolism of Escovopsis and its allies, specialized fungal symbionts of fungus-farming ants. mSystems 2024; 9:e0057624. [PMID: 38904377 PMCID: PMC11265373 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00576-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The metabolic intimacy of symbiosis often demands the work of specialists. Natural products and defensive secondary metabolites can drive specificity by ensuring infection and propagation across host generations. But in contrast to bacteria, little is known about the diversity and distribution of natural product biosynthetic pathways among fungi and how they evolve to facilitate symbiosis and adaptation to their host environment. In this study, we define the secondary metabolism of Escovopsis and closely related genera, symbionts in the gardens of fungus-farming ants. We ask how the gain and loss of various biosynthetic pathways correspond to divergent lifestyles. Long-read sequencing allowed us to define the chromosomal features of representative Escovopsis strains, revealing highly reduced genomes composed of seven to eight chromosomes. The genomes are highly syntenic with macrosynteny decreasing with increasing phylogenetic distance, while maintaining a high degree of mesosynteny. An ancestral state reconstruction analysis of biosynthetic pathways revealed that, while many secondary metabolites are shared with non-ant-associated Sordariomycetes, 56 pathways are unique to the symbiotic genera. Reflecting adaptation to diverging ant agricultural systems, we observe that the stepwise acquisition of these pathways mirrors the ecological radiations of attine ants and the dynamic recruitment and replacement of their fungal cultivars. As different clades encode characteristic combinations of biosynthetic gene clusters, these delineating profiles provide important insights into the possible mechanisms underlying specificity between these symbionts and their fungal hosts. Collectively, our findings shed light on the evolutionary dynamic nature of secondary metabolism in Escovopsis and its allies, reflecting adaptation of the symbionts to an ancient agricultural system.IMPORTANCEMicrobial symbionts interact with their hosts and competitors through a remarkable array of secondary metabolites and natural products. Here, we highlight the highly streamlined genomic features of attine-associated fungal symbionts. The genomes of Escovopsis species, as well as species from other symbiont genera, many of which are common with the gardens of fungus-growing ants, are defined by seven chromosomes. Despite a high degree of metabolic conservation, we observe some variation in the symbionts' potential to produce secondary metabolites. As the phylogenetic distribution of the encoding biosynthetic gene clusters coincides with attine transitions in agricultural systems, we highlight the likely role of these metabolites in mediating adaptation by a group of highly specialized symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen Berasategui
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Cluster of Excellence-Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Mutualisms Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hassan Salem
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Mutualisms Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Abraham G. Moller
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Yuliana Christopher
- Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Ciudad del Saber, Panamá City, Panama
| | - Quimi Vidaurre Montoya
- Department of General and Applied Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Caitlin Conn
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biology, Berry College, Mount Berry, Georgia, USA
| | - Timothy D. Read
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Andre Rodrigues
- Department of General and Applied Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nadine Ziemert
- Cluster of Excellence-Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Translational Genome Mining for Natural Products, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT), Interfaculty Institute for Biomedical Informatics (IBMI), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicole Gerardo
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Takasu R, Izu T, Nakabachi A. A limited concentration range of diaphorin, a polyketide produced by a bacterial symbiont of the Asian citrus psyllid, promotes the in vitro gene expression with bacterial ribosomes. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0017024. [PMID: 38832800 PMCID: PMC11218438 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00170-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Diaphorin is a polyketide produced by "Candidatus Profftella armatura" (Gammaproteobacteria: Burkholderiales), an obligate symbiont of a devastating agricultural pest, the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Physiological concentrations of diaphorin, which D. citri contains at levels as high as 2-20 mM, are inhibitory to various eukaryotes and Bacillus subtilis (Firmicutes: Bacilli) but promote the growth and metabolic activity of Escherichia coli (Gammaproteobacteria: Enterobacterales). Our previous study demonstrated that 5-mM diaphorin, which exhibits significant inhibitory and promoting effects on cultured B. subtilis and E. coli, respectively, inhibits in vitro gene expression utilizing purified B. subtilis and E. coli ribosomes. This suggested that the adverse effects of diaphorin on B. subtilis are partly due to its influence on gene expression. However, the result appeared inconsistent with the positive impact on E. coli. Moreover, the diaphorin concentration in bacterial cells, where genes are expressed in vivo, may be lower than in culture media. Therefore, the present study analyzed the effects of 50 and 500 µM of diaphorin on bacterial gene expression using the same analytical method. The result revealed that this concentration range of diaphorin, in contrast to 5-mM diaphorin, promotes the in vitro translation with the B. subtilis and E. coli ribosomes, suggesting that the positive effects of diaphorin on E. coli are due to its direct effects on translation. This study demonstrated for the first time that a pederin-type compound promotes gene expression, establishing a basis for utilizing its potential in pest management and industrial applications.IMPORTANCEThis study revealed that a limited concentration range of diaphorin, a secondary metabolite produced by a bacterial symbiont of an agricultural pest, promotes cell-free gene expression utilizing substrates and proteins purified from bacteria. The unique property of diaphorin, which is inhibitory to various eukaryotes and Bacillus subtilis but promotes the growth and metabolic activity of Escherichia coli, may affect the microbial flora of the pest insect, potentially influencing the transmission of devastating plant pathogens. Moreover, the activity may be exploited to improve the efficacy of industrial production by E. coli, which is often used to produce various important materials, including pharmaceuticals, enzymes, amino acids, and biofuels. This study elucidated a part of the mechanism by which the unique activity of diaphorin is expressed, constructing a foundation for applying the distinct property to pest management and industrial use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rena Takasu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takashi Izu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nakabachi
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
- Research Center for Agrotechnology and Biotechnology, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
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Sosa-Jiménez VM, Kvist S, Manzano-Marín A, Oceguera-Figueroa A. Discovery of a novel symbiotic lineage associated with a hematophagous leech from the genus Haementeria. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0428623. [PMID: 38842327 PMCID: PMC11218487 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04286-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Similarly to other strict blood feeders, leeches from the Haementeria genus (Hirudinida: Glossiphoniidae) have established a symbiotic association with bacteria harbored intracellularly in esophageal bacteriomes. Previous genome sequence analyses of these endosymbionts revealed co-divergence with their hosts, a strong genome reduction, and a simplified metabolism largely dedicated to the production of B vitamins, which are nutrients lacking from a blood diet. 'Candidatus Providencia siddallii' has been identified as the obligate nutritional endosymbiont of a monophyletic clade of Mexican and South American Haementeria spp. However, the Haementeria genus includes a sister clade of congeners from Central and South America, where the presence or absence of the aforementioned symbiont taxon remains unknown. In this work, we report on a novel bacterial endosymbiont found in a representative from this Haementeria clade. We found that this symbiont lineage has evolved from within the Pluralibacter genus, known mainly from clinical but also environmental strains. Similarly to Ca. Providencia siddallii, the Haementeria-associated Pluralibacter symbiont displays clear signs of genome reduction, accompanied by an A+T-biased sequence composition. Genomic analysis of its metabolic potential revealed a retention of pathways related to B vitamin biosynthesis, supporting its role as a nutritional endosymbiont. Finally, comparative genomics of both Haementeria symbiont lineages suggests that an ancient Providencia symbiont was likely replaced by the novel Pluralibacter one, thus constituting the first reported case of nutritional symbiont replacement in a leech without morphological changes in the bacteriome. IMPORTANCE Obligate symbiotic associations with a nutritional base have likely evolved more than once in strict blood-feeding leeches. Unlike those symbioses found in hematophagous arthropods, the nature, identity, and evolutionary history of these remains poorly studied. In this work, we further explored obligate nutritional associations between Haementeria leeches and their microbial symbionts, which led to the unexpected discovery of a novel symbiosis with a member of the Pluralibacter genus. When compared to Providencia siddallii, an obligate nutritional symbiont of other Haementeria leeches, this novel bacterial symbiont shows convergent retention of the metabolic pathways involved in B vitamin biosynthesis. Moreover, the genomic characteristics of this Pluralibacter symbiont suggest a more recent association than that of Pr. siddallii and Haementeria. We conclude that the once-thought stable associations between blood-feeding Glossiphoniidae and their symbionts (i.e., one bacteriome structure, one symbiont lineage) can break down, mirroring symbiont turnover observed in various arthropod lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Manuel Sosa-Jiménez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Sebastian Kvist
- Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alejandro Manzano-Marín
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Holt JR, Cavichiolli de Oliveira N, Medina RF, Malacrinò A, Lindsey ARI. Insect-microbe interactions and their influence on organisms and ecosystems. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11699. [PMID: 39041011 PMCID: PMC11260886 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms are important associates of insect and arthropod species. Insect-associated microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, can drastically impact host physiology, ecology, and fitness, while many microbes still have no known role. Over the past decade, we have increased our knowledge of the taxonomic composition and functional roles of insect-associated microbiomes and viromes. There has been a more recent shift toward examining the complexity of microbial communities, including how they vary in response to different factors (e.g., host genome, microbial strain, environment, and time), and the consequences of this variation for the host and the wider ecological community. We provide an overview of insect-microbe interactions, the variety of associated microbial functions, and the evolutionary ecology of these relationships. We explore the influence of the environment and the interactive effects of insects and their microbiomes across trophic levels. Additionally, we discuss the potential for subsequent synergistic and reciprocal impacts on the associated microbiomes, ecological interactions, and communities. Lastly, we discuss some potential avenues for the future of insect-microbe interactions that include the modification of existing microbial symbionts as well as the construction of synthetic microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Raul F. Medina
- Department of EntomologyTexas A&M University, Minnie Bell Heep CenterCollege StationTexasUSA
| | - Antonino Malacrinò
- Department of AgricultureUniversità Degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio CalabriaReggio CalabriaItaly
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Hoffmann AA, Cooper BS. Describing endosymbiont-host interactions within the parasitism-mutualism continuum. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11705. [PMID: 38975267 PMCID: PMC11224498 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Endosymbionts are widespread in arthropods, living in host cells with effects that extend from parasitic to mutualistic. Newly acquired endosymbionts tend to be parasitic, but vertical transmission favors coevolution toward mutualism, with hosts sometimes developing dependency. Endosymbionts negatively affecting host fitness may still spread by impacting host reproductive traits, referred to as reproductive "manipulation," although costs for hosts are often assumed rather than demonstrated. For cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) that involves endosymbiont-mediated embryo death, theory predicts directional shifts away from "manipulation" toward reduced CI strength; moreover, CI-causing endosymbionts need to increase host fitness to initially spread. In nature, endosymbiont-host interactions and dynamics are complex, often depending on environmental conditions and evolutionary history. We advocate for capturing this complexity through appropriate datasets, rather than relying on terms like "manipulation." Such imprecision can lead to the misclassification of endosymbionts along the parasitism-mutualism continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ary A. Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 InstituteUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brandon S. Cooper
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MontanaMissoulaMontanaUSA
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Łukasik P, Kolasa MR. With a little help from my friends: the roles of microbial symbionts in insect populations and communities. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230122. [PMID: 38705185 PMCID: PMC11070262 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
To understand insect abundance, distribution and dynamics, we need to understand the relevant drivers of their populations and communities. While microbial symbionts are known to strongly affect many aspects of insect biology, we lack data on their effects on populations or community processes, or on insects' evolutionary responses at different timescales. How these effects change as the anthropogenic effects on ecosystems intensify is an area of intense research. Recent developments in sequencing and bioinformatics permit cost-effective microbial diversity surveys, tracking symbiont transmission, and identification of functions across insect populations and multi-species communities. In this review, we explore how different functional categories of symbionts can influence insect life-history traits, how these effects could affect insect populations and their interactions with other species, and how they may affect processes and patterns at the level of entire communities. We argue that insect-associated microbes should be considered important drivers of insect response and adaptation to environmental challenges and opportunities. We also outline the emerging approaches for surveying and characterizing insect-associated microbiota at population and community scales. This article is part of the theme issue 'Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Michał R. Kolasa
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
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Liang Y, Dikow RB, Su X, Wen J, Ren Z. Comparative genomics of the primary endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola in aphid hosts and their coevolutionary relationships. BMC Biol 2024; 22:137. [PMID: 38902723 PMCID: PMC11188193 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01934-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coevolution between modern aphids and their primary obligate, bacterial endosymbiont, Buchnera aphidicola, has been previously reported at different classification levels based on molecular phylogenetic analyses. However, the Buchnera genome remains poorly understood within the Rhus gall aphids. RESULTS We assembled the complete genome of the endosymbiont Buchnera in 16 aphid samples, representing 13 species in all six genera of Rhus gall aphids by shotgun genome skimming method. We compared the newly assembled genomes with those from GenBank to comprehensively investigate patterns of coevolution between the bacteria Buchnera and their aphid hosts. Buchnera genomes were mostly collinear, and the pan-genome contained 684 genes, in which the core genome contained 256 genes with some lineages having large numbers of tandem gene duplications. There has been substantial gene-loss in each Buchnera lineage. We also reconstructed the phylogeny for Buchnera and their host aphids, respectively, using 72 complete genomes of Buchnera, along with the complete mitochondrial genomes and three nuclear genes of 31 corresponding host aphid accessions. The cophylogenetic test demonstrated significant coevolution between these two partner groups at individual, species, generic, and tribal levels. CONCLUSIONS Buchnera exhibits very high levels of genomic sequence divergence but relative stability in gene order. The relationship between the symbionts Buchnera and its aphid hosts shows a significant coevolutionary pattern and supports complexity of the obligate symbiotic relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukang Liang
- School of Life Science and Shanxi Key Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Biopesticides, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Rd, Taiyuan Shanxi, 030006, China
| | - Rebecca B Dikow
- Data Science Lab, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Smithsonian Institution, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC, 20024, USA
| | - Xu Su
- School of Geography and Life Science, Qinghai Normal University, 38 Wusixi Road, Xining, 810008, China
| | - Jun Wen
- Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, MRC-166, Washington, DC, 20013-7012, USA.
| | - Zhumei Ren
- School of Life Science and Shanxi Key Laboratory of Nucleic Acid Biopesticides, Shanxi University, 92 Wucheng Rd, Taiyuan Shanxi, 030006, China.
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Liu BQ, Bao XY, Yan JY, Zhang D, Sun X, Li CQ, Chen ZB, Luan JB. Rickettsia symbionts spread via mixed mode transmission, increasing female fecundity and sex ratio shift by host hormone modulating. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2406788121. [PMID: 38865267 PMCID: PMC11194588 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406788121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Heritable symbionts are common among animals in nature, but the molecular mechanisms underpinning symbiont invasions of host populations have been elusive. In this study, we demonstrate the spread of Rickettsia in an invasive agricultural pest, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED), across northeastern China from 2018 to 2023. Here, we show that the beneficial symbiont Rickettsia spreads by manipulating host hormone signals. Our analyses suggest that Rickettsia have been horizontally acquired by B. tabaci MED from another invasive whitefly B. tabaci Middle East-Asia Minor 1 during periods of coexistence. Rickettsia is transmitted maternally and horizontally from female B. tabaci MED individuals. Rickettsia infection enhances fecundity and results in female bias among whiteflies. Our findings reveal that Rickettsia infection stimulates juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis, in turn enhancing fecundity, copulation events, and the female ratio of the offspring. Consequently, Rickettsia infection results in increased whitefly fecundity and female bias by modulating the JH pathway. More female progeny facilitates the transmission of Rickettsia. This study illustrates that the spread of Rickettsia among invasive whiteflies in northeastern China is propelled by host hormone regulation. Such symbiont invasions lead to rapid physiological and molecular evolution in the host, influencing the biology and ecology of an invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Qi Liu
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang110866, China
| | - Xi-Yu Bao
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang110866, China
| | - Jin-Yang Yan
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang110866, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Liaoning Agricultural Development Service Center, Shenyang110034, China
| | - Xiang Sun
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang110866, China
| | - Chu-Qiao Li
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang110866, China
| | - Zhan-Bo Chen
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang110866, China
| | - Jun-Bo Luan
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang110866, China
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Hague MTJ, Wheeler TB, Cooper BS. Comparative analysis of Wolbachia maternal transmission and localization in host ovaries. Commun Biol 2024; 7:727. [PMID: 38877196 PMCID: PMC11178894 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06431-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Many insects and other animals carry microbial endosymbionts that influence their reproduction and fitness. These relationships only persist if endosymbionts are reliably transmitted from one host generation to the next. Wolbachia are maternally transmitted endosymbionts found in most insect species, but transmission rates can vary across environments. Maternal transmission of wMel Wolbachia depends on temperature in natural Drosophila melanogaster hosts and in transinfected Aedes aegypti, where wMel is used to block pathogens that cause human disease. In D. melanogaster, wMel transmission declines in the cold as Wolbachia become less abundant in host ovaries and at the posterior pole plasm (the site of germline formation) in mature oocytes. Here, we assess how temperature affects maternal transmission and underlying patterns of Wolbachia localization across 10 Wolbachia strains diverged up to 50 million years-including strains closely related to wMel-and their natural Drosophila hosts. Many Wolbachia maintain high transmission rates across temperatures, despite highly variable (and sometimes low) levels of Wolbachia in the ovaries and at the developing germline in late-stage oocytes. Identifying strains like closely related wMel-like Wolbachia with stable transmission across variable environmental conditions may improve the efficacy of Wolbachia-based biocontrol efforts as they expand into globally diverse environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy B Wheeler
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Brandon S Cooper
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
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Huang Z, Wang D, Zhou J, He H, Wei C. Segregation of endosymbionts in complex symbiotic system of cicadas providing novel insights into microbial symbioses and evolutionary dynamics of symbiotic organs in sap-feeding insects. Front Zool 2024; 21:15. [PMID: 38863001 PMCID: PMC11165832 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00536-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The most extraordinary systems of symbiosis in insects are found in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha of Hemiptera, which provide unique perspectives for uncovering complicated insect-microbe symbiosis. We investigated symbionts associated with bacteriomes and fat bodies in six cicada species, and compared transmitted cell number ratio of related symbionts in ovaries among species. We reveal that Sulcia and Hodgkinia or a yeast-like fungal symbiont (YLS) are segregated from other host tissues by the bacteriomes in the nymphal stage, then some of them may migrate to other organs (i.e., fat bodies and ovaries) during host development. Particularly, YLS resides together with Sulcia in the "symbiont ball" of each egg and the bacteriomes of young-instar nymphs, but finally migrates to the fat bodies of adults in the majority of Hodgkinia-free cicadas, whereas it resides in both bacteriome sheath and fat bodies of adults in a few other species. The transmitted Sulcia/YLS or Sulcia/Hodgkinia cell number ratio in ovaries varies significantly among species, which could be related to the distribution and/or lineage splitting of symbiont(s). Rickettsia localizes to the nuclei of bacteriomes and fat bodies in some species, but it was not observed to be transmitted to the ovaries, indicating that this symbiont may be acquired from environments or from father to offspring. The considerable difference in the transovarial transmission process of symbionts suggests that cellular mechanisms underlying the symbiont transmission are complex. Our results may provide novel insights into insect-microbe symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management On Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration for Control of Forest Biological Disasters in Western China, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Dandan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management On Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Jinrui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management On Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Hong He
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration for Control of Forest Biological Disasters in Western China, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
| | - Cong Wei
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management On Crops in Northwest Loess Plateau of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
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12
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Mulio SÅ, Zwolińska A, Klejdysz T, Prus‐Frankowska M, Michalik A, Kolasa M, Łukasik P. Limited variation in microbial communities across populations of Macrosteles leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 16:e13279. [PMID: 38855918 PMCID: PMC11163331 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Microbial symbionts play crucial roles in insect biology, yet their diversity, distribution, and temporal dynamics across host populations remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of bacterial symbionts within the widely distributed and economically significant leafhopper genus Macrosteles, with a focus on Macrosteles laevis. Using host and symbiont marker gene amplicon sequencing, we explored the intricate relationships between these insects and their microbial partners. Our analysis of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene data revealed several intriguing findings. First, there was no strong genetic differentiation across M. laevis populations, suggesting gene flow among them. Second, we observed significant levels of heteroplasmy, indicating the presence of multiple mitochondrial haplotypes within individuals. Third, parasitoid infections were prevalent, highlighting the complex ecological interactions involving leafhoppers. The 16S rRNA data confirmed the universal presence of ancient nutritional endosymbionts-Sulcia and Nasuia-in M. laevis. Additionally, we found a high prevalence of Arsenophonus, another common symbiont. Interestingly, unlike most previously studied species, M. laevis exhibited only occasional cases of infection with known facultative endosymbionts and other bacteria. Notably, there was no significant variation in symbiont prevalence across different populations or among sampling years within the same population. Comparatively, facultative endosymbionts such as Rickettsia, Wolbachia, Cardinium and Lariskella were more common in other Macrosteles species. These findings underscore the importance of considering both host and symbiont dynamics when studying microbial associations. By simultaneously characterizing host and symbiont marker gene amplicons in large insect collections, we gain valuable insights into the intricate interplay between insects and their microbial partners. Understanding these dynamics contributes to our broader comprehension of host-microbe interactions in natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Åhlén Mulio
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of BiologyJagiellonian UniversityKrakówPoland
| | - Agnieszka Zwolińska
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of BiologyAdam Mickiewicz UniversityPoznanPoland
| | - Tomasz Klejdysz
- Institute of Plant Protection – National Research InstituteResearch Centre for Registration of AgrochemicalsPoznańPoland
| | - Monika Prus‐Frankowska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of BiologyJagiellonian UniversityKrakówPoland
| | - Anna Michalik
- Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of BiologyJagiellonian UniversityKrakówPoland
| | - Michał Kolasa
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of BiologyJagiellonian UniversityKrakówPoland
| | - Piotr Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of BiologyJagiellonian UniversityKrakówPoland
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13
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Parmentier T, Molero-Baltanás R, Valdivia C, Gaju-Ricart M, Boeckx P, Łukasik P, Wybouw N. Co-habiting ants and silverfish display a converging feeding ecology. BMC Biol 2024; 22:123. [PMID: 38807209 PMCID: PMC11134936 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01914-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various animal taxa have specialized to living with social hosts. Depending on their level of specialization, these symbiotic animals are characterized by distinct behavioural, chemical, and morphological traits that enable close heterospecific interactions. Despite its functional importance, our understanding of the feeding ecology of animals living with social hosts remains limited. We examined how host specialization of silverfish co-habiting with ants affects several components of their feeding ecology. We combined stable isotope profiling, feeding assays, phylogenetic reconstruction, and microbial community characterization of the Neoasterolepisma silverfish genus and a wider nicoletiid and lepismatid silverfish panel where divergent myrmecophilous lifestyles are observed. RESULTS Stable isotope profiling (δ13C and δ15N) showed that the isotopic niches of granivorous Messor ants and Messor-specialized Neoasterolepisma exhibit a remarkable overlap within an ant nest. Trophic experiments and gut dissections further supported that these specialized Neoasterolepisma silverfish transitioned to a diet that includes plant seeds. In contrast, the isotopic niches of generalist Neoasterolepisma silverfish and generalist nicoletiid silverfish were clearly different from their ant hosts within the shared nest environment. The impact of the myrmecophilous lifestyle on feeding ecology was also evident in the internal silverfish microbiome. Compared to generalists, Messor-specialists exhibited a higher bacterial density and a higher proportion of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Moreover, the nest environment explained the infection profile (or the 16S rRNA genotypes) of Weissella bacteria in Messor-specialized silverfish and the ant hosts. CONCLUSIONS Together, we show that social hosts are important determinants for the feeding ecology of symbiotic animals and can induce diet convergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Parmentier
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | | | - Catalina Valdivia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Miquel Gaju-Ricart
- Depto. de Biología Animal (Zoología), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Pascal Boeckx
- Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Piotr Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Nicky Wybouw
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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14
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Boyd BM, James I, Johnson KP, Weiss RB, Bush SE, Clayton DH, Dale C. Stochasticity, determinism, and contingency shape genome evolution of endosymbiotic bacteria. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4571. [PMID: 38811551 PMCID: PMC11137140 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48784-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Evolution results from the interaction of stochastic and deterministic processes that create a web of historical contingency, shaping gene content and organismal function. To understand the scope of this interaction, we examine the relative contributions of stochasticity, determinism, and contingency in shaping gene inactivation in 34 lineages of endosymbiotic bacteria, Sodalis, found in parasitic lice, Columbicola, that are independently undergoing genome degeneration. Here we show that the process of genome degeneration in this system is largely deterministic: genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis are lost while those involved in providing B-vitamins to the host are retained. In contrast, many genes encoding redundant functions, including components of the respiratory chain and DNA repair pathways, are subject to stochastic loss, yielding historical contingencies that constrain subsequent losses. Thus, while selection results in functional convergence between symbiont lineages, stochastic mutations initiate distinct evolutionary trajectories, generating diverse gene inventories that lack the functional redundancy typically found in free-living relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bret M Boyd
- Center for Biological Data Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, US.
| | - Ian James
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, US
| | - Kevin P Johnson
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, US
| | - Robert B Weiss
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, US
| | - Sarah E Bush
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, US
| | - Dale H Clayton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, US
| | - Colin Dale
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, US
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15
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Oguchi K, Harumoto T, Katsuno T, Matsuura Y, Chiyoda S, Fukatsu T. Intracellularity, extracellularity, and squeezing in the symbiotic organ underpin nurturing and functioning of bacterial symbiont in leaf beetles. iScience 2024; 27:109731. [PMID: 38689638 PMCID: PMC11059521 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cassidine leaf beetles are associated with genome-reduced symbiotic bacteria Stammera involved in pectin digestion. Stammera cells appear to be harbored in paired symbiotic organs located at the foregut-midgut junction either intracellularly or extracellularly, whereas the symbiont is extracellular in the ovary-accessory glands of adult females and during caplet transmission in eggs. However, using fluorescence and electron microscopy, an intracellular symbiotic configuration of Stammera was observed in Notosacantha species. Detailed inspection of other cassidine species revealed fragmented cell membrane and cytoplasm of the symbiotic organs, wherein Stammera cells are in an intermediate status between intracellularity and extracellularity. We also identified a mitochondria-rich region adjacent to the symbiont-filled region and well-developed muscle fibers surrounding the whole symbiotic organ. Based on these observations, we discuss why the Stammera genome has been reduced so drastically and how symbiont-derived pectinases are produced and supplied to the host's alimentary tract for plant cell wall digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Oguchi
- Bioproducion Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Misaki Marine Biological Station (MMBS), School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Harumoto
- Hakubi Center for Advanced Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Katsuno
- Center for Anatomical Studies, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- KOKORO-Biology Group, Laboratories for Integrated Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Yu Matsuura
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Soma Chiyoda
- Misaki Marine Biological Station (MMBS), School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Japan
| | - Takema Fukatsu
- Bioproducion Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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16
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Bendová B, Bímová BV, Čížková D, Daniszová K, Ďureje Ľ, Hiadlovská Z, Macholán M, Piálek J, Schmiedová L, Kreisinger J. The strength of gut microbiota transfer along social networks and genealogical lineages in the house mouse. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae075. [PMID: 38730559 PMCID: PMC11134300 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota of vertebrates is acquired from the environment and other individuals, including parents and unrelated conspecifics. In the laboratory mouse, a key animal model, inter-individual interactions are severely limited and its gut microbiota is abnormal. Surprisingly, our understanding of how inter-individual transmission impacts house mouse gut microbiota is solely derived from laboratory experiments. We investigated the effects of inter-individual transmission on gut microbiota in two subspecies of house mice (Mus musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus) raised in a semi-natural environment without social or mating restrictions. We assessed the correlation between microbiota composition (16S rRNA profiles), social contact intensity (microtransponder-based social networks), and mouse relatedness (microsatellite-based pedigrees). Inter-individual transmission had a greater impact on the lower gut (colon and cecum) than on the small intestine (ileum). In the lower gut, relatedness and social contact independently influenced microbiota similarity. Despite female-biased parental care, both parents exerted a similar influence on their offspring's microbiota, diminishing with the offspring's age in adulthood. Inter-individual transmission was more pronounced in M. m. domesticus, a subspecies, with a social and reproductive network divided into more closed modules. This suggests that the transmission magnitude depends on the social and genetic structure of the studied population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Bendová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 128 00, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic
| | | | - Dagmar Čížková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic
| | - Kristina Daniszová
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic
| | - Ľudovít Ďureje
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Hiadlovská
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic
| | - Miloš Macholán
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 602 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Piálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Schmiedová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 128 00, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Kreisinger
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 128 00, Czech Republic
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17
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Zhao L, Xiao R, Zhang S, Zhang C, Zhang F. Environmental specificity of karst cave habitats evidenced by diverse symbiotic bacteria in Opiliones. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:58. [PMID: 38720266 PMCID: PMC11080181 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02248-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Karst caves serve as natural laboratories, providing organisms with extreme and constant conditions that promote isolation, resulting in a genetic relationship and living environment that is significantly different from those outside the cave. However, research on cave creatures, especially Opiliones, remains scarce, with most studies focused on water, soil, and cave sediments. RESULTS The structure of symbiotic bacteria in different caves were compared, revealing significant differences. Based on the alpha and beta diversity, symbiotic bacteria abundance and diversity in the cave were similar, but the structure of symbiotic bacteria differed inside and outside the cave. Microorganisms in the cave play an important role in material cycling and energy flow, particularly in the nitrogen cycle. Although microbial diversity varies inside and outside the cave, Opiliones in Beijing caves and Hainan Island exhibited a strong similarity, indicating that the two environments share commonalities. CONCLUSIONS The karst cave environment possesses high microbial diversity and there are noticeable differences among different caves. Different habitats lead to significant differences in the symbiotic bacteria in Opiliones inside and outside the cave, and cave microorganisms have made efforts to adapt to extreme environments. The similarity in symbiotic bacteria community structure suggests a potential similarity in host environments, providing an explanation for the appearance of Sinonychia martensi in caves in the north.
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Affiliation(s)
- Likun Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, P.R. China
- The Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity Research and Application of Hebei Province, Baoding, 071002, P. R. China
| | - Ruoyi Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, P.R. China
| | - Shanfeng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, P.R. China
| | - Chao Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, P.R. China.
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application of Hebei Province, Baoding, 071002, P. R. China.
| | - Feng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, P.R. China.
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application of Hebei Province, Baoding, 071002, P. R. China.
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18
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Ludington WB. The importance of host physical niches for the stability of gut microbiome composition. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230066. [PMID: 38497267 PMCID: PMC10945397 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Gut bacteria are prevalent throughout the Metazoa and form complex microbial communities associated with food breakdown, nutrient provision and disease prevention. How hosts acquire and maintain a consistent bacterial flora remains mysterious even in the best-studied animals, including humans, mice, fishes, squid, bugs, worms and flies. This essay visits the evidence that hosts have co-evolved relationships with specific bacteria and that some of these relationships are supported by specialized physical niches that select, sequester and maintain microbial symbionts. Genetics approaches could uncover the mechanisms for recruiting and maintaining the stable and consistent members of the microbiome. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization'.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B. Ludington
- Department of Biosphere Sciences and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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19
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Tang XF, Sun YF, Liang YS, Yang KY, Chen PT, Li HS, Huang YH, Pang H. Metabolism, digestion, and horizontal transfer: potential roles and interaction of symbiotic bacteria in the ladybird beetle Novius pumilus and their prey Icerya aegyptiaca. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0295523. [PMID: 38497713 PMCID: PMC11064573 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02955-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we first time sequenced and analyzed the 16S rRNA gene data of predator ladybird beetles Novius pumilus and globally distributed invasive pest Icerya aegyptiaca at different stages, and combined data with bacterial genome sequences in N. pumilus to explored the taxonomic distribution, alpha and beta diversity, differentially abundant bacteria, co-occurrence network, and putative functions of their microbial community. Our finding revealed that Candidatus Walczuchella, which exhibited a higher abundance in I. aegyptiaca, possessed several genes in essential amino acid biosynthesis and seemed to perform roles in providing nutrients to the host, similar to other obligate symbionts in scale insects. Lactococcus, Serratia, and Pseudomonas, more abundant in N. pumilus, were predicted to have genes related to hydrocarbon, fatty acids, and chitin degradation, which may assist their hosts in digesting the wax shell covering the scale insects. Notably, our result showed that Lactococcus had relatively higher abundances in adults and eggs compared to other stages in N. pumilus, indicating potential vertical transmission. Additionally, we found that Arsenophonus, known to influence sex ratios in whitefly and wasp, may also function in I. aegyptiaca, probably by influencing nutrient metabolism as it similarly had many genes corresponding to vitamin B and essential amino acid biosynthesis. Also, we observed a potential horizontal transfer of Arsenophonus between the scale insect and its predator, with a relatively high abundance in the ladybirds compared to other bacteria from the scale insects.IMPORTANCEThe composition and dynamic changes of microbiome in different developmental stages of ladybird beetles Novius pumilus with its prey Icerya aegyptiaca were detected. We found that Candidatus Walczuchella, abundant in I. aegyptiaca, probably provide nutrients to their host based on their amino acid biosynthesis-related genes. Abundant symbionts in N. pumilus, including Lactococcus, Serratia, and Pseudophonus, may help the host digest the scale insects with their hydrocarbon, fatty acid, and chitin degrading-related genes. A key endosymbiont Arsenophonus may play potential roles in the nutrient metabolisms and sex determination in I. aegyptiaca, and is possibly transferred from the scale insect to the predator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Fei Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yi-Fei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yuan-Sen Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kun-Yu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Pei-Tao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hao-Sen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu-Hao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hong Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
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20
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Lastovetsky OA, Caruso T, Brennan FP, Wall D, Pylni S, Doyle E. Spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi host surprisingly diverse communities of endobacteria. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:1785-1797. [PMID: 38403930 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous plant root symbionts, which can house two endobacteria: Ca. Moeniiplasma glomeromycotorum (CaMg) and Ca. Glomeribacter gigasporarum (CaGg). However, little is known about their distribution and population structure in natural AMF populations and whether AMF can harbour other endobacteria. We isolated AMF from two environments and conducted detailed analyses of endobacterial communities associated with surface-sterilised AMF spores. Consistent with the previous reports, we found that CaMg were extremely abundant (80%) and CaGg were extremely rare (2%) in both environments. Unexpectedly, we discovered an additional and previously unknown level of bacterial diversity within AMF spores, which extended beyond the known endosymbionts, with bacteria belonging to 10 other phyla detected across our spore data set. Detailed analysis revealed that: CaGg were not limited in distribution to the Gigasporaceae family of AMF, as previously thought; CaMg population structure was driven by AMF host genotype; and a significant inverse correlation existed between the diversity of CaMg and diversity of all other endobacteria. Based on these data, we generate novel testable hypotheses regarding the function of CaMg in AMF biology by proposing that they might act as conditional mutualists of AMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Lastovetsky
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre East, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Tancredi Caruso
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre East, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Fiona P Brennan
- Teagasc, Crops, Environment and Land-Use Programme, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Ireland
| | - David Wall
- Teagasc, Crops, Environment and Land-Use Programme, Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford, Ireland
| | - Susanna Pylni
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre East, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Evelyn Doyle
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre East, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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21
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Andriienko V, Buczek M, Meier R, Srivathsan A, Łukasik P, Kolasa MR. Implementing high-throughput insect barcoding in microbiome studies: impact of non-destructive DNA extraction on microbiome reconstruction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.30.591865. [PMID: 38746196 PMCID: PMC11092579 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.30.591865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Symbiotic relationships with diverse microorganisms are crucial for many aspects of insect biology. However, while our understanding of insect taxonomic diversity and the distribution of insect species in natural communities is limited, we know much less about their microbiota. In the era of rapid biodiversity declines, as researchers increasingly turn towards DNA-based monitoring, developing and broadly implementing approaches for high-throughput and cost-effective characterization of both insect and insect-associated microbial diversity is essential. We need to verify whether approaches such as high-throughput barcoding, a powerful tool for identifying wild insects, would permit subsequent microbiota reconstruction in these specimens. Methods High-throughput barcoding ("megabarcoding") methods often rely on non-destructive approaches for obtaining template DNA for PCR amplification by leaching DNA out of insect specimens using alkaline buffers such as HotSHOT. This study investigated the impact of HotSHOT on microbial abundance estimates and the reconstructed bacterial community profiles. We addressed this question by comparing quantitative 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data for HotSHOT-treated or untreated specimens of 16 insect species representing six orders and selected based on the expectation of limited variation among individuals. Results We find that in 13 species, the treatment significantly reduced microbial abundance estimates, corresponding to an estimated 15-fold decrease in amplifiable 16S rRNA template on average. On the other hand, HotSHOT pre-treatment had a limited effect on microbial community composition. The reconstructed presence of abundant bacteria with known significant effects was not affected. On the other hand, we observed changes in the presence of low-abundance microbes, those close to the reliable detection threshold. Alpha and beta diversity analyses showed compositional differences in only a few species. Conclusion Our results indicate that HotSHOT pre-treated specimens remain suitable for microbial community composition reconstruction, even if abundance may be hard to estimate. These results indicate that we can cost-effectively combine barcoding with the study of microbiota across wild insect communities. Thus, the voucher specimens obtained using megabarcoding studies targeted at characterizing insect communities can be used for microbiome characterizations. This can substantially aid in speeding up the accumulation of knowledge on the microbiomes of abundant and hyperdiverse insect species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Andriienko
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Mateusz Buczek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | | | - Piotr Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Michał R Kolasa
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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22
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Becchimanzi A, Nicoletti R, Di Lelio I, Russo E. Immune Gene Repertoire of Soft Scale Insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae). Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4922. [PMID: 38732132 PMCID: PMC11084805 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Insects possess an effective immune system, which has been extensively characterized in several model species, revealing a plethora of conserved genes involved in recognition, signaling, and responses to pathogens and parasites. However, some taxonomic groups, characterized by peculiar trophic niches, such as plant-sap feeders, which are often important pests of crops and forestry ecosystems, have been largely overlooked regarding their immune gene repertoire. Here we annotated the immune genes of soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccidae) for which omics data are publicly available. By using immune genes of aphids and Drosophila to query the genome of Ericerus pela, as well as the transcriptomes of Ceroplastes cirripediformis and Coccus sp., we highlight the lack of peptidoglycan recognition proteins, galectins, thaumatins, and antimicrobial peptides in Coccidae. This work contributes to expanding our knowledge about the evolutionary trajectories of immune genes and offers a list of promising candidates for developing new control strategies based on the suppression of pests' immunity through RNAi technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Becchimanzi
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.B.); (I.D.L.); (E.R.)
- BAT Center—Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Nicoletti
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.B.); (I.D.L.); (E.R.)
- Research Centre for Olive, Fruit and Citrus Crops, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Ilaria Di Lelio
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.B.); (I.D.L.); (E.R.)
- BAT Center—Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Elia Russo
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.B.); (I.D.L.); (E.R.)
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23
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Fricke LC, Lindsey ARI. Identification of Parthenogenesis-Inducing Effector Proteins in Wolbachia. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae036. [PMID: 38530785 PMCID: PMC11019157 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria in the genus Wolbachia have evolved numerous strategies to manipulate arthropod sex, including the conversion of would-be male offspring to asexually reproducing females. This so-called "parthenogenesis induction" phenotype can be found in a number of Wolbachia strains that infect arthropods with haplodiploid sex determination systems, including parasitoid wasps. Despite the discovery of microbe-mediated parthenogenesis more than 30 yr ago, the underlying genetic mechanisms have remained elusive. We used a suite of genomic, computational, and molecular tools to identify and characterize two proteins that are uniquely found in parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia and have strong signatures of host-associated bacterial effector proteins. These putative parthenogenesis-inducing proteins have structural homology to eukaryotic protein domains including nucleoporins, the key insect sex determining factor Transformer, and a eukaryotic-like serine-threonine kinase with leucine-rich repeats. Furthermore, these proteins significantly impact eukaryotic cell biology in the model Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We suggest that these proteins are parthenogenesis-inducing factors and our results indicate that this would be made possible by a novel mechanism of bacterial-host interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Fricke
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Amelia R I Lindsey
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
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24
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Boyd BM, House N, Carduck CW, Reed DL. Genomic Diversity in the Endosymbiotic Bacteria of Human Head Lice. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae064. [PMID: 38513084 PMCID: PMC10986857 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Insects have repeatedly forged symbioses with heritable microbes, gaining novel traits. For the microbe, the transition to symbioses can lead to the degeneration of the symbiont's genome through transmission bottlenecks, isolation, and the loss of DNA repair enzymes. However, some insect-microbial symbioses have persisted for millions of years, suggesting that natural selection slows genetic drift and maintains functional consistency between symbiont populations. By sampling in multiple countries, we examine genomic diversity within a symbiont species, a heritable symbiotic bacterium found only in human head lice. We find that human head louse symbionts contain genetic diversity that appears to have arisen contemporaneously with the appearance of anatomically modern humans within Africa and/or during the colonization of Eurasia by humans. We predict that the observed genetic diversity underlies functional differences in extant symbiont lineages, through the inactivation of genes involved in symbiont membrane construction. Furthermore, we find evidence of additional gene losses prior to the appearance of modern humans, also impacting the symbiont membrane. From this, we conclude that symbiont genome degeneration is proceeding, via gene inactivation and subsequent loss, in human head louse symbionts, while genomic diversity is maintained. Collectively, our results provide a look into the genomic diversity within a single symbiont species and highlight the shared evolutionary history of humans, lice, and bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bret M Boyd
- Center for Biological Data Science, Life Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Niyomi House
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christopher W Carduck
- Center for Biological Data Science, Life Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - David L Reed
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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25
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Yan H, Wang E, Wei GS, Zhang B, Xu X. Both host and diet shape bacterial communities of predatory mites. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:551-561. [PMID: 37469127 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities, derived from food, ambient, and inner, can affect host ecological adaption and evolution. Comparing with most phytophagous arthropods, predators may have more opportunities to develop specific microbiota depending on the level of prey specialization. To explore how diet sources affect host microbial communities and vary across predator species, we considered 3 types of predators from Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata): polyphagous (Amblyseius orientalis Ehara, Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes, and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henrio), oligophagous (Neoseiulus californicus McGregor), and monophagous (Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot) predatory mites. The polyphagous species were fed on 2 types of diets, natural prey and alternative prey. By using 16S rRNA sequencing, we found that diet was the main source of microbiota in predatory mites, while there was no clear pattern affected by prey specialization. Among 3 polyphagous predators, host species had a larger impact than prey on microbial composition. Unlike A. orientalis or N. barkeri which showed consistency in their microbiota, prey switching significantly affected β-diversity of bacterial composition in A. swirskii, with 56% of the microbial alteration. In short, our results confirmed the substantial influence of diet on host microbial construction in predatory species, and highlighted species differences in shaping the microbiota which are not necessarily related to prey specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Yan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Endong Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Shu Wei
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Xuenong Xu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemies Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
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26
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Vasquez YM, Li Z, Xue AZ, Bennett GM. Chromosome-level genome assembly of the aster leafhopper (Macrosteles quadrilineatus) reveals the role of environment and microbial symbiosis in shaping pest insect genome evolution. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13919. [PMID: 38146900 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Leafhoppers comprise over 20,000 plant-sap feeding species, many of which are important agricultural pests. Most species rely on two ancestral bacterial symbionts, Sulcia and Nasuia, for essential nutrition lacking in their phloem and xylem plant sap diets. To understand how pest leafhopper genomes evolve and are shaped by microbial symbioses, we completed a chromosomal-level assembly of the aster leafhopper's genome (ALF; Macrosteles quadrilineatus). We compared ALF's genome to three other pest leafhoppers, Nephotettix cincticeps, Homalodisca vitripennis, and Empoasca onukii, which have distinct ecologies and symbiotic relationships. Despite diverging ~155 million years ago, leafhoppers have high levels of chromosomal synteny and gene family conservation. Conserved genes include those involved in plant chemical detoxification, resistance to various insecticides, and defence against environmental stress. Positive selection acting upon these genes further points to ongoing adaptive evolution in response to agricultural environments. In relation to leafhoppers' general dependence on symbionts, species that retain the ancestral symbiont, Sulcia, displayed gene enrichment of metabolic processes in their genomes. Leafhoppers with both Sulcia and its ancient partner, Nasuia, showed genomic enrichment in genes related to microbial population regulation and immune responses. Finally, horizontally transferred genes (HTGs) associated with symbiont support of Sulcia and Nasuia are only observed in leafhoppers that maintain symbionts. In contrast, HTGs involved in non-symbiotic functions are conserved across all species. The high-quality ALF genome provides deep insights into how host ecology and symbioses shape genome evolution and a wealth of genetic resources for pest control targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumary M Vasquez
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, USA
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Allen Z Xue
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Gordon M Bennett
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, USA
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27
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McCutcheon JP, Garber AI, Spencer N, Warren JM. How do bacterial endosymbionts work with so few genes? PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002577. [PMID: 38626194 PMCID: PMC11020763 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The move from a free-living environment to a long-term residence inside a host eukaryotic cell has profound effects on bacterial function. While endosymbioses are found in many eukaryotes, from protists to plants to animals, the bacteria that form these host-beneficial relationships are even more diverse. Endosymbiont genomes can become radically smaller than their free-living relatives, and their few remaining genes show extreme compositional biases. The details of how these reduced and divergent gene sets work, and how they interact with their host cell, remain mysterious. This Unsolved Mystery reviews how genome reduction alters endosymbiont biology and highlights a "tipping point" where the loss of the ability to build a cell envelope coincides with a marked erosion of translation-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P. McCutcheon
- Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Arkadiy I. Garber
- Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Noah Spencer
- Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jessica M. Warren
- Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, United States of America
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28
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Gonzalez-Gonzalez A, Cabrera N, Rubio-Meléndez ME, Sepúlveda DA, Ceballos R, Fernández N, Francis F, Figueroa CC, Ramirez CC. Facultative endosymbionts modulate the aphid reproductive performance on wheat cultivars differing in contents of benzoxazinoids. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:1949-1956. [PMID: 38088471 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Facultative bacterial endosymbionts have the potential to influence the interactions between aphids, their natural enemies, and host plants. Among the facultative symbionts found in populations of the grain aphid Sitobion avenae in central Chile, the bacterium Regiella insecticola is the most prevalent. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether infected and cured aphid lineages exhibit differential responses to wheat cultivars containing varying levels of the benzoxazinoid DIMBOA (2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one), which is a xenobiotic compound produced by plants. Specifically, we examined the reproductive performance responses of the most frequently encountered genotypes of Sitobion avenae when reared on wheat seedlings expressing low, medium, and high concentrations of DIMBOA. RESULTS Our findings reveal that the intrinsic rate of population increase (rm ) in cured lineages of Sitobion avenae genotypes exhibits a biphasic pattern, characterized by the lowest rm and an extended time to first reproduction on wheat seedlings with medium levels of DIMBOA. In contrast, the aphid genotypes harbouring Regiella insecticola display idiosyncratic responses, with the two most prevalent genotypes demonstrating improved performance on seedlings featuring an intermediate content of DIMBOA compared to their cured counterparts. CONCLUSION This study represents the first investigation into the mediating impact of facultative endosymbionts on aphid performance in plants exhibiting varying DIMBOA contents. These findings present exciting prospects for identifying novel targets for aphid control by manipulating the presence of aphid symbionts. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Gonzalez-Gonzalez
- Centre for Molecular and Functional Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Nuri Cabrera
- Centre for Molecular and Functional Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
| | | | - Daniela A Sepúlveda
- Centre for Molecular and Functional Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Ricardo Ceballos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA Quilamapu, Chillán, Chile
| | - Natalí Fernández
- Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA Quilamapu, Chillán, Chile
| | - Frederic Francis
- Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Christian C Figueroa
- Centre for Molecular and Functional Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Claudio C Ramirez
- Centre for Molecular and Functional Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
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29
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Shi PQ, Wang L, Chen XY, Wang K, Wu QJ, Turlings TCJ, Zhang PJ, Qiu BL. Rickettsia transmission from whitefly to plants benefits herbivore insects but is detrimental to fungal and viral pathogens. mBio 2024; 15:e0244823. [PMID: 38315036 PMCID: PMC10936170 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02448-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial endosymbionts play important roles in the life histories of herbivorous insects by impacting their development, survival, reproduction, and stress tolerance. How endosymbionts may affect the interactions between plants and insect herbivores is still largely unclear. Here, we show that endosymbiotic Rickettsia belli can provide mutual benefits also outside of their hosts when the sap-sucking whitefly Bemisia tabaci transmits them to plants. This transmission facilitates the spread of Rickettsia but is shown to also enhance the performance of the whitefly and co-infesting caterpillars. In contrast, Rickettsia infection enhanced plant resistance to several pathogens. Inside the plants, Rickettsia triggers the expression of salicylic acid-related genes and the two pathogen-resistance genes TGA 2.1 and VRP, whereas they repressed genes of the jasmonic acid pathway. Performance experiments using wild type and mutant tomato plants confirmed that Rickettsia enhances the plants' suitability for insect herbivores but makes them more resistant to fungal and viral pathogens. Our results imply that endosymbiotic Rickettsia of phloem-feeding insects affects plant defenses in a manner that facilitates their spread and transmission. This novel insight into how insects can exploit endosymbionts to manipulate plant defenses also opens possibilities to interfere with their ability to do so as a crop protection strategy. IMPORTANCE Most insects are associated with symbiotic bacteria in nature. These symbionts play important roles in the life histories of herbivorous insects by impacting their development, survival, reproduction as well as stress tolerance. Rickettsia is one important symbiont to the agricultural pest whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Here, for the first time, we revealed that the persistence of Rickettsia symbionts in tomato leaves significantly changed the defense pattern of tomato plants. These changes benefit both sap-feeding and leaf-chewing herbivore insects, such as increasing the fecundity of whitefly adults, enhancing the growth and development of the noctuid Spodoptera litura, but reducing the pathogenicity of Verticillium fungi and TYLCV virus to tomato plants distinctively. Our study unraveled a new horizon for the multiple interaction theories among plant-insect-bacterial symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Qiong Shi
- Engineering Research Center of Biotechnology for Active Substances, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Biotechnology for Active Substances, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin-Yi Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Biotechnology for Active Substances, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Qing-Jun Wu
- Institute of Vegetables & Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ted C. J. Turlings
- FARCE Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Peng-Jun Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Huangzhou, China
| | - Bao-Li Qiu
- Engineering Research Center of Biotechnology for Active Substances, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
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30
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Hussain M, Zhong Y, Tao T, Xiu B, Ye F, Gao J, Mao R. Effect of tree height and spraying methods on Diaphorina citri kuwayama endosymbionts in the context of Huanglongbing disease management in citrus orchards. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:1484-1500. [PMID: 37948354 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huanglongbing (HLB) (caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus) is the most damaging disease of citrus around the world. This study investigated the effects of citrus tree height on Diaphorina citri Kuwayama mortality, endosymbiont responses, and HLB distribution. RESULTS The results reveal that the age of citrus trees plays a significant role in psyllid mortality. Interestingly, the cumulative mean mortality (%) of psyllids over the seven-day observation period was higher (31.50±0.03) when four-year-old (501A1, 502A2, 501A3) citrus trees were sprayed with a US-SMART mechanical sprayer. In contrast, the psyllids mortality was 0.09±0.23 for the 13-year-old citrus trees (104A2, 104A3, 104C1) sprayed with a US-SMART mechanical sprayer and 9.10±0.05 for 13-year-old (502A2, 502B2, 502D1) citrus trees sprayed with a fixed US-SMART mechanical sprayer. Our findings also revealed that psyllids from both four- and 13-year-old citrus trees carried Candidatus Carsonella ruddii species and Wolbachia, the primary and secondary endosymbionts, respectively. Surprisingly, infection rates of these endosymbionts remained consistent across different age groups, as confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Furthermore, our study highlights the significance of tree height as a proxy for tree age in influencing HLB occurrence. Specifically, four-year-old citrus trees subjected to the US-SMART mechanical sprayer for citrus psyllid control demonstrated effective disease management compared to 13-year-old (104A2, 104A3, 104C1) citrus trees sprayed with US-SMART mechanical sprayers. Additionally, the investigation explored the impact of tree height on HLB distribution. In four-year-old trees, no significant correlation between HLB disease and tree height was observed, potentially due to effective spray coverage with US-SMART mechanical sprayer. However, in 13-year-old (104A2, 104A3, 104C1) citrus tree sprayed with US-SMART mechanical sprayer, a positive correlation between tree height and HLB disease was evident. CONCLUSION This research provides valuable insights into the complex interaction between citrus tree age, psyllid endosymbionts responses, and HLB distribution. These results emphasize effective HLB management strategies, especially in orchards with diverse tree age populations, ultimately contributing to the long-term sustainability of citrus cultivation. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubasher Hussain
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Mineral Oil Pesticides, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Yun Zhong
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Tonglai Tao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Mineral Oil Pesticides, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Baolin Xiu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Mineral Oil Pesticides, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Fengxian Ye
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Mineral Oil Pesticides, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Mineral Oil Pesticides, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510260, China
| | - Runqian Mao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Engineering Research Center for Mineral Oil Pesticides, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510260, China
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31
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Donner SH, Slingerland M, Beekman MM, Comte A, Dicke M, Zwaan BJ, Pannebakker BA, Verhulst EC. Aphid populations are frequently infected with facultative endosymbionts. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16599. [PMID: 38459641 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The occurrence of facultative endosymbionts has been studied in many commercially important crop pest aphids, but their occurrence and effects in non-commercial aphid species in natural populations have received less attention. We screened 437 aphid samples belonging to 106 aphid species for the eight most common facultative aphid endosymbionts. We found one or more facultative endosymbionts in 53% (56 of 106) of the species investigated. This likely underestimates the situation in the field because facultative endosymbionts are often present in only some colonies of an aphid species. Oligophagous aphid species carried facultative endosymbionts significantly more often than monophagous species. We did not find a significant correlation between ant tending and facultative endosymbiont presence. In conclusion, we found that facultative endosymbionts are common among aphid populations. This study is, to our knowledge, the first of its kind in the Netherlands and provides a basis for future research in this field. For instance, it is still unknown in what way many of these endosymbionts affect their hosts, which is important for determining the importance of facultative endosymbionts to community dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Helena Donner
- Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Marijn Slingerland
- Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Mariska M Beekman
- Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Arthur Comte
- Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Marcel Dicke
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Bas J Zwaan
- Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Bart A Pannebakker
- Laboratory of Genetics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Eveline C Verhulst
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Zhu X, Li J, He A, Gurr GM, You M, You S. Developmental Shifts in the Microbiome of a Cosmopolitan Pest: Unraveling the Role of Wolbachia and Dominant Bacteria. INSECTS 2024; 15:132. [PMID: 38392551 PMCID: PMC10888865 DOI: 10.3390/insects15020132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Wolbachia bacteria (phylum Proteobacteria) are ubiquitous intracellular parasites of diverse invertebrates. In insects, coevolution has forged mutualistic associations with Wolbachia species, influencing reproduction, immunity, development, pathogen resistance, and overall fitness. However, the impact of Wolbachia on other microbial associates within the insect microbiome, which are crucial for host fitness, remains less explored. The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), a major pest of cruciferous vegetables worldwide, harbors the dominant Wolbachia strain plutWB1, known to distort its sex ratio. This study investigated the bacterial community diversity and dynamics across different developmental life stages and Wolbachia infection states in P. xylostella using high-throughput 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominated the P. xylostella microbiome regardless of life stage or Wolbachia infection. However, the relative abundance of dominant genera, including an unclassified genus of Enterobacteriaceae, Wolbachia, Carnobacterium, and Delftia tsuruhatensis, displayed significant stage-specific variations. While significant differences in bacterial diversity and composition were observed across life stages, Wolbachia infection had no substantial impact on overall diversity. Nonetheless, relative abundances of specific genera differed between infection states. Notably, Wolbachia exhibited a stable, high relative abundance across all stages and negatively correlated with an unclassified genus of Enterobacteriaceae, Delftia tsuruhatensis, and Carnobacterium. Our findings provide a foundational understanding of the complex interplay between the host, Wolbachia, and the associated microbiome in P. xylostella, paving the way for a deeper understanding of their complex interactions and potential implications for pest control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Jinyang Li
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Ao He
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Geoff M Gurr
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
| | - Minsheng You
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Shijun You
- State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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Luan JB. Insect Bacteriocytes: Adaptation, Development, and Evolution. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 69:81-98. [PMID: 38270981 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-010323-124159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriocytes are host cells specialized to harbor symbionts in certain insect taxa. The adaptation, development, and evolution of bacteriocytes underlie insect symbiosis maintenance. Bacteriocytes carry enriched host genes of insect and bacterial origin whose transcription can be regulated by microRNAs, which are involved in host-symbiont metabolic interactions. Recognition proteins of peptidoglycan, the bacterial cell wall component, and autophagy regulate symbiont abundance in bacteriocytes. Horizontally transferred genes expressed in bacteriocytes influence the metabolism of symbiont peptidoglycan, which may affect the bacteriocyte immune response against symbionts. Bacteriocytes release or transport symbionts into ovaries for symbiont vertical transmission. Bacteriocyte development and death, regulated by transcriptional factors, are variable in different insect species. The evolutionary origin of insect bacteriocytes remains unclear. Future research should elucidate bacteriocyte cell biology, the molecular interplay between bacteriocyte metabolic and immune functions, the genetic basis of bacteriocyte origin, and the coordination between bacteriocyte function and host biology in diverse symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Bo Luan
- Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China;
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Koga R, Moriyama M, Nozaki T, Fukatsu T. Genome analysis of " Candidatus Aschnera chinzeii," the bacterial endosymbiont of the blood-sucking bat fly Penicillidia jenynsii (Insecta: Diptera: Nycteribiidae). Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1336919. [PMID: 38318130 PMCID: PMC10841577 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1336919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Insect-microbe endosymbiotic associations are omnipresent in nature, wherein the symbiotic microbes often play pivotal biological roles for their host insects. In particular, insects utilizing nutritionally imbalanced food sources are dependent on specific microbial symbionts to compensate for the nutritional deficiency via provisioning of B vitamins in blood-feeding insects, such as tsetse flies, lice, and bedbugs. Bat flies of the family Nycteribiidae (Diptera) are blood-sucking ectoparasites of bats and shown to be associated with co-speciating bacterial endosymbiont "Candidatus Aschnera chinzeii," although functional aspects of the microbial symbiosis have been totally unknown. In this study, we report the first complete genome sequence of Aschnera from the bristled bat fly Penicillidia jenynsii. The Aschnera genome consisted of a 748,020 bp circular chromosome and a 18,747 bp circular plasmid. The chromosome encoded 603 protein coding genes (including 3 pseudogenes), 33 transfer RNAs, and 1 copy of 16S/23S/5S ribosomal RNA operon. The plasmid contained 10 protein coding genes, whose biological function was elusive. The genome size, 0.77 Mbp, was drastically reduced in comparison with 4-6 Mbp genomes of free-living γ-proteobacteria. Accordingly, the Aschnera genome was devoid of many important functional genes, such as synthetic pathway genes for purines, pyrimidines, and essential amino acids. On the other hand, the Aschnera genome retained complete or near-complete synthetic pathway genes for biotin (vitamin B7), tetrahydrofolate (vitamin B9), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (vitamin B6), suggesting that Aschnera provides these vitamins and cofactors that are deficient in the blood meal of the host bat fly. Similar retention patterns of the synthetic pathway genes for vitamins and cofactors were also observed in the endosymbiont genomes of other blood-sucking insects, such as Riesia of human lice, Arsenophonus of louse flies, and Wigglesworthia of tsetse flies, which may be either due to convergent evolution in the blood-sucking host insects or reflecting the genomic architecture of Arsenophonus-allied bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuichi Koga
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Minoru Moriyama
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tomonari Nozaki
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takema Fukatsu
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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Nakabachi A, Suzaki T. Ultrastructure of the bacteriome and bacterial symbionts in the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0224923. [PMID: 38047691 PMCID: PMC10783097 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02249-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Omics analyses suggested a mutually indispensable tripartite association among the host D. citri and organelle-like bacteriome associates, Carsonella and Profftella, which are vertically transmitted through host generations. This relationship is based on the metabolic complementarity among these organisms, which is partly enabled by horizontal gene transfer between partners. However, little was known about the fine morphology of the symbionts and the bacteriome, the interface among these organisms. As a first step to address this issue, the present study performed transmission electron microscopy, which revealed previously unrecognized ultrastructures, including aggregations of ribosomes in Carsonella, numerous tubes and occasional protrusions of Profftella, apparently degrading Profftella, and host organelles with different abundance and morphology in distinct cell types. These findings provide insights into the behaviors of the symbionts and host cells to maintain the symbiotic relationship in D. citri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Nakabachi
- Research Center for Agrotechnology and Biotechnology, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
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Abresch H, Bell T, Miller SR. Diurnal transcriptional variation is reduced in a nitrogen-fixing diatom endosymbiont. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae064. [PMID: 38637300 PMCID: PMC11131595 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Many organisms have formed symbiotic relationships with nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria to overcome N limitation. Diatoms in the family Rhopalodiaceae host unicellular, N-fixing cyanobacterial endosymbionts called spheroid bodies (SBs). Although this relationship is relatively young, SBs share many key features with older endosymbionts, including coordinated cell division and genome reduction. Unlike free-living relatives that fix N exclusively at night, SBs fix N largely during the day; however, how SB metabolism is regulated and coordinated with the host is not yet understood. We compared four SB genomes, including those from two new host species (Rhopalodia gibba and Epithemia adnata), to build a genome-wide phylogeny which provides a better understanding of SB evolutionary origins. Contrary to models of endosymbiotic genome reduction, the SB chromosome is unusually stable for an endosymbiont genome, likely due to the early loss of all mobile elements. Transcriptomic data for the R. gibba SB and host organelles addressed whether and how the allocation of transcriptional resources depends on light and nitrogen availability. Although allocation to the SB was high under all conditions, relative expression of chloroplast photosynthesis genes increased in the absence of nitrate, but this pattern was suppressed by nitrate addition. SB expression of catabolism genes was generally greater during daytime rather than at night, although the magnitude of diurnal changes in expression was modest compared to free-living Cyanobacteria. We conclude that SB daytime catabolism likely supports N-fixation by linking the process to host photosynthetic carbon fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Abresch
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States
| | - Tisza Bell
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States
| | - Scott R Miller
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States
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Wierz JC, Dirksen P, Kirsch R, Krüsemer R, Weiss B, Pauchet Y, Engl T, Kaltenpoth M. Intracellular symbiont Symbiodolus is vertically transmitted and widespread across insect orders. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae099. [PMID: 38874172 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Insects engage in manifold interactions with bacteria that can shift along the parasitism-mutualism continuum. However, only a small number of bacterial taxa managed to successfully colonize a wide diversity of insects, by evolving mechanisms for host-cell entry, immune evasion, germline tropism, reproductive manipulation, and/or by providing benefits to the host that stabilize the symbiotic association. Here, we report on the discovery of an Enterobacterales endosymbiont (Symbiodolus, type species Symbiodolus clandestinus) that is widespread across at least six insect orders and occurs at high prevalence within host populations. Fluorescence in situ hybridization in several Coleopteran and one Dipteran species revealed Symbiodolus' intracellular presence in all host life stages and across tissues, with a high abundance in female ovaries, indicating transovarial vertical transmission. Symbiont genome sequencing across 16 host taxa revealed a high degree of functional conservation in the eroding and transposon-rich genomes. All sequenced Symbiodolus genomes encode for multiple secretion systems, alongside effectors and toxin-antitoxin systems, which likely facilitate host-cell entry and interactions with the host. However, Symbiodolus-infected insects show no obvious signs of disease, and biosynthetic pathways for several amino acids and cofactors encoded by the bacterial genomes suggest that the symbionts may also be able to provide benefits to the hosts. A lack of host-symbiont cospeciation provides evidence for occasional horizontal transmission, so Symbiodolus' success is likely based on a mixed transmission mode. Our findings uncover a hitherto undescribed and widespread insect endosymbiont that may present valuable opportunities to unravel the molecular underpinnings of symbiosis establishment and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen C Wierz
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Philipp Dirksen
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Roy Kirsch
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Ronja Krüsemer
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Benjamin Weiss
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Yannick Pauchet
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Tobias Engl
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Martin Kaltenpoth
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
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Song Q, Zhao F, Hou L, Miao M. Cellular interactions and evolutionary origins of endosymbiotic relationships with ciliates. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae117. [PMID: 38916437 PMCID: PMC11253213 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
As unicellular predators, ciliates engage in close associations with diverse microbes, laying the foundation for the establishment of endosymbiosis. Originally heterotrophic, ciliates demonstrate the ability to acquire phototrophy by phagocytizing unicellular algae or by sequestering algal plastids. This adaptation enables them to gain photosynthate and develop resistance to unfavorable environmental conditions. The integration of acquired phototrophy with intrinsic phagotrophy results in a trophic mode known as mixotrophy. Additionally, ciliates can harbor thousands of bacteria in various intracellular regions, including the cytoplasm and nucleus, exhibiting species specificity. Under prolonged and specific selective pressure within hosts, bacterial endosymbionts evolve unique lifestyles and undergo particular reductions in metabolic activities. Investigating the research advancements in various endosymbiotic cases within ciliates will contribute to elucidate patterns in cellular interaction and unravel the evolutionary origins of complex traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Song
- Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Yanqihu East Road, Huairou District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fangqing Zhao
- Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Yanqihu East Road, Huairou District, Beijing 100049, China
- Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Xiangshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Lina Hou
- Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Yanqihu East Road, Huairou District, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Miao Miao
- Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Yanqihu East Road, Huairou District, Beijing 100049, China
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Giovannini M, Petroni G, Castelli M. Novel evolutionary insights on the interactions of the Holosporales (Alphaproteobacteria) with eukaryotic hosts from comparative genomics. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16562. [PMID: 38173299 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Holosporales are an alphaproteobacterial order engaging in obligate and complex associations with eukaryotes, in particular protists. The functional and evolutionary features of those interactions are still largely undisclosed. Here, we sequenced the genomes of two members of the species Bealeia paramacronuclearis (Holosporales, Holosporaceae) intracellularly associated with the ciliate protist Paramecium, which resulted in high correspondence. Consistent with the short-branched early-divergent phylogenetic position, Bealeia presents a larger functional repertoire than other Holosporaceae, comparable to those of other Holosporales families, particularly for energy metabolism and motility. Our analyses indicate that different Holosporales likely experienced at least partly autonomous genome reduction and adaptation to host interactions, for example regarding dependence on host biotin driven by multiple independent horizontal acquisitions of transporters. Among Alphaproteobacteria, this is reminiscent of the convergently evolved Rickettsiales, which however appear more diverse, possibly due to a probably more ancient origin. We identified in Bealeia and other Holosporales the plasmid-encoded putative genetic determinants of R-bodies, which may be involved in a killer trait towards symbiont-free hosts. While it is not clear whether these genes are ancestral or recently horizontally acquired, an intriguing and peculiar role of R-bodies is suggested in the evolution of the interactions of multiple Holosporales with their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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40
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Arai H, Watada M, Kageyama D. Two male-killing Wolbachia from Drosophila birauraia that are closely related but distinct in genome structure. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231502. [PMID: 38204789 PMCID: PMC10776216 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Insects harbour diverse maternally inherited bacteria and viruses, some of which have evolved to kill the male progeny of their hosts (male killing: MK). The fly species Drosophila biauraria carries a maternally transmitted MK-inducing partiti-like virus, but it was unknown if it carries other MK-inducing endosymbionts. Here, we identified two male-killing Wolbachia strains (wBiau1 and wBiau2) from D. biauraria and compared their genomes to elucidate their evolutionary processes. The two strains were genetically closely related but had exceptionally different genome structures with considerable rearrangements compared with combinations of other Wolbachia strains. Despite substantial changes in the genome structure, the two Wolbachia strains did not experience gene losses that would disrupt the male-killing expression or persistence in the host population. The two Wolbachia-infected matrilines carried distinct mitochondrial haplotypes, suggesting that wBiau1 and wBiau2 have invaded D. biauraria independently and undergone considerable genome changes owing to unknown selective pressures in evolutionary history. This study demonstrated the presence of three male-killers from two distinct origins in one fly species and highlighted the diverse and rapid genome evolution of MK Wolbachia in the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Arai
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0851, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Watada
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Ehime 780-8857, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minamiosawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kageyama
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0851, Japan
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Ding H, Gao J, Yang J, Zhang S, Han S, Yi R, Ye Y, Kan X. Genome evolution of Buchnera aphidicola (Gammaproteobacteria): Insights into strand compositional asymmetry, codon usage bias, and phylogenetic implications. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:126738. [PMID: 37690648 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Taxa of Buchnera aphidicola (hereafter "Buchnera") are mutualistic intracellular symbionts of aphids, known for their remarkable biological traits such as genome reduction, strand compositional asymmetry, and symbiont-host coevolution. With the growing availability of genomic data, we performed a comprehensive analysis of 103 genomes of Buchnera strains from 12 host subfamilies, focusing on the genomic characterizations, codon usage patterns, and phylogenetic implications. Our findings revealed consistent features among all genomes, including small genome sizes, low GC contents, and gene losses. We also identified strong strand compositional asymmetries in all strains at the genome level. Further investigation suggested that mutation pressure may have played a crucial role in shaping codon usage of Buchnera. Moreover, the genomic asymmetries were reflected in asymmetric codon usage preferences within chromosomal genes. Notably, the levels of these asymmetries were varied among strains and were significantly influenced by the degrees of genome shrinkages. Lastly, our phylogenetic analyses presented an alternative topology of Aphididae, based on the Buchnera symbionts, providing robust confirmation of the paraphylies of Eriosomatinae, and Macrosiphini. Our objectives are to further understand the strand compositional asymmetry and codon usage bias of Buchnera taxa, and provide new perspectives for phylogenetic studies of Aphididae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengwu Ding
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; Key Laboratory of Development and Application of Rural Renewable Energy, Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jinming Gao
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; The Institute of Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Jianke Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Sijia Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; The Institute of Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Shiyun Han
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; The Institute of Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Ran Yi
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; The Institute of Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Yuanxin Ye
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; The Institute of Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Xianzhao Kan
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China; The Institute of Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241000, China.
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Renoz F. The nutritional dimension of facultative bacterial symbiosis in aphids: Current status and methodological considerations for future research. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 5:100070. [PMID: 38222793 PMCID: PMC10787254 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2023.100070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Aphids are valuable models for studying the functional diversity of bacterial symbiosis in insects. In addition to their ancestral obligate nutritional symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, these insects can host a myriad of so-called facultative symbionts. The diversity of these heritable bacterial associates is now well known, and some of the ecologically important traits associated with them have been well documented. Some twenty years ago, it was suggested that facultative symbionts could play an important role in aphid nutrition, notably by improving feeding performance on specific host plants, thus influencing the adaptation of these insects to host plants. However, the underlying mechanisms have never been elucidated, and the nutritional role that facultative symbionts might perform in aphids remains enigmatic. In this opinion piece, I put forward a series of arguments in support of the hypothesis that facultative symbionts play a central role in aphid nutrition and emphasize methodological considerations for testing this hypothesis in future work. In particular, I hypothesize that the metabolic capacities of B. aphidicola alone may not always be able to counterbalance the nutritional deficiencies of phloem sap. The association with one or several facultative symbionts with extensive metabolic capabilities would then be necessary to buffer the insect from host plant-derived nutrient deficiencies, thus enabling it to gain access to certain host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Renoz
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Earth and Life Institute, UCLouvain, Croix du Sud 4-5, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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Liu HP, Yang QY, Liu JX, Haq IU, Li Y, Zhang QY, Attia KA, Abushady AM, Liu CZ, Lv N. Host plant-mediated effects on Buchnera symbiont: implications for biological characteristics and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids ( Acyrthosiphon pisum). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1288997. [PMID: 38126022 PMCID: PMC10731267 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1288997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Introduction The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is a typical sap-feeding insect and an important worldwide pest. There is a primary symbiont-Buchnera aphidicola, which can synthesize and provide some essential nutrients for its host. At the same time, the hosts also can actively adjust the density of bacterial symbiosis to cope with the changes in environmental and physiological factors. However, it is still unclear how symbionts mediate the interaction between herbivorous insects' nutrient metabolism and host plants. Methods The current study has studied the effects of different host plants on the biological characteristics, Buchnera titer, and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids. This study investigated the influence of different host plants on biological characteristics, Buchnera titer, and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids. Results and discussion The titer of Buchnera was significantly higher on T. Pretense and M. officinalis, and the relative expression levels were 1.966±0.104 and 1.621±0.167, respectively. The content of soluble sugar (53.46±1.97µg/mg), glycogen (1.12±0.07µg/mg) and total energy (1341.51±39.37µg/mg) of the pea aphid on V. faba were significantly higher and showed high fecundity (143.86±11.31) and weight (10.46±0.77µg/mg). The content of total lipids was higher on P. sativum and T. pretense, which were 2.82±0.03µg/mg and 2.92±0.07µg/mg, respectively. Correlation analysis found that the difference in Buchnera titer was positively correlated with the protein content in M. officinalis and the content of total energy in T. pratense (P < 0.05). This study confirmed that host plants not only affected the biological characteristics and nutritional metabolism of pea aphids but also regulated the symbiotic density, thus interfering with the nutritional function of Buchnera. The results can provide a theoretical basis for further studies on the influence of different host plants on the development of pea aphids and other insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-ping Liu
- Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiao-yan Yang
- Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jing-xing Liu
- Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Inzamam Ul Haq
- Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yan Li
- Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiang-yan Zhang
- Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kotb A. Attia
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asmaa M. Abushady
- Biotechnology School, Nile University, 26th of July Corridor, Sheikh Zayed City, Giza, Egypt
- Department of Genetics, Agriculture College, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Chang-zhong Liu
- Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ning Lv
- Biocontrol Engineering Laboratory of Crop Diseases and Pests of Gansu Province, College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
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Fricke LC, Lindsey ARI. Identification of parthenogenesis-inducing effector proteins in Wolbachia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.01.569668. [PMID: 38076953 PMCID: PMC10705499 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.01.569668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria in the genus Wolbachia have evolved numerous strategies to manipulate arthropod sex, including the conversion of would-be male offspring to asexually reproducing females. This so-called "parthenogenesis-induction" phenotype can be found in a number of Wolbachia strains that infect arthropods with haplodiploid sex determination systems, including parasitoid wasps. Despite the discovery of microbe-mediated parthenogenesis more than 30 years ago, the underlying genetic mechanisms have remained elusive. We used a suite of genomic, computational, and molecular tools to identify and characterize two proteins that are uniquely found in parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia and have strong signatures of host-associated bacterial effector proteins. These putative parthenogenesis-inducing proteins have structural homology to eukaryotic protein domains including nucleoporins, the key insect sex-determining factor Transformer, and a eukaryotic-like serine-threonine kinase with leucine rich repeats. Furthermore, these proteins significantly impact eukaryotic cell biology in the model, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We suggest these proteins are parthenogenesis-inducing factors and our results indicate this would be made possible by a novel mechanism of bacterial-host interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Fricke
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108
| | - Amelia RI Lindsey
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55108
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Davison HR, Crozier J, Pirro S, Kampen H, Werner D, Hurst GDD. 'Candidatus Tisiphia' is a widespread Rickettsiaceae symbiont in the mosquito Anopheles plumbeus (Diptera: Culicidae). Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:3064-3074. [PMID: 37658745 PMCID: PMC10947512 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic bacteria can alter host biology by providing protection from natural enemies, or alter reproduction or vectoral competence. Symbiont-linked control of vector-borne disease in Anopheles has been hampered by a lack of symbioses that can establish stable vertical transmission in the host. Previous screening found the symbiont 'Candidatus Tisiphia' in Anopheles plumbeus, an aggressive biter and potential secondary vector of malaria parasites and West Nile virus. We screened samples collected over 10-years across Germany and used climate databases to assess environmental influence on incidence. We observed a 95% infection rate, and that the frequency of infection did not fluctuate with broad environmental factors. Maternal inheritance is indicated by presence in the ovaries through FISH microscopy. Finally, we assembled a high-quality 1.6 Mbp draft genome of 'Ca. Tisiphia' to explore its phylogeny and potential metabolic competence. The infection is closely related to strains found in Culicoides biting midges and shows similar patterns of metabolism, providing no evidence of the capacity to synthesize B-vitamins. This infection offers avenues for onward research in anopheline mosquito symbioses. Additionally, it provides future opportunity to study the impact of 'Ca. Tisiphia' on natural and transinfected hosts, especially in relation to reproductive fitness and vectorial competence and capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen R. Davison
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - Jessica Crozier
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | | | - Helge Kampen
- Institute of Infectology (IMED)Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthGreifswaldIsle of RiemsGermany
| | - Doreen Werner
- Land Use and GovernanceLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
| | - Gregory D. D. Hurst
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences (IVES)University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
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Brinker P, Chen F, Chehida YB, Beukeboom LW, Fontaine MC, Salles JF. Microbiome composition is shaped by geography and population structure in the parasitic wasp Asobara japonica, but not in the presence of the endosymbiont Wolbachia. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6644-6658. [PMID: 36125236 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The microbial community composition is crucial for diverse life-history traits in many organisms. However, we still lack a sufficient understanding of how the host microbiome is acquired and maintained, a pressing issue in times of global environmental change. Here we investigated to what extent host genotype, environmental conditions, and the endosymbiont Wolbachia influence the bacterial communities in the parasitic wasp Asobara japonica. We sampled multiple wasp populations across 10 locations in their natural distribution range in Japan and sequenced the host genome (whole genome sequencing) and microbiome (16S rRNA gene). We compared the host population structure and bacterial community composition of wasps that reproduce sexually and are uninfected with Wolbachia with wasps that reproduce asexually and carry Wolbachia. The bacterial communities in asexual wasps were highly similar due to a strong effect of Wolbachia rather than host genomic structure. In contrast, in sexual wasps, bacterial communities appear primarily shaped by a combination of population structure and environmental conditions. Our research highlights that multiple factors shape the bacterial communities of an organism and that the presence of a single endosymbiont can strongly alter their compositions. This information is crucial to understanding how organisms and their associated microbiome will react in the face of environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pina Brinker
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fangying Chen
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yacine Ben Chehida
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Leo W Beukeboom
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael C Fontaine
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Centre de Recherche en Écologie et Évolution de la Santé (CREES), Montpellier, France
| | - Joana Falcao Salles
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Takasu R, Yasuda Y, Izu T, Nakabachi A. Diaphorin, a polyketide produced by a bacterial endosymbiont of the Asian citrus psyllid, adversely affects the in vitro gene expression with ribosomes from Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294360. [PMID: 37963163 PMCID: PMC10645341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Diaphorin is a polyketide produced by "Candidatus Profftella armatura" (Gammaproteobacteria), an obligate mutualist of an important agricultural pest, the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera). Our previous study demonstrated that diaphorin, at physiological concentrations in D. citri, inhibits the growth and cell division of Bacillus subtilis (Firmicutes) but promotes the growth and metabolic activity of Escherichia coli (Gammaproteobacteria). This unique property of diaphorin may aid microbial mutualism in D. citri, potentially affecting the transmission of "Candidatus Liberibacter spp." (Alphaproteobacteria), the pathogens of the most destructive citrus disease Huanglongbing. Moreover, this property may be exploited to promote microbes' efficiency in producing industrial materials. However, the mechanism underlying this activity is unknown. Diaphorin belongs to the family of pederin-type compounds, which inhibit protein synthesis in eukaryotes by binding to eukaryotic ribosomes. Therefore, as a first step to assess diaphorin's direct influence on bacterial gene expression, this study examined the effect of diaphorin on the in vitro translation using ribosomes of B. subtilis and E. coli, quantifying the production of the green fluorescent protein. The results showed that the gene expression involving B. subtilis and E. coli ribosomes along with five millimolar diaphorin was 29.6% and 13.1%, respectively, less active than the control. This suggests that the diaphorin's adverse effects on B. subtilis are attributed to, at least partly, its inhibitory effects on gene expression. Moreover, as ingredients of the translation system were common other than ribosomes, the greater inhibitory effects observed with the B. subtilis ribosome imply that the ribosome is among the potential targets of diaphorin. On the other hand, the results also imply that diaphorin's positive effects on E. coli are due to targets other than the core machinery of transcription and translation. This study demonstrated for the first time that a pederin congener affects bacterial gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rena Takasu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuka Yasuda
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takashi Izu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nakabachi
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
- Research Center for Agrotechnology and Biotechnology, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
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48
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Shahila Ismail KI, Kumar CVS, Aneesha U, Syama PS, Sajini KP. Comparative analysis of gut bacteria of silkworm Bombyx mori L. on exposure to temperature through 16S rRNA high throughput metagenomic sequencing. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 201:107992. [PMID: 37741505 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.107992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Global warming is one of the serious threats that adversely affects the development and reproduction of silkworms. The ideal temperature for silkworms to carryout normal life activities is 20-30 °C. Certain bivoltine silkworms that are raised in tropical regions are thermotolerant. But, prolonged exposure to high temperatures may be fatal. In the present study, fifth instar larvae of bivoltine silkworm were exposed to heat shock at 40 ± 2 °C for a short period of one hour per day to examine the changes in the gut microflora. The study used high throughput sequencing to evaluate the impact of intestinal microbes of silkworms in response to high temperature. The findings demonstrated that elevated temperature has a negative impact on the intestinal microbes of silkworm compared to the control which were reared under the optimum temperature (25 ± 3° C). Four hundred and fifty eight (458) species of microbes were reported in the control group whereas only 434 species were reported in the temperature exposed group. The digestive process of silkworms may also be impaired by heat shock due to their effect on digestive enzymes. So, the results indicated that heat shock has an impact on the intestinal microflora of silkworms that control the activity of associated digestive enzymes which affects the digestion and nutritional intake, eventually impacting the growth and development of silkworm larvae and cocoons produced. The morphometric parameters of silkworm larvae and cocoons also showed a considerable drop when exposed to heat shock.
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Affiliation(s)
- K I Shahila Ismail
- P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, India.
| | - C V Sreeranjit Kumar
- P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, India.
| | - U Aneesha
- P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, India
| | - P S Syama
- P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, India
| | - K P Sajini
- P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, India
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Kolasa M, Kajtoch Ł, Michalik A, Maryańska-Nadachowska A, Łukasik P. Till evolution do us part: The diversity of symbiotic associations across populations of Philaenus spittlebugs. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2431-2446. [PMID: 37525959 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic bacteria have played crucial roles in the evolution of sap-feeding insects and can strongly affect host function. However, their diversity and distribution within species are not well understood; we do not know to what extent environmental factors or associations with other species may affect microbial community profiles. We addressed this question in Philaenus spittlebugs by surveying both insect and bacterial marker gene amplicons across multiple host populations. Host mitochondrial sequence data confirmed morphology-based identification of six species and revealed two divergent clades of Philaenus spumarius. All of them hosted the primary symbiont Sulcia that was almost always accompanied by Sodalis. Interestingly, populations and individuals often differed in the presence of Sodalis sequence variants, suggestive of intra-genome 16S rRNA variant polymorphism combined with rapid genome evolution and/or recent additional infections or replacements of the co-primary symbiont. The prevalence of facultative endosymbionts, including Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma, varied among populations. Notably, cytochrome I oxidase (COI) amplicon data also showed that nearly a quarter of P. spumarius were infected by parasitoid flies (Verralia aucta). One of the Wolbachia operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was exclusively present in Verralia-parasitized specimens, suggestive of parasitoids as their source and highlighting the utility of host gene amplicon sequencing in microbiome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Kolasa
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Łukasz Kajtoch
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Michalik
- Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | | | - Piotr Łukasik
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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50
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Floriano AM, Batisti Biffignandi G, Castelli M, Olivieri E, Clementi E, Comandatore F, Rinaldi L, Opara M, Plantard O, Palomar AM, Noël V, Vijay A, Lo N, Makepeace BL, Duron O, Jex A, Guy L, Sassera D. The evolution of intramitochondriality in Midichloria bacteria. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2102-2117. [PMID: 37305924 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Midichloria spp. are intracellular bacterial symbionts of ticks. Representatives of this genus colonise mitochondria in the cells of their hosts. To shed light on this unique interaction we evaluated the presence of an intramitochondrial localization for three Midichloria in the respective tick host species and generated eight high-quality draft genomes and one closed genome, showing that this trait is non-monophyletic, either due to losses or multiple acquisitions. Comparative genomics supports the first hypothesis, as the genomes of non-mitochondrial symbionts are reduced subsets of those capable of colonising the organelles. We detect genomic signatures of mitochondrial tropism, including the differential presence of type IV secretion system and flagellum, which could allow the secretion of unique effectors and/or direct interaction with mitochondria. Other genes, including adhesion molecules, proteins involved in actin polymerisation, cell wall and outer membrane proteins, are only present in mitochondrial symbionts. The bacteria could use these to manipulate host structures, including mitochondrial membranes, to fuse with the organelles or manipulate the mitochondrial network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Floriano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'L. Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Gherard Batisti Biffignandi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'L. Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'L. Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Emanuela Olivieri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'L. Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Pavia Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, Pavia, Italy
| | - Emanuela Clementi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'L. Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesco Comandatore
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Pediatric Clinical Research Center 'Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi', University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Rinaldi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, CREMOPAR Regione Campania, Naples, Italy
| | - Maxwell Opara
- Zoonotic Parasites Research Group, Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | | | - Ana M Palomar
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases (CRETAV), San Pedro University Hospital, Center of Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, Spain
| | - Valérie Noël
- MIVEGEC (Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle), University of Montpellier (UM), Montpellier, France
| | - Amrita Vijay
- Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nathan Lo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Olivier Duron
- MIVEGEC (Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle), University of Montpellier (UM), Montpellier, France
| | - Aaron Jex
- Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lionel Guy
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratories, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology 'L. Spallanzani', University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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