Analyzing Arthropods for the Presence of Bacteria

Andrews, Elizabeth S.

doi:10.1002/9780471729259.mc01e06s28

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Mites were sterilized in AllGenetics & Biology, SL (A Coruña, Spain) with three ethanol washes following Andrews (). Each time, tubes containing mites were agitated manually.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feather mites play a role in cleaning host feathers: New insights fromDNAmetabarcoding and microscopy

et al. 2018

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Parasites and other symbionts are crucial components of ecosystems, regulating host populations and supporting food webs. However, most symbiont systems, especially those involving commensals and mutualists, are relatively poorly understood. In this study, we have investigated the nature of the symbiotic relationship between birds and their most abundant and diverse ectosymbionts: the vane-dwelling feather mites. For this purpose, we studied the diet of feather mites using two complementary methods. First, we used light microscopy to examine the gut contents of 1,300 individual feather mites representing 100 mite genera (18 families) from 190 bird species belonging to 72 families and 19 orders. Second, we used high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and DNA metabarcoding to determine gut contents from 1,833 individual mites of 18 species inhabiting 18 bird species. Results showed fungi and potentially bacteria as the main food resources for feather mites (apart from potential bird uropygial gland oil). Diatoms and plant matter appeared as rare food resources for feather mites. Importantly, we did not find any evidence of feather mites feeding upon bird resources (e.g., blood, skin) other than potentially uropygial gland oil. In addition, we found a high prevalence of both keratinophilic and pathogenic fungal taxa in the feather mite species examined. Altogether, our results shed light on the long-standing question of the nature of the relationship between birds and their vane-dwelling feather mites, supporting previous evidence for a commensalistic-mutualistic role of feather mites, which are revealed as likely fungivore-microbivore-detritivore symbionts of bird feathers.

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“…Mites were sterilized in AllGenetics & Biology, SL (A Coruña, Spain) with three ethanol washes following Andrews (). Each time, tubes containing mites were agitated manually.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feather mites play a role in cleaning host feathers: New insights fromDNAmetabarcoding and microscopy

et al. 2018

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“…Each stage-specific pool (pyrosequencing sample) included bugs caught in the dry (two bugs), rainy (two bugs), and transitional (one bug) seasons. Prior to dissection, we sterilized each bug’s external cuticle by immersion in 70% ethanol (2 min) followed by five rinses in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) [ 25 ]. Bugs were individually dissected on sterile glass slides with sterilized forceps and disposable needles.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used Good’s coverage index (the number of OTUs sampled more than once divided by the total number of OTUs), as implemented in Mothur, to estimate sequencing depths [ 25 ]. Rarefaction curves were produced by plotting the number of unique sequence tags as a function of the number of randomly sampled tags with the vegan package in the R computing environment [ 30 , 31 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Field-collected Triatoma sordida from central Brazil display high microbiota diversity that varies with regard to developmental stage and intestinal segmentation

et al. 2018

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Background/MethodologyTriatomine bugs are the vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease. Vector control has for decades relied upon insecticide spraying, but insecticide resistance has recently emerged in several triatomine populations. One alternative strategy to reduce T. cruzi transmission is paratransgenesis, whereby symbiotic bacteria are genetically engineered to produce T. cruzi-killing proteins in the vector’s gut. This approach requires in-depth knowledge of the vectors’ natural gut microbiota. Here, we use metagenomics (16S rRNA 454 pyrosequencing) to describe the gut microbiota of field-caught Triatoma sordida–likely the most common peridomestic triatomine in Brazil. For large nymphs (4th and 5th stage) and adults, we also studied separately the three main digestive-tract segments–anterior midgut, posterior midgut, and hindgut.Principal findingsBacteria of four phyla (12 genera) were present in both nymphs (all five stages) and adults, thus defining T. sordida’s ‘bacterial core’: Actinobacteria (Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Dietzia, Gordonia, Nitriliruptor, Nocardia, Nocardiopsis, Rhodococcus, and Williamsia), Proteobacteria (Pseudomonas and Sphingobium), and Firmicutes (Staphylococcus). We found some clear differences in bacterial composition and relative abundance among development stages; overall, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria increased, but Actinobacteria decreased, through development. Finally, the bacterial microbiotas of the bugs’ anterior midgut, posterior midgut, and hindgut were sharply distinct.Conclusions/SignificanceOur results identify the ‘bacterial core set’ of T. sordida and reveal important gut microbiota differences among development stages–particularly between 1st–3rd stage nymphs and adults. Further, we show that, within any given development stage, the vectors’ gut cannot be regarded as a single homogeneous environment. Cultivable, non-pathogenic ‘core’ bacterial species may now be tested as candidates for paratransgenic control of T. cruzi transmission by T. sordida.

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“…Cockroaches were surface sterilized using a modified protocol from Andrews ( 71 ). Briefly, the cockroaches were washed with 0.5% sodium hypochlorite and 70% ethanol and several washes with sterile water.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overlapping Community Compositions of Gut and Fecal Microbiomes in Lab-Reared and Field-Collected German Cockroaches

Kakumanu

Maritz

Carlton

et al. 2018

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The German cockroach infests diverse human-built structures, including homes and hospitals. It produces potent allergens that trigger asthma and disseminates opportunistic pathogens in its feces. A comprehensive understanding of gut and fecal microbial communities of cockroaches is essential not only to understand their contribution to the biology of the cockroach, but also for exploring their clinical relevance. In this study, we compare the diversity of bacteria and eukaryotes in the cockroach gut and feces and assess the variation in the gut microbiota across cockroach populations.

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Analyzing Arthropods for the Presence of Bacteria

Cited by 13 publications

References 24 publications

Feather mites play a role in cleaning host feathers: New insights fromDNAmetabarcoding and microscopy

Feather mites play a role in cleaning host feathers: New insights fromDNAmetabarcoding and microscopy

Field-collected Triatoma sordida from central Brazil display high microbiota diversity that varies with regard to developmental stage and intestinal segmentation

Overlapping Community Compositions of Gut and Fecal Microbiomes in Lab-Reared and Field-Collected German Cockroaches

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