Characterization of a Newly Discovered Symbiont of the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract

bBemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a species complex containing >28 cryptic species, some of which are important crop pests worldwide. Like many other sap-sucking insects, whiteflies harbor an obligatory symbiont, "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum," and a number of secondary symbionts. So far, six genera of secondary symbionts have been identified in B. tabaci. In this study, we report and describe the finding of an additional bacterium in the indigenous B. tabaci cryptic species China 1 (formerly known as B. tabaci biotype ZHJ3). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA and gltA genes showed that the bacterium belongs to the Alphaproteobacteria subdivision of the Proteobacteria and has a close relationship with human pathogens of the genus Orientia. Consequently, we temporarily named it Orientia-like organism (OLO). OLO was found in six of eight wild populations of B. tabaci China 1, with the infection rate ranging from 46.2% to 76.8%. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of B. tabaci China 1 in nymphs and adults revealed that OLOs are confined to the bacteriome and co-occur with "Ca. Portiera aleyrodidarum." The vertical transmission of OLO was demonstrated by detection of OLO at the anterior pole end of the oocytes through FISH. Quantitative PCR analysis of population dynamics suggested a complex interaction between "Ca. Portiera aleyrodidarum" and OLO. Based on these results, we propose "Candidatus Hemipteriphilus asiaticus" for the classification of this symbiont from B. tabaci.

The Role of Bacterial Chaperones in the Circulative Transmission of Plant Viruses by Insect Vectors

“…B. tabaci harbors the obligatory primary endosymbiont like all whiteflies Portiera aleyrodidarum . Additionally, populations around the world were reported to harbor seven other secondary bacterial endosymbionts from different families including Arsenophonus , Hamiltonella , Wolbachia , Cardinium , Fritschea , Rickettsia and Candidatus Hemipteriphilus asiaticus ) [93,94,95,96]. Those are facultative endosymbionts, termed also as secondary enosymbionts, with unknown function for the most part.…”

Temporal changes of symbiont density and host fitness after rifampicin treatment in a whitefly of the Bemisia tabaci species complex

“…, ), Rickettsia sp. (Gottlieb et al ., ), and “ Candidatus Hemipteriphilus asiaticus” (Bing et al ., 2013b).…”

The Pine Bark Adelgid, Pineus strobi, Contains Two Novel Bacteriocyte-Associated Gammaproteobacterial Symbionts

“…One of the best-studied obligate symbionts is Buchnera aphidicola, which infected an ancestor of modern aphids (Insecta: Hemiptera: Aphididae) more than 180 million years ago (1,5,6) and provides its insect partner with essential amino acids lacking in the host diet (7)(8)(9). Moreover, facultative (secondary) symbionts coresiding in bacteriocytes or located in other tissues were recognized in various insects such as whiteflies, psyllids, and aphids (10)(11)(12)(13). Facultative symbionts provide protection against heat stress and natural enemies but may also be involved in host nutrition (1,14,15).…”