Global distribution and genetic diversity of Bartonella in bat flies (Hippoboscoidea, Streblidae, Nycteribiidae)

Morse, Solon F.; Olival, Kevin J.; Kosoy, Michael; Billeter, Sarah A.; Patterson, Bruce D.; Dick, Carl W.; Dittmar, Katharina

doi:10.1016/j.meegid.2012.06.009

Cited by 112 publications

(123 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

104

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The affinity to Arsenophonus symbionts is also well demonstrated in a related hippoboscoid group, the bat flies of the family Nycteribiidae (44,60). Similarly, two other bacterial genera reported here from M. ovinus, namely, Bartonella and Wolbachia, have also been previously identified in other Hippoboscoidea (61)(62)(63)(64)(65). Melophagus ovinus is, however, the only host known so far with fixed infection of Bartonella (51; also this study).…”

Section: Figsupporting

confidence: 77%

Arsenophonus and Sodalis Symbionts in Louse Flies: an Analogy to the Wigglesworthia and Sodalis System in Tsetse Flies

Nováková

Husník

Šochová

et al. 2015

Appl Environ Microbiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

bSymbiosis between insects and bacteria result in a variety of arrangements, genomic modifications, and metabolic interconnections. Here, we present genomic, phylogenetic, and morphological characteristics of a symbiotic system associated with Melophagus ovinus, a member of the blood-feeding family Hippoboscidae. The system comprises four unrelated bacteria representing different stages in symbiosis evolution, from typical obligate mutualists inhabiting bacteriomes to freely associated commensals and parasites. Interestingly, the whole system provides a remarkable analogy to the association between Glossina and its symbiotic bacteria. In both, the symbiotic systems are composed of an obligate symbiont and two facultative intracellular associates, Sodalis and Wolbachia. In addition, extracellular Bartonella resides in the gut of Melophagus. However, the phylogenetic origins of the two obligate mutualist symbionts differ. In Glossina, the mutualistic Wigglesworthia appears to be a relatively isolated symbiotic lineage, whereas in Melophagus, the obligate symbiont originated within the widely distributed Arsenophonus cluster. Although phylogenetically distant, the two obligate symbionts display several remarkably similar traits (e.g., transmission via the host's "milk glands" or similar pattern of genome reduction). To obtain better insight into the biology and possible role of the M. ovinus obligate symbiont, "Candidatus Arsenophonus melophagi," we performed several comparisons of its gene content based on assignments of the Cluster of Orthologous Genes (COG). Using this criterion, we show that within a set of 44 primary and secondary symbionts, "Ca. Arsenophonus melophagi" is most similar to Wigglesworthia. On the other hand, these two bacteria also display interesting differences, such as absence of flagellar genes in Arsenophonus and their presence in Wigglesworthia. This finding implies that a flagellum is not essential for bacterial transmission via milk glands. E volution of insect-bacterium symbiosis has resulted in a variety of associations in a broad range of insect taxa. Many traits of these associations (e.g., specifics of the arrangement of the host and symbiont metabolism, location of the symbionts, etc.) have been shown to reflect the ecological type of the symbiosis (i.e., obligate mutualism versus facultative symbiosis) and the host's nutritional demands due to the insufficiency of the diet (1-3). For example, phytophagous insects feeding on plant sap (e.g., aphids, whiteflies, or psyllids) and exclusively hematophagous insects (e.g., tsetse flies, sucking lice, and bedbugs) are the two most frequently studied ecological groups harboring obligate mutualistic symbionts (1, 3). However, compared to the large amount and complexity of the data accumulated on the sap-feeding insects, our knowledge on the symbioses in hematophagous insects is still limited, despite the number of species playing a crucial role as vectors for numerous pathogens, often causing a major burden to public health and world econo...

show abstract

Section: Figsupporting

confidence: 77%

Arsenophonus and Sodalis Symbionts in Louse Flies: an Analogy to the Wigglesworthia and Sodalis System in Tsetse Flies

Nováková

Husník

Šochová

et al. 2015

Appl Environ Microbiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The high prevalence of symbionts of clades A, B, and D in bat fly populations, their high AT bias, the reciprocal monophyly and codivergence of symbionts and fly hosts in clades and subclades, the localization of symbionts in bacteriomes, as well as their vertical transmission in these clades all suggest an obligatory association of symbiont clades A, B, and D with their bat fly hosts. Based on their close phylogenetic relationship to Glossinidae and their similar blood-feeding habits, it is possible that these heterogeneous symbiont clades also engage in a nutritional symbiosis, which, in a manner similar to the Wigglesworthia symbiont in tsetse flies, may influence bat fly longevity, digestion, productivity, and vector competence (i.e., Bartonella) (9,39). Furthermore, the high prevalence of infection in both males and females across clades A (20), B, and D suggests that these symbionts likely do not produce a male-killing phenotype, as has been identified in Arsenophonus nasoniae, although prevalence in both males and females does not preclude other forms of reproductive manipulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution, Multiple Acquisition, and Localization of Endosymbionts in Bat Flies (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea: Streblidae and Nycteribiidae)

Morse

Bush

Patterson

et al. 2013

Appl Environ Microbiol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…(8)(9)(10)(11) and Arsenophonus-like organisms (referred to here as ALOs) (12)(13)(14)(15). These bacterial genera offer contrasting model systems for investigating the biotic factors driving the structures of associated microbial communities.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Bacteriome of Bat Flies (Nycteribiidae) from the Malagasy Region: a Community Shaped by Host Ecology, Bacterial Transmission Mode, and Host-Vector Specificity

Wilkinson

Duron

Cordonin

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Nycteribiidae are obligate blood-sucking Diptera (Hippoboscoidea) flies that parasitize bats. Depending on species, these wingless flies exhibit either high specialism or generalism toward their hosts, which may in turn have important consequences in terms of their associated microbial community structure. Bats have been hypothesized to be reservoirs of numerous infectious agents, some of which have recently emerged in human populations. Thus, bat flies may be important in the epidemiology and transmission of some of these bat-borne infectious diseases, acting either directly as arthropod vectors or indirectly by shaping pathogen communities among bat populations. In addition, bat flies commonly have associations with heritable bacterial endosymbionts that inhabit insect cells and depend on maternal transmission through egg cytoplasm to ensure their transmission. Some of these heritable bacteria are likely obligate mutualists required to support bat fly development, but others are facultative symbionts with unknown effects. Here, we present bacterial community profiles that were obtained from seven bat fly species, representing five genera, parasitizing bats from the Malagasy region. The observed bacterial diversity includes Rickettsia, Wolbachia, and several Arsenophonus-like organisms, as well as other members of the Enterobacteriales and a widespread association of Bartonella bacteria from bat flies of all five genera. Using the well-described host specificity of these flies and data on community structure from selected bacterial taxa with either vertical or horizontal transmission, we show that host/vector specificity and transmission mode are important drivers of bacterial community structure. Bats are increasingly recognized as natural reservoirs of a large number of emerging infectious agents (1-4). It is thus implicit that vectors of bat-borne disease will play important roles in the epidemiology and dynamics of infectious agents that can eventually emerge in human populations. Further, bats are hosts to different ectoparasites, including mites, fleas, ticks, and bat flies (5, 6). Bat flies (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea) are obligate blood-sucking parasites that are classically divided into two families-the Streblidae and the Nycteribiidae (7). Together, the Hippoboscidae (louse or ked flies), Streblidae, and Nycteribiidae are referred to as the Pupipara sensu stricto due to their adenotrophic viviparity, where all larval developmental stages occur within the adult female's body and the larva are nourished by milk glands until they are ready to pupate. This particularity of the Pupipara sensu stricto is thought to promote vertical parasite transmission, thus influencing the epidemiological role of these vectors in disease transmission.To date, studies of microorganisms associated with nycteribiids have mainly focused on two groups of bacteria-Bartonella spp. (8-11) and Arsenophonus-like organisms (referred to here as ALOs) (12-15). These bacterial genera offer contrasting model systems for investigating t...

show abstract

Global distribution and genetic diversity of Bartonella in bat flies (Hippoboscoidea, Streblidae, Nycteribiidae)

Cited by 112 publications

References 47 publications

Arsenophonus and Sodalis Symbionts in Louse Flies: an Analogy to the Wigglesworthia and Sodalis System in Tsetse Flies

Arsenophonus and Sodalis Symbionts in Louse Flies: an Analogy to the Wigglesworthia and Sodalis System in Tsetse Flies

Evolution, Multiple Acquisition, and Localization of Endosymbionts in Bat Flies (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea: Streblidae and Nycteribiidae)

The Bacteriome of Bat Flies (Nycteribiidae) from the Malagasy Region: a Community Shaped by Host Ecology, Bacterial Transmission Mode, and Host-Vector Specificity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About