Lampyridae (Coleoptera): A plethora of mollicute associations

Abstract

Beetles (Coleoptera) harbor many species ofAcholeplasma andSpiroplasma (division Tenericutes, class Mollicutes). Mollicutes were isolated from guts and/or hemocoels of firefly beetles (Lampyridae) from the United States (Maryland and West Virginia), Ecuador, and Tobago. Firefly beetles were frequent hosts for the group XIV spiroplasma, isolated from Ellychnia corrusca, and the group XIX spiroplasma, isolated fromPhoturis spp. The most unusual feature of the firefly-mollicute association is the carriage of four Mycoplasma species. Recent phylogenetic studies indicate that these species are members of a clade that includes a vertebrate pathogen,Mycoplasma mycoides. The high rate of occurrence ofMycoplasma species (which are, otherwise, infrequent in insects) in lampyrid beetles suggests that the association is significant. The unusual light-producing physiology of lampyrids (which is dependent on large pools of energy) and the production of large amounts of cardenolides from cholesterol (a critical growth factor for many mollicutes) may favor colonization by mollicutes.

Army Ants Harbor a Host-Specific Clade of Entomoplasmatales Bacteria

“…Their limited incidence across eggs, larvae, and pupae from infected colonies indicates that they are unlikely to be maternally transferred and that adults serve as more-suitable hosts. Furthermore, their localization to mid-and hindgut tissues points toward lifestyles similar to those of related gut bacteria from other insects (5,7,19). Across the ants, bacteria from the Entomoplasmatales were slightly enriched among predatory genera.…”

Evolution of beetle bioluminescence: the origin of beetle luciferin

“…Thus, mollicutes would have free access to the lantern region and as such may be ideal luciferin biosynthesis candidates. However, it must be stressed that not all lampyrids appear to harbour mollicutes and mollicute infection rates can vary geographically as well as seasonally (94). Nonetheless, such symbiotic relationships between various flora and insects have been associated with the production of unusual metabolites.…”

“…Carabids, for example, appear to have low or even non-existent carriage rates, whereas a large number of mollicutes are carried by members of the Cantharidae (93). In Lampyrids at least three different types of mollicutes have been identified from Photinus species, Photuris species, Pyractonema angulata and Ellychnia corrusca, from either the guts or the haemocoel (94)(95)(96). The presence of mollicutes within the haemolymph of some Lampyrids suggests a lack of localization within the beetle.…”

Gut-associated microbial symbionts of the marsh fiddler crab, Uca pugnax

“…Spiroplasma sp. have been found in digestive tracts and hemolymph of a broad range of plant-eating insects and, although generally considered pathogens, have been described as beneficial or commensal in some reports (Hackett et al 1992). Another Spiroplasma sp.-related phylotype was identified in the gut of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal vent shrimp, Rimicaris exoculata (Zbinden and CambonBonavita 2003).…”