Systematic relationships and cospeciation of bacterial endosymbionts and their carpenter ant host species: proposal of the new taxon Candidatus Blochmannia gen. nov.

Sauer, Christina; Stackebrandt, Erko; Gadau, Jürgen; Hölldobler, Bert; Gross, Roy

doi:10.1099/00207713-50-5-1877

Cited by 176 publications

(145 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The high degree of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity among Philanthus endosymbionts suggests that they are transmitted vertically from mother to offspring, as has been described for many other endosymbiotic bacteria (Aksoy et al, 1997;Clark et al, 2000Clark et al, , 2001Ishikawa, 2003;Sauer et al, 2000). Alternatively, the bacteria may be taken up from the environment with certain mechanisms preventing the uptake of non-symbiotic bacteria, a transmission route that has been demonstrated for the symbionts of the squid Euprymna scolopes (McFallNgai & Ruby, 1991;Nishiguchi, 2002;Nyholm et al, 2000;Nyholm & McFall-Ngai, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Since the diets of these insects lack essential nutrients, they depend on bacteria that are able to synthesize the necessary compounds (Bourtzis & Miller, 2003;Douglas, 1998). In many cases, symbiotic bacteria are transmitted vertically from one generation to the next, resulting in coevolution and cospeciation of hosts and symbionts which is reflected in congruent phylogenies (Bandi et al, 1995;Chen et al, 1999;Lo et al, 2003;Moran et al, 1993;Sauer et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi’, an endosymbiotic streptomycete in the antennae of Philanthus digger wasps

Kaltenpoth

Goettler

Dale

et al. 2006

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

124

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Symbiotic interactions with bacteria are essential for the survival and reproduction of many insects. The European beewolf (Philanthus triangulum, Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) engages in a highly specific association with bacteria of the genus Streptomyces that appears to protect beewolf offspring against infection by pathogens. Using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, the bacteria were located in the antennal glands of female wasps, where they form dense cell clusters. Using genetic methods, closely related streptomycetes were found in the antennae of 27 Philanthus species (including two subspecies of P. triangulum from distant localities). In contrast, no endosymbionts could be detected in the antennae of other genera within the subfamily Philanthinae (Aphilanthops, Clypeadon and Cerceris). On the basis of morphological, genetic and ecological data, ‘Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi’ is proposed. 16S rRNA gene sequence data are provided for 28 ecotypes of ‘Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi’ that reside in different host species and subspecies of the genus Philanthus. Primers for the selective amplification of ‘Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi’ and an oligonucleotide probe for specific detection by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are described.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi’, an endosymbiotic streptomycete in the antennae of Philanthus digger wasps

Kaltenpoth

Goettler

Dale

et al. 2006

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

124

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“…Host-symbiont co-evolution in nycteribiid bat flies Among diverse insect endosymbionts of obligate nature, such as Buchnera of aphids (Moran et al, 1993), Wigglesworthia of tsetse flies (Chen et al, 1999), Carsonella of psyllids (Thao et al, 2000), Portiera of whiteflies (Thao and Baumann, 2004), Sulcia of many homopterans (Moran et al, 2005), Baumannia of sharpshooters (Takiya et al, 2006), Blochmannia of carpenter ants (Sauer et al, 2000), Nardonella of weevils (Conord et al, 2008) and others, the endosymbiont phylogeny generally mirrors the host phylogeny, indicating stable and intimate host-symbiont association over evolutionary time. Our results unequivocally indicate that the endosymbiont of nycteribiid bat flies has experienced a similar co-evolutionary history ( Figure 6).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reductive genome evolution, host–symbiont co-speciation and uterine transmission of endosymbiotic bacteria in bat flies

et al. 2011

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Bat flies of the family Nycteribiidae are known for their extreme morphological and physiological traits specialized for ectoparasitic blood-feeding lifestyle on bats, including lack of wings, reduced head and eyes, adenotrophic viviparity with a highly developed uterus and milk glands, as well as association with endosymbiotic bacteria. We investigated Japanese nycteribiid bat flies representing 4 genera, 8 species and 27 populations for their bacterial endosymbionts. From all the nycteribiid species examined, a distinct clade of gammaproteobacteria was consistently detected, which was allied to endosymbionts of other insects such as Riesia spp. of primate lice and Arsenophonus spp. of diverse insects. In adult insects, the endosymbiont was localized in specific bacteriocytes in the abdomen, suggesting an intimate host-symbiont association. In adult females, the endosymbiont was also found in the cavity of milk gland tubules, which suggests uterine vertical transmission of the endosymbiont to larvae through milk gland secretion. In adult females of Penicillidia jenynsii, we discovered a previously unknown type of symbiotic organ in the Nycteribiidae: a pair of large bacteriomes located inside the swellings on the fifth abdominal ventral plate. The endosymbiont genes consistently exhibited adenine/thymine biased nucleotide compositions and accelerated rates of molecular evolution. The endosymbiont genome was estimated to be highly reduced, B0.76 Mb in size. The endosymbiont phylogeny perfectly mirrored the host insect phylogeny, indicating strict vertical transmission and host-symbiont co-speciation in the evolutionary course of the Nycteribiidae. The designation 'Candidatus Aschnera chinzeii' is proposed for the endosymbiont clade.

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“…Cardiocondyla workers completely lack ovaries , thus likely impeding Westeberhardia proliferation in the absence of the appropriate microhabitat. In Camponotus floridanus ants, mid-gut connected bacteriomes populated by Blochmannia during the pupal stage become symbiont-free in adult queens and workers, whereas queens retain Blochmannia in their ovarioles (Sauer et al, 2000;Wolschin et al, 2004). Similarly, symbionts localized in gutassociated bacteriomes of cereal weevils are actively eliminated by the initiation of apoptosis after cuticle formation is finished, but ovary-associated symbionts are retained for vertical transmission (Vigneron et al, 2014).…”

Section: Westeberhardia As a Possible Source Of A Hgt Eventmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel intracellular mutualistic bacterium in the invasive ant Cardiocondyla obscurior

et al. 2015

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The evolution of eukaryotic organisms is often strongly influenced by microbial symbionts that confer novel traits to their hosts. Here we describe the intracellular Enterobacteriaceae symbiont of the invasive ant Cardiocondyla obscurior, 'Candidatus Westeberhardia cardiocondylae'. Upon metamorphosis, Westeberhardia is found in gut-associated bacteriomes that deteriorate following eclosion. Only queens maintain Westeberhardia in the ovarian nurse cells from where the symbionts are transmitted to late-stage oocytes during nurse cell depletion. Functional analyses of the streamlined genome of Westeberhardia (533 kb, 23.41% GC content) indicate that neither vitamins nor essential amino acids are provided for the host. However, the genome encodes for an almost complete shikimate pathway leading to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate, which could be converted into tyrosine by the host. Taken together with increasing titers of Westeberhardia during pupal stage, this suggests a contribution of Westeberhardia to cuticle formation. Despite a widespread occurrence of Westeberhardia across host populations, one ant lineage was found to be naturally symbiont-free, pointing to the loss of an otherwise prevalent endosymbiont. This study yields insights into a novel intracellular mutualist that could play a role in the invasive success of C. obscurior.

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Systematic relationships and cospeciation of bacterial endosymbionts and their carpenter ant host species: proposal of the new taxon Candidatus Blochmannia gen. nov.

Cited by 176 publications

References 34 publications

‘Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi’, an endosymbiotic streptomycete in the antennae of Philanthus digger wasps

‘Candidatus Streptomyces philanthi’, an endosymbiotic streptomycete in the antennae of Philanthus digger wasps

Reductive genome evolution, host–symbiont co-speciation and uterine transmission of endosymbiotic bacteria in bat flies

A novel intracellular mutualistic bacterium in the invasive ant Cardiocondyla obscurior

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