Wolbachia: intracellular manipulators of mite reproduction

Abstract

Cytoplasmically transmitted Wolbachia (alpha-Proteobacteria) are a group of closely related intracellular microorganisms that alter reproduction in arthropods. They are found in a few isopods and are widespread in insects. Wolbachia are implicated as the cause of parthenogenesis in parasitic wasps, feminization in isopods and reproductive (cytoplasmic) incompatibility in many insects. Here we report on the widespread occurrence of Wolbachia in spider mites and predatory mites based on a PCR assay for a 730 bp fragment of the ftsZ gene with primers that are specific for Wolbachia. An additional PCR, using two primer pairs that amplify a 259 bp region of the ftsZ gene that are diagnostic for the two Wolbachia subdivisions A and B, showed that infected mites only carried type B and not type A Wolbachia. The fact that some species tested negative for Wolbachia does not mean that the entire species is uninfected. We found that natural populations of Tetranychus urticae are polymorphic for the infection. The possible effects of Wolbachia on mite reproduction and post-zygotic reproductive isolation are discussed.

A Novel Disease Affecting the Predatory Mite Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari, Phytoseiidae): 2. Disease Transmission by Adult Females

“…Spores of the microsporidian pathogen M. phytoseiuli have also never been detected in T. urticae, not even in colonies that were fed to a P. persimilis population that was 100% infected with the microsporidian pathogen. In contrast, Wolbachia may be present in T. urticae as well as in P. persimilis (Breeuwer and Jacobs 1996).…”

“…Until now only five microorganisms detected in P. persimilis have been studied in more detail: the rickettsia Rickettsiella phytoseiuli (Š ut'áková 1991) and Wolbachia sp. (Breeuwer and Jacobs 1996), the microsporidium Microsporidium phytoseiuli (Bjørnson 1998;Bjørnson et al 1996;Bjørnson andKeddie, 1999, 2001) and two non-identified species (Bjørnson and Keddie 2000). Only for M. phytoseiuli clear pathological effects have been reported including negative effects on fecundity, longevity, predation rate and progeny sex ratio (Bjørnson and Keddie, 1999).…”

No variation for Wolbachia-induced hybrid breakdown in two populations of a spider mite

“…Cultures were maintained, and experiments were performed, in one climate room at 23°C, 60-80% relative humidity, and 16L:8D photoperiod. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with Wolbachia-specific primers detected that both strains were infected with Wolbachia (Breeuwer and Jacobs 1996). DNA isolation and PCR were as in Breeuwer (1997).…”

IPM Potentials of Microbial Pathogens and Diseases of Mites

“…Tetranychidae Breeuwer and Jacobs (1996) Oligonychus biharensis Tetranychidae Breeuwer and Jacobs (1996) Tetranychus yusti Tetranychidae Breeuwer and Jacobs (1996) Tetranychus kanzawai Tetranychidae Breeuwer and Jacobs (1996) Gomi, Gotoh, and Noda (1997) …”

“…Tetranychidae Breeuwer and Jacobs (1996) Tetranychus turkestani Tetranychidae Breeuwer and Jacobs (1996) Tetranychus quercivorus Tetranychidae Gotoh, Abe, Kurihara, and Suzuki (1995) Tetranychus urticae Tetranychidae Breeuwer andJacobs (1996) Tsagkarakou, Guillemaud, Rousset, andNavajas (1996) Metaseiulus occidentalis Phytoseiidae Johanowicz andHoy (1966) Breeuwer andJacobs (1996) Neoseiulus barkeri Phytoseiidae Breeuwer and Jacobs (1996) Neoseiulus bibens Phytoseiidae Breeuwer and Jacobs (1996) Phytoseiulus persimilis Phytoseiidae Steiner (1993) and Breeuwer and Jacobs (1996) Cardinium sp. …”