Bacteriophage WO Can Mediate Horizontal Gene Transfer in Endosymbiotic Wolbachia Genomes

Wang, Guan H.; Sun, Bao; Xiong, Tuan L; Wang, Yan K.; Murfin, Kristen E.; Xiao, Jin; Huang, Da Wei

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.01867

Cited by 30 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 83 publications

(115 reference statements)

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“…Horizontal transfer of genes between Wolbachia strains and hosts is in line with existing literature demonstrating Wolbachia ’s proclivity for genetic exchange. Indeed, the horizontal transfer of individual genes or the entire phage region among Wolbachia strains that is supported here reflects previously reported cases (W ang et al 2016; C ooper et al 2019). Phage WO genes appear to horizontally transfer between the Wolbachia genomes analyzed here more often than the rest of the genome, possibly due to the activity of the phage particles (Table 1, Figure 3), or the activity of surrounding mobile elements, as may have happened in the D. yakuba clade with horizontal transfer of the CI loci and nearby transposons (C ooper et al 2019).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…More broadly, acquisition of new genetic variants that the eukaryotic host is unfamiliar with may confer an advantage that could allow the Wolbachia to be transferred to a new host or maintained in an existing host. Indeed, some known cases of horizontal phage WO gene transfer among symbionts have functional effects on the symbiont’s ability to parasitize the host (W ang et al 2016; C ooper et al 2019). Most crucially, horizontal gene transfer in Wolbachia is not restricted to exchange among phages or bacteria, but also with the eukaryotic host.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rapid evolution and horizontal gene transfer in the genome of a male-killingWolbachia

Hill

Unckless

Perlmutter

2020

Preprint

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Wolbachia are widespread bacterial endosymbionts that infect a large proportion of insect species. While some strains of this bacteria do not cause observable host phenotypes, many strains of Wolbachia have some striking effects on their hosts. In some cases, these symbionts manipulate host reproduction to increase the fitness of infected, transmitting females. Here we examine the genome and population genomics of a male-killing Wolbachia strain, wInn, that infects Drosophila innubila mushroom-feeding flies. We compared wInn to other closely-related Wolbachia genomes to understand the evolutionary dynamics of specific genes. The wInn genome is similar in overall gene content to wMel, but also contains many unique genes and repetitive elements that indicate distinct gene transfers between wInn and non-Drosophila hosts. We also find that genes in the Wolbachia prophage and Octomom regions are particularly rapidly evolving, including those putatively or empirically confirmed to be involved in host pathogenicity. Of the genes that rapidly evolve, many also show evidence of recent horizontal transfer among Wolbachia symbiont genomes, suggesting frequent movement of rapidly evolving regions among individuals. These dynamics of rapid evolution and horizontal gene transfer across the genomes of several Wolbachia strains and divergent host species may be important underlying factors in Wolbachia’s global success as a symbiont.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid evolution and horizontal gene transfer in the genome of a male-killingWolbachia

Hill

Unckless

Perlmutter

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…We conclude that inter-supergroup recombination is uncommon among the set of 210 core single ortholog genes used in this study. Recombination may be more frequent in other genes and clearly is so in phage-associated genes ( Bordenstein and Bordenstein 2016 ; Wang et al. 2016 ) and the surface protein wsp ( Baldo, Bordenstein, et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenomic Analysis of Wolbachia Strains Reveals Patterns of Genome Evolution and Recombination

Wang

Xiao

Cao

et al. 2020

Genome Biology and Evolution

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Wolbachia are widespread intracellular bacteria that mediate many important biological processes in arthropod species. In this study, we identified 210 conserved single-copy genes in 33 genome-sequenced Wolbachia strains in the A, B, C, D, E and F supergroups. Phylogenomic analyses with these core genes indicate that all 33 Wolbachia strains maintain the supergroup relationship, which was classified previously based on the multilocus sequence typing (MLST) genes. Using an interclade recombination screening method, 14 inter-supergroup recombination events were discovered in six genes (2.9%) among 210 single copy orthologs. This finding suggests a relatively low frequency of intergroup recombination. Interestingly, they have occurred not only between A and B supergroups (9 events), but also between A and E supergroups (5 events). Maintenance of such transfers suggests possible roles in Wolbachia infection related functions. Comparisons of strain divergence using the five genes of the MLST system show a high correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.98) between MLST and whole genome divergences, indicating that MLST is a reliable method for identifying related strains when whole genome data are not available. The phylogenomic analysis and the identified core gene set in our study will serve as a valuable foundation for strain identification and the investigation of recombination and genome evolution in Wolbachia.

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“…Phages and other mobile elements often occupy a relatively large proportion of Wolbachia genomes (Klasson, et al 2009b;Wu, et al 2004). They may also have a significant impact on Wolbachia ecology and evolution, since they frequently carry genes involved in host interaction and can be laterally transferred between strains (Bordenstein and Bordenstein 2016;Wang, et al 2016). The phage WO associated cif genes, involved in CI, are prime examples of this phenomenon (LePage, et al 2017;Madhav, et al 2020;Martinez, et al 2020).…”

Section: Rapid Evolution Of Wolbachia Genomes and Phenotypes Are Medimentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative genomics reveals factors associated with phenotypic expression ofWolbachia

Baião

Janice

Galinou

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Wolbachia is a widespread, vertically transmitted bacterial endosymbiont known for manipulating arthropod reproduction. Its most common form of reproductive manipulation is Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), observed when a modification in the male sperm leads to embryonic lethality unless a compatible rescue factor is present in the female egg. CI attracts scientific attention due to its implications for host speciation and in the use of Wolbachia for controlling vector-borne diseases. However, our understanding of CI is complicated by the complexity of the phenotype, whose expression depends on both symbiont and host factors. In the present study, we perform a comparative analysis of nine complete Wolbachia genomes with known CI properties in the same genetic host background, Drosophila simulans STC. We describe genetic differences between closely related strains and uncover evidence that phages and other mobile elements contribute to rapid evolution of both genomes and phenotypes of Wolbachia. Additionally, we identify both known and novel genes associated with the modification and rescue functions of CI. We combine our observations with published phenotypic information and discuss how variability in cif genes, novel CI-associated genes and Wolbachia titer might contribute to poorly understood aspects of CI such as strength and bidirectional incompatibility. We speculate that high titer CI strains could be better at invading new hosts already infected with a CI Wolbachia, due to a higher rescue potential, and suggest that titer might thus be a relevant parameter to consider for future strategies using CI Wolbachia in biological control.

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Bacteriophage WO Can Mediate Horizontal Gene Transfer in Endosymbiotic Wolbachia Genomes

Cited by 30 publications

References 83 publications

Rapid evolution and horizontal gene transfer in the genome of a male-killingWolbachia

Rapid evolution and horizontal gene transfer in the genome of a male-killingWolbachia

Phylogenomic Analysis of Wolbachia Strains Reveals Patterns of Genome Evolution and Recombination

Comparative genomics reveals factors associated with phenotypic expression ofWolbachia

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