Coxiella-like Endosymbionts

Zhong, Jianmin

doi:10.1007/978-94-007-4315-1_18

Cited by 38 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…However, no bacteria classified into the genus Coxiella were detected in the mites, although many Coxiella symbionts have been reported. [31][32][33][34] In conclusion, the present study showed that L. scutellare mites carry a number of bacterial endosymbionts among their obligate intracellular bacteria, in addition to O. tsutsugamushi. The sequence of 16S rDNA is generally stable between the same species of bacteria, whereas the V3V4 region is highly variable between different species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Obligate intracellular bacteria diversity in unfed Leptotrombidium scutellare larvae highlights novel bacterial endosymbionts of mites

Ogawa

Takahashi

Matsutani

et al. 2019

Microbiology and Immunology

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It is well known that the mite Leptotrombidium scutellare carries the pathogen of scrub typhus, Orientia tsutsugamushi. However, our understanding of other bacterial endosymbionts of mites is limited. This study investigated the diversity of the obligate intracellular bacteria carried by L. scutellare using 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis with next-generation sequencing. The results showed that the detected bacteria were classified into the genera Rickettsia, Wolbachia, and Rickettsiella and an unknown genus of the order Rickettsiales. For further classification of the detected bacteria, a representative read that was most closely related to the assigned taxonomic classification was subjected to homology search and phylogenic analysis. The results showed that some bacteria of the genus Rickettsia were identical or very close to the human pathogens Rickettsia akari, Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia felis, and Rickettsia australis. The genetic distance between the genus Wolbachia bacteria in the present study and in previous reports is highly indicative that the bacteria in the present study can be classified as a new taxon of Wolbachia. This study detected obligate intracellular bacteria from unfed mites; thus, the mites did not acquire bacteria from infected animals or any other infectious sources. Finally, the present study demonstrated that various and novel bacterial endosymbionts of mites, in addition to O. tsutsugamushi, might uniquely evolve with the host mites throughout overlapping generations of the mite life cycle. The roles of the bacteria in mites and their pathogenicity should be further examined in studies based on bacterial isolation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Obligate intracellular bacteria diversity in unfed Leptotrombidium scutellare larvae highlights novel bacterial endosymbionts of mites

Ogawa

Takahashi

Matsutani

et al. 2019

Microbiology and Immunology

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“…Interestingly, eliminating this bacterium with antibiotics caused severe reduction in tick fecundity and fitness, suggesting an important role for the bacterium in promoting host fitness (Zhong et al 2007). We sequenced the whole genome of this Coxiella -like endosymbiont of A. americanum (CLEAA) and determined that it is closely related to Coxiella burnetii but was not directly derived from it, as previously assumed (Zhong 2012). Although the CLEAA genome is severely reduced, it is replete with metabolic pathways for the biosynthesis of several vitamins and cofactors that are scarce in vertebrate blood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

A Coxiella-Like Endosymbiont Is a Potential Vitamin Source for the Lone Star Tick

Smith

Driscoll

Gillespie

et al. 2015

Genome Biology and Evolution

211

214

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Amblyomma americanum (Lone star tick) is an important disease vector in the United States. It transmits several human pathogens, including the agents of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and southern tick-associated rash illness. Blood-feeding insects (Class Insecta) depend on bacterial endosymbionts to provide vitamins and cofactors that are scarce in blood. It is unclear how this deficiency is compensated in ticks (Class Arachnida) that feed exclusively on mammalian blood. A bacterium related to Coxiella burnetii, the agent of human Q fever, has been observed previously within cells of A. americanum. Eliminating this bacterium (CLEAA, Coxiella-like endosymbiont of A. americanum) with antibiotics reduced tick fecundity, indicating that it is an essential endosymbiont. In an effort to determine its role within this symbiosis, we sequenced the CLEAA genome. While highly reduced (656,901 bp) compared with C. burnetii (1,995,281 bp), the CLEAA genome encodes most major vitamin and cofactor biosynthesis pathways, implicating CLEAA as a vitamin provisioning endosymbiont. In contrast, CLEAA lacks any recognizable virulence genes, indicating that it is not a pathogen despite its presence in tick salivary glands. As both C. burnetii and numerous “Coxiella-like bacteria” have been reported from several species of ticks, we determined the evolutionary relationship between the two bacteria. Phylogeny estimation revealed that CLEAA is a close relative of C. burnetii, but was not derived from it. Our results are important for strategies geared toward controlling A. americanum and the pathogens it vectors, and also contribute novel information regarding the metabolic interdependencies of ticks and their nutrient-provisioning endosymbionts.

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“…The sequence identity of the 16S rRNA gene among the Coxiella-like bacteria varies from species to species. When the 16S rRNA nucleotide sequences are compared with each other using C. burnetii as a reference genome, a maximal and a minimal nucleotide identity of 98% and 91%, respectively, is observed (Zhong, 2012). There are many animals that can be infected with this type of bacteria, such as fish, mammals, reptiles, birds, and particularly arthropods such as ticks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%