Wolbachia Pipientis: Microbial Manipulator of Arthropod Reproduction

Abstract

The alpha-proteobacterium Wolbachia pipientis is a very common cytoplasmic symbiont of insects, crustaceans, mites, and filarial nematodes. To enhance its transmission, W. pipientis has evolved a large scale of host manipulations: parthenogenesis induction, feminization, and male killing. W. pipientis's most common effect is a crossing incompatibility between infected males and uninfected females. Little is known about the genetics and biochemistry of these symbionts because of their fastidious requirements. The affinity of W. pipientis for the microtubules associated with the early divisions in eggs may explain some of their effects. Such inherited microorganisms are thought to have been major factors in the evolution of sex determination, eusociality, and speciation. W. pipientis isolates are also of interest as vectors for the modification of wild insect populations, in the improvement of parasitoid wasps in biological pest control, and as a new method for interfering with diseases caused by filarial nematodes.

Cloning and sequencing of wsp encoding gene fragments reveals a diversity of co-infecting Wolbachia strains in Acromyrmex leafcutter ants

“…The close phylogenetic affiliation of ant social parasites and their hosts (Schultz et al, 1998) is known as ÔEmeryÕs ruleÕ (Baur et al, 1995(Baur et al, , 1996Buschinger, 1986) and while sympatric speciation is often invoked to explain this pattern (Baur et al, 1995(Baur et al, , 1996Buschinger, 1986), it hard to see how it could arise in the absence of a clear mechanism. Incompatibility between multiple Wolbachia types within a population could provide such a mechanism (Hurst and Schilthuizen, 1998;Stouthamer et al, 1999;Werren, 1998). Given that A. insinuator carries two additional, phylogenetically isolated,Wolbachia infections relative to its host, A. echinatior (Fig.…”

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

“…DNA isolation and PCR were as in Breeuwer (1997). The R-and C-strain are the same as those described in Stouthamer et al (1999).…”

“…Wolbachia have been called sexual parasites (Werren 1997): they manipulate host reproduction to their benefit -i.e., in such a way that the number of infected females in the host population, directly or indirectly, increases. Depending on the species, and sometimes on the population of a species, these manipulations include feminization of infected males, induction of parthenogenesis in infected females, male-killing and cytoplasmic incompatibility (for a review see Stouthamer et al (1999)). In the phytophagous haplodiploid two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch, Wolbachia can induce both cytoplasmic incompatibility (Breeuwer 1997;Perrot-Minnot et al 2002;Vala et al 2000Vala et al , 2002 and hybrid breakdown (Vala et al 2000).…”

“…Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is expressed in crosses between Wolbachia infected (W) males and uninfected (U) females (reviewed by Hoffmann and Turelli (1997) and Stouthamer et al (1999)). CI is not induced if the same Wolbachia strain that was present in the male is present in the fertilized egg (i.e.…”

Mapping the presence of Wolbachia pipientis on the phylogeny of filarial nematodes: evidence for symbiont loss during evolution

“…These bacteria are present in arthropods and filarial nematodes (Werren, 1997). In arthropods W. pipientis generally induces alterations in host reproduction (Werren, 1997;Stouthamer et al, 1999 andBandi et al, 2001). In filarial nematodes there is convincing evidence that these bacteria are required for the development and reproduction of their hosts Bandi et al, 1999;Hoerauf et al, 1999;McCall et al, 1999;Hoerauf et al, 2000 andCasiraghi et al, 2002).…”