Wolbachia infection in Trissolcus species (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Aksoy

2018

Sci Rep

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Wolbachia spp. and Spiroplasma spp. in natural populations of sand flies in Turkey by molecular methods. A total of 40 Phlebotomus specimens (19 female and 21 male) were used in this study. Genomic DNA from whole sand flies was isolated and Wolbachia spp. infection prevalence was investigated by using Wolbachia gene specific primer sets (wsp and GroEL). In addition, the DNA were analyzed for the presence of Spiroplasma infections utilizing bacterium specific 16 S rDNA PCR-amplification primers. Results of this analysis showed a Wolbachia infection prevalence of 70% (28/40). There was no sex-bias in infection prevalence, being 76% (16/21) and 63% (12/19) in males and females, respectively. Analysis of Spiroplasma infections indicated that 26% (5/19) of female sand flies were positive for infection, while none of the screened males (0/21) were positive. Of the 40 sand fly samples, only 2 were found to be positive for both Wolbachia spp. and Spiroplasma spp. The present study demonstrates the presence of Wolbachia and Spiroplasma infections in the natural sand fly populations in Turkey. This is the first report on Spiroplasma infection in the sand flies from Turkey.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Wolbachia spp. and Spiroplasma spp. in Phlebotomus species by molecular methods

Aksoy

2018

Sci Rep

“…Several host‐shift events among closely related species, as inferred from patterns of Wolbachia strain distributions on host phylogenies, support the PDE hypothesis, e.g. in weevils (Lachowska, Kajtoch, & Knutelski, 2010; Sanaei et al ., 2019), Trissolcus wasps (Guz et al ., 2012), and Drosophila (Haine, Pickup, & Cook, 2005; Turelli et al ., 2018). By contrast, in some case studies focused on certain arthropod families or genera, only a negligible part of the data, if any, appeared to indicate a PDE, e.g.…”

Section: Factors Influencing Host Shiftsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wolbachiahost shifts: routes, mechanisms, constraints and evolutionary consequences

2020

Wolbachia is one of the most abundant endosymbionts on earth, with a wide distribution especially in arthropods. Effective maternal transmission and the induction of various phenotypes in their hosts are two key features of this bacterium. Here, we review our current understanding of another central aspect of Wolbachia's success: their ability to switch from one host species to another. We build on the proposal that Wolbachia host shifts occur in four main steps: (i) physical transfer to a new species; (ii) proliferation within that host; (iii) successful maternal transmission; and (iv) spread within the host species. Host shift can fail at each of these steps, and the likelihood of ultimate success is influenced by many factors. Some stem from traits of Wolbachia (different strains have different abilities for host switching), others on host features such as genetic resemblance (e.g. host shifting is likely to be easier between closely related species), ecological connections (the donor and recipient host need to interact), or the resident microbiota. Host shifts have enabled Wolbachia to reach its enormous current incidence and global distribution among arthropods in an epidemiological process shaped by loss and acquisition events across host species. The ability of Wolbachia to transfer between species also forms the basis of ongoing endeavours to control pests and disease vectors, following artificial introduction into uninfected hosts such as mosquitoes. Throughout, we emphasise the many knowledge gaps in our understanding of Wolbachia host shifts, and question the effectiveness of current methodology to detect these events. We conclude by discussing an apparent paradox: how can Wolbachia maintain its ability to undergo host shifts given that its biology seems dominated by vertical transmission?

Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi

“…The mean phylogenetic difference between Pip group and other isolates under the Super group A was also found higher (25.0%). In addition a high genetic diversity (23.1%) was also determined among the WolKys1 isolate and Wolbachia isolates reported from Trissolcus rufiventris, T. flavipes and T. grandis in Turkey which are known to be specific enemies of stink bugs (17).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 90%

Detection and molecular characterization of the Wolbachia Endobacteria in the Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) specimens collected from Kayseri province of Turkey

INCI¹

2013

Summary:This study was performed to investigate Wolbachia endobacteria in Culex pipiens specimens collected from Kayseri province of Turkey. For this aim, totally 10 genomic DNA pools each including 6-15 Cx. pipiens specimens which were collected and identified within the scope of a project (No: 107O533) supported by TUBITAK, were examined by using the amplification of surface protein gene (wsp) region of the Wolbachia. The sequences from this gene were highly variable and could be used to resolve the phylogenetic relationships of different Wolbachia strains. After the genomic DNA extraction from the pools, PCR analyses were carried out with Wolbachia specific primer pair which was amplified a 590-632 bp region of the wsp gene. Out of 6 of the 10 examined genomic DNA pools were found to be positive (60.0%) by PCR analyses. The minimum infection rate of Wolbachia spp. in the totally analyzed 118 Cx. pipens specimens was determined as 5.08. One of the amplicon from the positive isolates was gel purified and sequenced in terms of wsp gene region of Wolbachia by using the same primers. Pair wise analyses of the obtained DNA sequences and multiple alignments with some other Wolbachia strains available in the GenBank were done and phylogenies were investigated. The obtained isolate (WolKys1) was deposited in GenBank International Nucleotide Sequence Database with the accession number JX474753. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that the obtained WolKys1 isolate belongs to Wolbachia Super Group B and wPIP group. According to the phylogenetic comparisons the WolKys1 showed 100.0% identity with some other Wolbachia isolates under the Group B. In conclusion, this study reports the first molecular detection and characterization of Wolbachia endobacteria in Cx. pipiens populations in Turkey.