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Host-specificity of environmentally transmitted Mycoplasma-like isopod symbionts

Sebastian Fraune1, Martin Zimmer

  • 1Zoologisches Institut, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Am Botanischen Garten 9, D-24118 Kiel, Germany.

Environmental Microbiology
|October 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasma-like symbionts, specifically "Candidatus Hepatoplasma", enhance the survival of terrestrial isopods on poor diets. This ancient symbiosis appears crucial for host longevity when nutritional resources are scarce.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Symbiotic relationships
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Mycoplasms are significant pathogens in plants, animals, and humans.
  • Terrestrial isopods are detritivores playing key roles in decomposition.
  • Understanding host-symbiont interactions is crucial for ecological and evolutionary insights.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between Mycoplasma-like symbionts and the survivorship of terrestrial isopods on low-quality food.
  • To determine the host specificity and evolutionary history of Mycoplasma-like symbionts in isopods.
  • To assess the impact of a specific symbiont, 'Candidatus Hepatincola porcellionum', on host longevity.

Main Methods:

  • Feeding trials with cellulose-based low-quality diets for 90 days.
  • Detection and identification of bacterial symbionts in isopod midgut glands using molecular techniques.
  • Phylogenetic analyses of symbiont DNA to infer host-symbiont evolutionary relationships.

Main Results:

  • A positive correlation was observed between "Candidatus Hepatoplasma" presence and isopod survivorship on low-quality diets.
  • "Candidatus Hepatoplasma" was widespread across diverse terrestrial isopod species, suggesting ancient host association.
  • 'Candidatus Hepatincola porcellionum' was negatively correlated with host longevity, even on high-quality food.

Conclusions:

  • "Candidatus Hepatoplasma" likely provides a nutritional or physiological benefit to terrestrial isopods, enhancing survival on poor diets.
  • The widespread and specific nature of "Candidatus Hepatoplasma" suggests a long-standing, co-evolutionary relationship with terrestrial isopods.
  • Different Mycoplasma-like symbionts can have contrasting effects on host fitness, highlighting the complexity of symbiotic interactions.

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