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Patterns of host cell inheritance in the bacterial symbiosis of whiteflies

Xiao-Rui Xu1, Na-Na Li1, Xi-Yu Bao1

  • 1Liaoning Key Laboratory of Economic and Applied Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.

Insect Science
|July 4, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Whiteflies transmit bacterial symbionts through specialized cells called bacteriocytes. Two distinct transmission modes were observed in whitefly species, revealing evolutionary flexibility in insect symbiosis.

Area of Science:

  • Insect biology
  • Microbial symbiosis
  • Evolutionary biology

Background:

  • Whiteflies harbor bacterial symbionts, Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidium, within bacteriocytes.
  • These symbionts are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring via the ovary.
  • Previous studies on Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 showed somatic inheritance of bacteriocytes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate bacteriocyte transmission modes in Bemisia tabaci MED and Trialeurodes vaporariorum.
  • To compare transmission mechanisms between related and distant whitefly species.
  • To understand the diversification of symbiont transmission in insect symbioses.

Main Methods:

  • Microsatellite analysis of bacteriocytes and somatic cells.
  • Microscopical examination of bacteriocyte persistence during embryogenesis.
  • Comparative study across two whitefly species: B. tabaci MED and T. vaporariorum.

Main Results:

  • B. tabaci MED bacteriocytes showed genetic distinctness and persisted through embryogenesis.
  • T. vaporariorum bacteriocytes were genetically identical to somatic cells, suggesting maternal bacteriocyte degradation.
  • Identified two alternative modes of bacteriocyte transmission within whiteflies.

Conclusions:

  • Demonstrated divergent cellular processes for vertical symbiont transmission in whiteflies.
  • Highlighted the evolutionary plasticity of insect-microbe interactions.
  • Provided the first evidence of diversified bacteriocyte transmission among related host species for a single bacterial symbiont lineage.
Keywords:
bacteriocyteinheritancesomatic cellssymbiont transmissionwhitefly

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