Versatile and Dynamic Symbioses Between Insects and Burkholderia Bacteria
Martin Kaltenpoth1, Laura V Flórez1
1Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Evolutionary Ecology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; email: mkaltenpoth@uni-mainz.de, laflorez@uni-mainz.de.
Annual Review of Entomology
|October 10, 2019
Summary
Insect-bacteria symbioses with Burkholderia offer insights into ecological innovation. These associations, acquired environmentally or through mixed transmission, reveal diverse functions and evolutionary dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Microbial Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Insect Microbiology
Background:
- Symbiotic associations with microorganisms drive ecological and evolutionary innovations in insects.
- The genus Burkholderia comprises diverse bacteria, exhibiting mutualistic or pathogenic roles across various environments and hosts.
- Known insect-Burkholderia symbioses involve environmental acquisition or mixed-mode transmission, influencing symbiont strain dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the ecological and evolutionary significance of insect symbioses with Burkholderia bacteria.
- To highlight insect-Burkholderia associations as model systems for understanding symbiotic interactions.
- To investigate the diverse functions, localizations, and transmission routes within these symbioses.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on insect-Burkholderia symbioses.
- Comparative analysis of functional roles and transmission modes.
- Assessment of experimental and genetic tractability of these systems.
Main Results:
- Burkholderia symbionts confer benefits such as nutrition and insecticide resistance in stinkbugs.
- These bacteria protect Lagria beetle eggs from fungal pathogens and may aid nitrogen metabolism in ants.
- Insect-Burkholderia symbioses exhibit varied transmission routes and symbiont compositions.
Conclusions:
- Insect-Burkholderia symbioses are crucial for insect adaptation and diversification.
- These systems serve as valuable models for studying general principles of symbiosis.
- The diversity in function, localization, and transmission enriches our understanding of symbiotic evolution.
Keywords:
Burkholderialifestyle transitionmutualismpathogenicitysymbiosisvertical and horizontal transmissionMore Related Videos
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