Dynamic reciprocal morphological changes in insect hosts and bacterial symbionts.
Anthony D Junker1, Jason Z Chen1, James G DuBose1
1Biology Department, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 303220, USA.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|January 31, 2025
Summary
This study reveals how squash bugs and their gut bacteria, Caballeronia zhejiangensis, dynamically interact and change together during the initiation of symbiosis. It details bacterial movement and colonization within specialized host organs.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Insect Biology
- Symbiosis Research
Background:
- Symbiotic interactions between animals and gut bacteria are crucial for physiological integration.
- Studying microbial symbionts is challenging due to host microbial diversity.
- Heteropteran insects offer a model system to study host-symbiont co-evolution due to specialized gut structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the concurrent structural and cellular dynamics during the initiation of symbiosis between the squash bug (Anasa tristis) and its symbiont (Caballeronia zhejiangensis).
- To elucidate the mechanisms of symbiont sequestration, motility, colonization, and host crypt development during symbiosis establishment.
Main Methods:
- Ex vivo and in vivo observations of cellular behaviors.
- Analysis of concurrent structural and cellular dynamics in both host and symbiont.
- Microscopy techniques to visualize host-symbiont interactions.
Main Results:
- Caballeronia zhejiangensis is sequestered within a specialized symbiotic organ in the Anasa tristis midgut.
- Symbionts utilize active motility to reach the symbiotic organ and colonize host crypts.
- Host crypt morphogenesis progresses in conjunction with symbiont colonization during symbiosis initiation.
Conclusions:
- Symbiosis initiation involves reciprocal dynamic cellular and morphological changes in both host and symbiont.
- The specialized midgut of A. tristis facilitates focused study of insect-bacterial symbiosis.
- Findings provide insight into the fundamental processes of establishing cooperative symbiotic relationships.
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