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Evolutionary Convergence of Nutritional Symbionts in Ticks
Noor Fattar1, Meriem Louni2, Marie Buysse1
1MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche Pour le développement (IRD), Montpellier, France.
Environmental Microbiology Reports
|June 11, 2025
Summary
Tick endosymbionts, Coxiella-like and Francisella-like bacteria, independently evolved to provide essential B vitamins for tick survival. These bacteria share similar tissue locations and intracellular niches, highlighting convergent evolution in tick symbiosis.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Ecology
- Genomics
Background:
- Obligate blood-feeding animals, like ticks, rely on bacterial symbiosis for survival.
- Two bacterial lineages, Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts, have independently evolved as nutritional symbionts in ticks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the convergent evolution of nutritional symbiosis in ticks.
- To compare the tissue localization, intracellular niches, and metabolic capabilities of Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts across tick species.
Main Methods:
- Comparative genomic and phenotypic analyses across multiple tick species.
- Characterization of bacterial tissue localization and intracellular niches within tick cells.
- Analysis of retained metabolic pathways in endosymbionts, including B vitamin and heme biosynthesis.
Main Results:
- Both Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts exhibit similar tissue localization in nutrient metabolism and transmission organs.
- Endosymbionts reside in similar intracellular niches within membrane-bound vacuoles.
- Both symbionts retain B vitamin biosynthesis pathways; Francisella-like endosymbionts also possess complete heme biosynthesis, potentially supplying ticks with heme.
Conclusions:
- Convergent evolution of nutritional symbiosis is evident across major tick families.
- Bacterial symbionts play a crucial role in tick nutrition, blood-feeding, and potentially influence pathogen transmission.
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