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Wolbachia Feminises a Spider Host With Assistance From Co-Infecting Symbionts
Virginija Mackevicius-Dubickaja1, Yuval Gottlieb1, Jennifer A White2
1Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel.
Environmental Microbiology
|July 10, 2025
Summary
The spider Mermessus fradeorum shows feminisation due to bacterial symbionts, specifically Wolbachia strain W1. Co-infection with multiple symbionts enhances this feminisation effect, promoting symbiont spread.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Microbial Ecology
- Genetics
Background:
- Arthropods host maternally-transmitted bacterial symbionts that influence host traits.
- Co-infections with multiple symbionts can lead to cooperation or conflict, impacting host phenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of multiple heritable symbionts in feminisation of the spider Mermessus fradeorum.
- To identify specific symbiont strains responsible for feminisation and explore synergistic effects of co-infection.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of feminisation across nine different symbiont infection combinations in Mermessus fradeorum.
- Quantification of symbiont titres and relative abundance in relation to host feminisation levels.
Main Results:
- A specific Wolbachia strain (W1) was identified as essential for feminisation in Mermessus fradeorum.
- Co-infection with Wolbachia strains W1 and W3 increased feminisation rates by approximately 10%.
- Lower relative abundance of Rickettsiella and Tisiphia symbionts was observed in strongly feminised spiders, suggesting titre interactions.
Conclusions:
- This study confirms Wolbachia-induced feminisation in spiders for the first time.
- Synergistic effects among co-infecting symbionts can enhance the efficacy of symbiont-induced feminisation, potentially promoting symbiont proliferation within host populations.
