Wolbachia symbiosis and insect immune response

Bacterial intraceUular symbiosis is very common in insects, having significant consequences in promoting the evolution of life and biodiversity. The bacterial group that has recently attracted particular attention is Wolbachia pipientis which probably represents the most ubiquitous endosymbiont on the planet. W. pipientis is a Gram-negative obligatory intracellular and maternally transmitted a-proteobacterium, that is able to establish symbiotic associations with arthropods and nematodes. In arthropods, Wolbachia pipientis infections have been described in Arachnida, in Isopoda and mainly in Insecta. They have been reported in almost all major insect orders including Diptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera and Lepidoptera. To enhance its transmission, W. pipientis can manipulate host reproduction by inducing parthenogenesis, feminization, male killing and cytoplasmic incompatibility. Several polymerase chain reaction surveys have indicated that up to 70% of all insect species may be infected with W. pipientis. How does W. pipientis manage to get established in diverse insect host species？ How is this intracellular bacterial symbiont species so successful in escaping the host immune response？ The present review presents recent advances and ongoing scientific efforts in the field. The current body of knowledge in the field is summarized, revelations from the available genomic information are presented and as yet unanswered questions are discussed in an attempt to present a comprehensive picture of the unique ability of W. pipientis to establish symbiosis and to manipulate reproduction while evading the host＇s immune system.     

Wolbachia in two insect host–parasitoid communities

Wolbachia form a group of intracellular bacteria that alter reproduction in their arthropod hosts. Two major phylogenetic subdivisions (A and B) of Wolbachia occur. Using a polymerase chain reaction assay we surveyed for the A and B group Wolbachia in 82 insect species from two temperate host–parasitoid communities (food webs) and a general collection of Lepidoptera caught at a light trap. One host–parasitoid community was based around leaf-mining Lepidoptera, and the other around Aphids. We found that: (i) 22.0% of insects sampled were infected with Wolbachia ; and (ii) the prevalence and type (A or B) of Wolbachia infection differed significantly between communities and taxonomic groups. We obtained DNA sequences from the ftsZ gene for the group B Wolbachia found in six leaf-mining species and one of their parasitoids, as well as four of the Lepidoptera caught by a light trap. Taken together, the results of our survey and phylogenetic analyses of the sequence data suggest that host–parasitoid transfer of Wolbachia is not the major route through which the species we have examined become infected. In addition, the Wolbachia strains observed in five leaf-mining species from the same genus were not closely related, indicating that transfer between species has not occurred due to a shared feeding niche or cospeciation.     

我国尖音库蚊复合组蚊虫的杂交及其与Wolbachia感染的关系

为了了解我国尖音库蚊复合组蚊虫间杂交卵的不孵化现象和明确该现象与共生微生物Wolbachia感染的关系,对该复合组实验室种群4个亚种进行了笼内杂交和抗生素处理后的杂交。试验表明: 在复合组蚊虫中骚扰库蚊Culex pipiens molestus与淡色库蚊Cx. Pipiens pallens、致倦库蚊Cx. Ipiens quinquefasciatus与尖音库蚊Cx. Pipiens pipiens之间存在有单向胞质不融合现象,骚扰库蚊的雄虫与尖音库蚊、致倦库蚊和淡色库蚊的雌虫杂交卵的孵化率分别为0.06%、0.46%和0.19%;该胞质不融合现象可以通过抗生素处理而消除,处理后骚扰库蚊雄虫与其余3个亚种雌虫F₃杂交卵的孵化率均有提高,分别为89.49%（t=3.90×10^-28＜t_0.01=2.704）、23.39%（t=9.15×10^-7＜t_0.01=2.660_）和22.27%（t=5.08×10^-4＜t_0.01=2.750）,并可因抗生素处理而产生新的不融合类型。     

华南地区柑橘木虱与柑橘粉虱内共生菌检测及其Wolbachia共生菌的系统发育关系分析

【目的】探明不同地理种群的柑橘木虱Diaphorina citri Kuwayama和柑橘粉虱Dialeurodes citri Ashmead体内昆虫内共生菌的种类及其感染率,并以Wolbachia共生菌为代表,对其系统发育关系进行分析,为今后自共生菌角度研发柑橘木虱和柑橘粉虱的新型防控技术奠定基础。【方法】以16S r DNA、23S r DNA以及wsp为目标基因,利用PCR技术检测采自于广州、湛江、南宁、桂林、厦门的柑橘木虱以及采自广州的柑橘粉虱体内共生菌的种类及其感染率;利用多位点序列分型(MLST)技术和MEGA 5.0软件对不同昆虫样本中的Wolbachia进行系统发育关系分析。【结果】本研究采集的柑橘木虱和柑橘粉虱均含有原生共生菌Portiera和次生共生菌Wolbachia、Cardinium、Rickettsia,但该3种次生共生菌在不同木虱与粉虱种群的感染率有所不同;Arsenophonus只在广州和湛江种群的柑橘木虱中检出。基于wsp基因及MLST基因序列的Wolbachia系统发育分析表明,华南地区柑橘木虱和柑橘粉虱体内的Wolbachia均属于Wolbachia的B大组Con亚组。【结论】不同地理种群的柑橘木虱与柑橘粉虱体内感染的共生菌种类及其感染率不同;Wolabchia共生菌与柑橘木虱寄主不存在协同进化关系,在同一采集点存在Wolbachia通过柑橘寄主在柑橘木虱之间、柑橘木虱与柑橘粉虱之间水平传播的可能性。     

The effect of the endosymbiont Wolbachia on the behavior of insect hosts

As one of the most successful intracellular symbiotic bacteria, Wolbachia can infect many arthropods and nematodes. Wolbachia infection usually affects the reproduction of their hosts to promote their own proliferation and transmission. Currently, most of the studies focus on the mechanisms of Wolbachia interactions with host reproduction. However, in addition to distribution in the reproductive tissues, Wolbachia also infect various somatic tissues of their hosts, including the brain. This raises the potential that Wolbachia may influence some somatic processes, such as behaviors in their hosts. So far, information about the effects of Wolbachia infection on host behavior is still very limited. The present review presents the current literature on different aspects of the influence of Wolbachia on various behaviors, including sleep, learning and memory, mating, feeding and aggression in their insect hosts. We then highlight ongoing scientific efforts in the field that need addressing to advance this field, which can have significant implications for further developing Wolbachia as environmentally friendly biocontrol agents to control insect‐borne diseases and agricultural pests.     

我国麦蚜体内的沃尔巴克氏体(Wolbachia)的检测

沃尔巴克氏体是广泛分布于节肢动物体内的一类共生细菌 ,它们参与多种调控其寄主生殖活动的机制。本研究通过wsp基因的特异性扩增证实了沃尔巴克氏体在麦长管蚜Sitobionavenae(Fabricius)体内的共生。而且在麦长管蚜的两种体色型 (绿色型和红色型 )中都检测到了沃尔巴克氏体的共生。     

Wolbachia detection: an assessment of standard PCR protocols

Wolbachia is a large monophyletic genus of intracellular bacteria, traditionally detected using PCR assays. Its considerable phylogenetic diversity and impact on arthropods and nematodes make it urgent to assess the efficiency of these screening protocols. The sensitivity and range of commonly used PCR primers and of a new set of 16S primers were evaluated on a wide range of hosts and Wolbachia strains. We show that certain primer sets are significantly more efficient than others but that no single protocol can ensure the specific detection of all known Wolbachia infections.     

Wolbachia感染导致果蝇dHira基因表达下调

Wolbachia是广泛存在于节肢动物体内的一类共生微生物,可通过宿主卵的细胞质传递给子代.     

Comparison of fine needle aspiration biopsy and paraffin embedded tissue sections for measuring AgNOR proteins

Abstract

Paraffin embedded tissue sections and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are important methods for diagnosis. We compared thyroid tissue obtained by FNAB to paraffin embedded sections to determine whether there were differences in detection of the amounts of argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region (AgNOR) proteins. Twenty-two patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were included in the study. Slides were prepared with both FNAB tissue and 3 μm sections of paraffin embedded tissue, and stained for AgNOR. One hundred nuclei per individual were evaluated; total AgNOR number/nucleus (TAn/TNn) and total AgNOR area/nuclear area (TAa/TNa) of individual cells were determined. Mean TAn/TNn and TAa/TNa values were 4.800 ± 1.118 and 13.382 ± 2.612, respectively, for FNAB samples; corresponding values were 2.406 ± 0.649 and 8.49 ± 0.893, respectively, for paraffin embedded sections. The differences between FNAB materials and paraffin embedded tissue sections were significant for the mean TAn/TNn and TAa/TNa values. Significant differences in the amounts of AgNOR protein detected were found between FNAB and paraffin embedded tissue sections.     

植物石蜡切片包埋、修蜡过程的改进

传统的石蜡切片包埋、修蜡操作过程耗时费力。采用金属框替代纸质包埋盒进行组织包埋,将蜡块冷水冷却改为自然冷却,趁蜡块未完全变硬之前进行快速修整。该方法不仅提高了实验效率,而且修出的蜡块工整一致,同时对后面的切片过程无任何影响。     

Dynamic Wolbachia prevalence in Acromyrmex leaf-cutting ants: potential for a nutritional symbiosis

Wolbachia are renowned as reproductive parasites, but their phenotypic effects in eusocial insects are not well understood. We used a combination of qrt-PCR, fluorescence in situ hybridization and laser scanning confocal microscopy to evaluate the dynamics of Wolbachia infections in the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex octospinosus across developmental stages of sterile workers. We confirm that workers are infected with one or two widespread wsp genotypes of Wolbachia, show that colony prevalence is always 100% and characterize two rare recombinant genotypes. One dominant genotype is always present and most abundant, whereas another only proliferates in adult workers of some colonies and is barely detectable in larvae and pupae. An explanation may be that Wolbachia genotypes compete for host resources in immature stages while adult tissues provide substantially more niche space. Tissue-specific prevalence of the two genotypes differs, with the rarer genotype being over-represented in the adult foregut and thorax muscles. Both genotypes occur extracellularly in the foregut, suggesting an unknown mutualistic function in worker ant nutrition. Both genotypes are also abundant in the faecal fluid of the ants, suggesting that they may have extended functional phenotypes in the fungus garden that the ants manure with their own faeces.     

四种瘿蜂体内Wolbachia感染的PCR检测及感染株系的wsp基因序列分析

Wolbachia为节肢动物等的细胞质共生细菌,能对宿主的繁殖模式进行调控,包括诱导胞质不亲和、孤雌生殖、雌性化及雄性致死。本文采集了分布于美国的4种瘿蜂,利用Wolbachia的wsp基因特异性引物,对其Wolbachia的感染进行了PCR检测,证实了栎结瘤瘿蜂Callirhytis punctata Bassett和摇鼓栎瘿蜂Dryocosmus palustris Osten Sacken体内具Wolbachia共生,感染率分别为60%和36%。栎结瘤瘿蜂和摇鼓栎瘿蜂Wolbachia的wsp基因序列长度分别为564 bp和561 bp。栎结瘤瘿蜂与摇鼓栎瘿蜂Wolbachia的wsp基因序列的一致性为94%。栎结瘤瘿蜂与同为栎瘿蜂族的Andricus solitarius(strain 1)和Neuroterus macropterus,及客瘿蜂族的Synergus crassicorni的Wolbachia的wsp基因序列完全一致,与其他瘿蜂Wolbachia的wsp基因的序列一致性介于79%⁹9%之间。在NJ系统发育树中,栎结瘤瘿蜂与栎瘿蜂族的A.solitaries(strain 1),N.macropterus和B.pallida,以及客瘿蜂族的S.crassicornis的Wolbachia同属一分支,而摇鼓栎瘿蜂与栎瘿蜂族的麦氏安瘿蜂的Wolbachia聚集在同一分支。除客瘿蜂族的Ceroptres cerri感染的Wolbachia属于B群之外,其他瘿蜂感染的Wolbachia均属于A群。此外,本文采集的栎结瘤瘿蜂和摇鼓栎瘿蜂营有性生殖,说明Wolbachia的共生并不诱导其营产雌孤雌生殖。     

Causation, fitness effects and morphology of macropterism in Chorthippus parallelus (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

ABSTRACT. 1. Chorthippus parallelus (Zett.) displays an apparent'flight polyphenism'despite the fact that macropterous individuals cannot fly.
2. Photoperiod is used as an environmental cue controlling the polyphenism: long day lengths increasing the proportion of macropterous adults.
3. Macropterous females start mating when older and are less fecund than brachypters.
4. In contrast to other studies the response may not be due to cues associated with a reduced environmental quality and we speculate that macropterism is not a dispersal mechanism in the Gomphocerinae.     

Incidence of Wolbachia in aquatic insects

Wolbachia is a genus of intracellular bacteria typically found within the reproductive systems of insects that manipulates those systems of their hosts. While current estimates of Wolbachia incidence suggest that it infects approximately half of all arthropod species, these estimates are based almost entirely on terrestrial insects. No systematic survey of Wolbachia in aquatic insects has been performed. To estimate Wolbachia incidence among aquatic insect species, we combined field‐collected samples from the Missouri River (251 samples from 58 species) with a global database from previously published surveys. The final database contained 5,598 samples of 2,687 total species (228 aquatic and 2,459 terrestrial). We estimate that 52% (95% CrIs: 44%–60%) of aquatic insect species carry Wolbachia, compared to 60% (58%–63%) of terrestrial insects. Among aquatic insects, infected orders included Odonata, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, and Plecoptera. Incidence was highest within aquatic Diptera and Hemiptera (69%), Odonata (50%), and Coleoptera (53%), and was lowest within Ephemeroptera (13%). These results indicate that Wolbachia is common among aquatic insects, but incidence varies widely across orders and is especially uncertain in those orders with low sample sizes such as Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera.     

In situ detection of precursor and mature microRNAs in paraffin embedded, formalin fixed tissues and cell preparations

The in situ detection of microRNAs (miRs) expression offers several challenges. It would be advantageous to have a method which can be used in paraffin embedded, formalin fixed tissue to be able to access the large data bank of archival material. Further, it would be helpful if one could differentiate between precursor and mature, active forms of the miR. In this review, two different methods for the in situ detection of miR in paraffin embedded, formalin fixed tissues are described. Detection of the inactive precursor miR can be accomplished by RT in situ PCR. This will allow the detection of one copy of a given pre-miR per cell. Detection of the mature form of a given miR can be accomplished with in situ hybridization with a labeled probe in which some of the nucleotides have been modified; this is referred to as a locked nucleic acid (LNA) probe. An intense signal after in situ detection with the LNA probe documents marked up-regulation of the, typically, mature miR. Further, one can easily determine the specific subcellular compartmentalization of the precursor and mature forms which may provide insight into the modulation of these important regulatory molecules and their targets.     

Wolbachia在玉米螟赤眼蜂内的三重感染

Wolbachia是一类广泛存在于节肢动物体内的共生菌。玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae是我国玉米田间的优势赤眼蜂种, 据报道, 赤眼蜂种内有Wolbachia感染。本文利用Wolbachia的16s rDNA和wsp基因引物通过PCR方法对玉米螟赤眼蜂的野生种群进行了调查, 发现以wsp基因为鉴定依据, 检测的所有个体都感染了3种Wolbachia ［wOstGDAa (GenBank accession no. EU157103), wOstGDAb (GenBank accession no. EU157104) 和 wOstGDB (GenBank accession no. EU157105)］。本文首次报道了野生赤眼蜂种群内Wolbachia的三重感染率几乎为100%。根据本研究的结果, 可以推测当不同种赤眼蜂寄生同一寄主时, Wolbachia可能会在不同赤眼蜂种间进行横向传播。     

苹果蠹蛾体内wolbachia wsp基因克隆与序列分析

【目的】对苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella L.体内共生菌Wolbachia进行分子生物学鉴定,确定该虫体内Wolbachia的进化位置,为进一步探讨Wolbachia对其生殖作用的调控机制提供理论依据。【方法】应用Wolbachia的wsp基因特异引物,通过PCR扩增法检测了苹果蠹蛾10个地理种群(新疆伊犁、吐鲁番、和田、石河子、奎屯、哈密、库尔勒、阿拉尔、喀什、和甘肃张掖)感染Wolbachia的状况,并对阿拉尔种群体内的Wolbachia的wsp基因进行测序和序列分析。【结果】苹果蠹蛾10个地理种群全部感染了tWolbachia,利用wsp基因的特异性引物从阿拉尔种群体内扩增出了617 bp的Wolbachia的wsp基因片段(GenBank登录号为KC832324),系统发育分析结果表明,苹果蠹蛾体内感染的Wolbachia属于A群Dor亚群,与锤角细蜂亲缘关系较近。【结论】苹果蠹蛾体内普遍感染了Wolbachia,属于A群Dor亚群。     

Wolbachia在我国不同地理种群的玉米螟赤眼蜂中的分布

Wolbachia是一类可以引起寄主生殖行为改变的共生菌,广泛存在于节肢动物内。玉米螟赤眼蜂Trichogramma ostriniae Pang et Chen是我国亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis(Guene)卵寄生蜂的优势种。本文利用Wolbachia的16SrDNA基因特异性引物进行PCR扩增以及克隆测序,对我国14个地区的玉米螟赤眼蜂种群中Wolbachia的感染情况做了详细的调查。结果发现,被测的1412头野生玉米螟赤眼蜂全部感染有Wolbachia。系统发育分析表明,北京柳沟、山东菏泽、河南郑州、河南驻马店、湖南长沙5个种群存在超感染现象。这是Wolbachia在玉米螟赤眼蜂种群内分布情况的首次报道。     

Wolbachia在螟黄赤眼蜂种群内的分布及其遗传稳定性

本文通过对Wolbachia的wsp及16S rDNA基因的PCR扩增及克隆测序,明确了Wolbachia在华南、华北不同作物田间螟黄赤眼蜂Trichogramma chilonis种群内的分布情况.结果表明,在所有检测的螟黄赤眼蜂个体内都存在着Kue和Pip两组Wolbachia,双重感染率达到了100%.在不同温度下用米蛾Corcyra cephalonica Stainton卵饲养多代后,螟黄赤眼蜂体内的Wolbachia类型及感染率未发生改变,表明Wolbachia能够在螟黄赤眼蜂体内稳定遗传,不受环境温度的直接影响.本研究中螟黄赤眼蜂为两性生殖或孤雌产雄生殖,Wolbachia未能引起赤眼蜂的产雌孤雌生殖.首次报道了Wolbachia在我国螟黄赤眼蜂野生种群内的分布情况及其遗传稳定性.