Work

Phylogenetic Characterization of Wolbachia Symbionts Infecting Cimex lectularius L. and Oeciacus vicarius Horvath (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Year: 2004

Type: article

Abstract: Wolbachia symbionts are obligate intracellular bacteria that cause host reproductive alterations in many arthropods and filarial nematodes. We identified Wolbachia symbionts in the cliff swallow bug (Oeciacus vicarious Horvath) and the human bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing using Wolbachia-specific 16S rDNA and FtsZ primers. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony algorithms indicated, with strong support, that (1) Wolbachia infections in these two cimicid hosts form a monophyletic group, and (2) the Wolbachia strains detected belong to the F clade, previously associated with termites, weevils, and filarial nematodes.

Source: Journal of Medical Entomology

DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585-41.6.1175

Authors: Jason L. Rasgon, Thomas W. Scott

Institutions: Johns Hopkins University, University of California, Davis

Language: English

Topic: Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences

Subfield: Insect Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,328

Funders: California Strawberry Commission, National Institutes of Health, Goddard Space Flight Center, National Institute of General Medical Sciences