Year: 2026
Type: editorial
Abstract: Wolbachia is among the most widespread and successful intracellular symbionts in nature, infecting an extraordinary diversity of arthropods as well as numerous nematodes worldwide (Werren et al., 2008;Serbus et al., 2008). Its remarkable ability to manipulate host reproduction, influence host fitness, interact with pathogens, and establish intimate cellular associations has made Wolbachia a leading model for investigating host-microbe interactions across multiple biological scales. At the same time, applications of Wolbachia have expanded rapidly, particularly for controlling vector-borne diseases and treating filarial infections (Ross et al., 2019;Johnston et al., 2021).Despite major advances over recent decades, many fundamental questions remain unresolved. How do intracellular symbionts manipulate host physiology at the molecular level?How extensive is the natural diversity of Wolbachia and related symbiotic systems? How can insights from symbiosis research be translated into solutions to challenges in medicine, agriculture, and environmental management? Since the first Wolbachia Conference held in Crete, Greece, in 2000, the biennial conference series has provided an invaluable forum for communication and collaboration among Wolbachia researchers worldwide (Fukatsu et al., 2024). In conjunction with the 12th Wolbachia Conference held in Okinawa, Japan, from 13 to Another major theme is the diversity and ecological complexity of Wolbachia-associated systems. Kaur and Brown expanded the known host range of Wolbachia by discovering a novel infection in the plant-parasitic nematode genus Heterodera. Phylogenetic analyses placed this bacterium close to Wolbachia strains previously reported from other plant-parasitic nematodes (Haegeman et al., 2009;Brown et al., 2016). Itokawa et al. found that Wolbachia frequently coinfects the sand fly Sergentomyia squamirostris with Tisiphia, a recently recognized and still underexplored endosymbiont that is widespread among invertebrates (Davison et al., 2022).
Source: Frontiers in Microbiology
Institutions: University of Tsukuba, Molecular Biosystems Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Victoria, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Awards: G5096907116, G7139842063, 深津共生進化機構プロジェクト
OpenAlex ID: W7214974678