Wolbachia distribution in selected beetle taxa characterized by PCR screens and MLST data. Issue 19 (16th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sontowski, Rebekka; Bernhard, Detlef; Bleidorn, Christoph; Schlegel, Martin; Gerth, Michael
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 5:Issue 19(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 4345
• Page End: 4353
• Publication Date: 2015-09-16
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1641
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ece31641-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Wolbachia</italic> (Alphaproteobacteria) is an inherited endosymbiont of arthropods and filarial nematodes and was reported to be widespread across insect taxa. While <italic>Wolbachia</italic>'s effects on host biology are not understood from most of these hosts, known <italic>Wolbachia</italic>‐induced phenotypes cover a spectrum from obligate beneficial mutualism to reproductive manipulations and pathogenicity. Interestingly, data on <italic>Wolbachia</italic> within the most species‐rich order of arthropods, the Coleoptera (beetles), are scarce. Therefore, we screened 128 species from seven beetle families (Buprestidae, Hydraenidae, Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, and Noteridae) for the presence of <italic>Wolbachia</italic>. Our data show that, contrary to previous estimations, <italic>Wolbachia</italic> frequencies in beetles (31% overall) are comparable to the ones in other insects. In addition, we used <italic>Wolbachia </italic>MLST data and host phylogeny to explore the evolutionary history of <italic>Wolbachia</italic> strains from Hydraenidae, an aquatic lineage of beetles. Our data suggest that <italic>Wolbachia</italic> from Hydraenidae might be largely host genus specific and that <italic>Wolbachia</italic> strain phylogeny is not independent to that of its hosts. As this contrasts with most terrestrial <italic>Wolbachia</italic>–arthropod systems, one potential conclusion is that aquatic lifestyle of hosts may result in <italic>Wolbachia</italic> distribution patterns distinct from those of terrestrial hosts. Our data thus provide both insights into <italic>Wolbachia</italic> distribution among beetles in general and a first glimpse of <italic>Wolbachia</italic> distribution patterns among aquatic host lineages.</p> </abstract>