G. D. D. Hurst

Hidden from plain sight: Novel Chlamydiota diversity emerging from screening genomic and metagenomic data.

The paper identifies novel Chlamydiota clades from genomic and metagenomic data, revealing uncharacterized diversity and potential functional roles in symbiosis and pathogenicity.

Isolation, culture and characterization of Arsenophonus symbionts from two insect species reveal loss of infectious transmission and extended host range in the apicola-nasoniae group.

Culture and genomic analysis of Arsenophonus apicola sp. nov. isolated from the honeybee Apis mellifera

The paper isolates and characterizes a new Arsenophonus species from honeybees, describes its genome, and proposes a new species name.

Culture and genomic analysis of Symbiopectobacterium purcellii, gen.nov. sp. nov., isolated from the leafhopper Empoasca decipiens

This paper describes the isolation and genomic analysis of a new bacterial symbiont, Symbiopectobacterium purcellii, from the leafhopper Empoasca decipiens, highlighting its unique genomic features and metabolic capabilities.

Large-scale comparative genomics unravels great genomic diversity across the Rickettsia and Ca. Megaira genera and identifies Torix group as an evolutionarily distinct clade.

This paper presents new genomes of Rickettsia and Ca. Megaira, identifies Torix as a distinct clade, and proposes a new genus name for it.

Structure of an ant-myrmecophile-microbe community

The paper characterizes the microbiota of ant-myrmecophile systems, finding that microbial communities reflect behavioral interactions and evolve independently of deep evolutionary history.

Positive selection on mitochondria may eliminate heritable microbes from arthropod populations.

The paper models how positive selection on mitochondrial DNA can drive the extinction of facultative heritable microbes in arthropod populations under specific conditions.

Rapid divergence in independent aspects of the compatibility phenotype in the Spiroplasma/Drosophila interaction.

This study shows that a symbiont can have different compatibility traits with closely related host species, highlighting the independent evolution of pathology, transmission, and protection.

Transmission, tropism and biological impacts of torix Rickettsia in the common bed bug Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

This study investigates the transmission and biological effects of a torix group Rickettsia in bed bugs, finding maternal transmission and reduced development and fecundity without cytoplasmic incompatibility.

The Paracaedibacter-like endosymbiont of Bodo saltans (Kinetoplastida) uses multiple putative toxin-antitoxin systems to maintain its host association

This study identifies a Paracaedibacter-like endosymbiont in Bodo saltans that uses toxin-antitoxin systems to maintain host association, leading to cell death when the endosymbiont is removed.

Symbiont-mediated fly survival is independent of defensive symbiont genotype in the Drosophila melanogaster-Spiroplasma-wasp interaction

This study shows Spiroplasma strain does not affect fly survival after wasp attack, but varies in protective efficiency against different wasp strains.

Thermal sensitivity of the Spiroplasma-Drosophila hydei protective symbiosis: The best of climes, the worst of climes.

This study examines how temperature affects the protective symbiosis between Spiroplasma and Drosophila hydei, finding that protection fails at 18°C while vertical transmission remains robust.

Symbiont-mediated protection varies with wasp genotype in the Drosophila melanogaster-Spiroplasma interaction

This study shows that Spiroplasma-mediated protection against parasitoid wasps in Drosophila melanogaster varies with wasp genotype and environmental ethanol levels.