Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences

Screening of natural Wolbachia infection in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from Cape Verde Islands

The paper screens for Wolbachia infection in mosquitoes from Cape Verde, finding high prevalence and genetic diversity, including a new MLST sequence type in Culex tigripes.

Genomic and phenotypic comparisons reveal distinct variants of Wolbachia strain wAlbB

The paper identifies two genomic variants of Wolbachia strain wAlbB, showing differences in gene content and density that correlate with environmental tolerance and stability in mosquito populations.

Evidence for an one-step mechanism of endosymbiont-induced thelytoky in the parasitoid wasp, Muscidifurax uniraptor

The paper investigates the mechanism of Wolbachia-induced thelytoky in M. uniraptor, finding that diploidization alone is sufficient for feminization, and Wolbachia does not affect Mutra/Mutra2 expression or splicing.

A novel widespread MITE element in the repeat-rich genome of the Cardinium endosymbiont of the spider Oedothorax gibbosus

The paper presents a manually curated genome annotation of a Cardinium endosymbiont, revealing the spread of insertion sequences and a novel MITE element.

Genome sequencing and comparative analysis of Wolbachia strain wAlbA reveals Wolbachia-associated plasmids are common

The paper sequenced the Wolbachia strain wAlbA and found it associated with plasmids, revealing that such plasmids are common in Wolbachia and may contribute to host-symbiont interactions.

The genomic basis of evolutionary novelties in a leafhopper

This study identifies the genomic basis of evolutionary novelties in the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter, revealing novel genes, horizontal gene transfer, and symbiotic associations contributing to its adaptations.

Ecology and evolution of chlamydial symbionts of arthropods

The paper analyzes the ecology, evolution, and genomic diversity of Rhabdochlamydiaceae, a chlamydial family infecting arthropods, revealing genome reduction and transposable element dynamics.

Bacteriome diversity of blackflies gut and association with Onchocerca volvulus, the causative agent of onchocerciasis in Mbam valley (Center Region, Cameroon)

This study investigates the bacterial communities in blackflies and their association with Onchocerca volvulus infection, identifying potential bacterial targets for vector control.

Exploring bycatch diversity of organisms in whole genome sequencing of Erebidae moths (Lepidoptera)

The paper analyzes whole genome sequencing data of Erebidae moths to explore symbiotic microorganisms, identifying Wolbachia and other bacterial symbionts, as well as bracovirus genomic material.

The Most Widespread Phage in Animals: Genomics and Taxonomic Classification of Phage WO

The paper provides a comprehensive taxonomic classification of phage WO by analyzing 150 Wolbachia and phage WO assemblies, identifying four variants and a novel lytic cassette.

A single synonymous nucleotide change impacts the male-killing phenotype of prophage WO gene wmk

The paper shows a single synonymous nucleotide change in the wmk gene can eliminate male-killing in Drosophila, highlighting non-silent effects of synonymous mutations in endosymbiotic interactions.

Diverse wMel variants of Wolbachia pipientis differentially rescue fertility and cytological defects of the bag of marbles partial loss of function mutation in Drosophila melanogaster

The paper tests how different Wolbachia pipientis wMel variants rescue fertility defects in Drosophila melanogaster with a bam hypomorphic mutation.

Methylation at CpG sites in genomes of aphid Acyrtosiphon pisum and its endosymbiont Buchnera

The paper investigates DNA methylation patterns in the aphid Acyrtosiphon pisum and its endosymbiont Buchnera, finding low methylation in both despite the presence of DNMT1 in the aphid and no methylase in Buchnera.

Genome-resolved metagenomic analyses reveal the presence of a bacterial endosymbiont in an avian nasal mite (Rhinonyssidae; Mesostigmata)

The paper investigates the microbiome of an avian nasal mite, identifying a bacterial endosymbiont from Class Alphaproteobacteria.

Comparative genomics reveals factors associated with phenotypic expression of Wolbachia

The paper compares nine Wolbachia genomes to identify genetic factors influencing Cytoplasmic Incompatibility (CI) in Drosophila simulans.

16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Profiling of the New Zealand parasitic blowfly Calliphora vicina.

The paper presents 16S rRNA gene amplicon data showing bacterial diversity in larval and adult Calliphora vicina from New Zealand.

Restriction of Wolbachia bacteria in early embryogenesis of neotropical Drosophila species via ER-mediated autophagy

The paper investigates Wolbachia tropism in Drosophila embryos and somatic tissues, revealing early autophagy-mediated restriction and ER interactions that shape infection patterns.

Genomic features underlying the evolutionary transitions of Apibacter to honey bee gut symbionts

This study identifies genomic features of Apibacter that reflect its transition from a free-living or parasitic lifestyle to a mutualistic gut symbiont of honey bees.

A computational approach to identify possible symbiotic mechanisms between Klebsiella and the Mediterranean fly (Ceratitis capitata)

The paper proposes a computational pipeline to identify metabolic pathways in Klebsiella strains that may contribute to symbiosis with the Mediterranean fly, finding pathways involved in nitrogen metabolism.

Production of germ-free mosquitoes via transient colonisation allows stage-specific investigation of host-microbiota interactions

This study develops a method to produce germ-free mosquitoes that can be decolonized at any stage, enabling the study of microbiota effects on larval and adult development without developmental deficits.

Western Kenyan Anopheles gambiae s.s. showing intense permethrin resistance harbor distinct microbiota

The paper identifies distinct microbiota in permethrin-resistant Anopheles gambiae s.s. mosquitoes from Kenya, linking specific bacterial taxa to insecticide resistance.

Evolution of Wolbachia Mutualism and Reproductive Parasitism: Insight from Two Novel Strains that Co-infect Cat Fleas

The paper reports the genomes of two novel Wolbachia strains co-infecting cat fleas, revealing lateral gene transfers and mechanisms for mutualism and reproductive parasitism.

Engineering a culturable Serratia symbiotica strain for aphid paratransgenesis

This paper genetically engineers a culturable aphid symbiont, Serratia symbiotica CWBI-2.3T, to track its colonization and induce heterologous gene expression in aphids, enabling paratransgenesis applications.

Sequence of a Coxiella endosymbiont of the tick Amblyomma nuttalli suggests a pattern of convergent genome reduction in the Coxiella genus

The paper reports the genome sequence of a novel Coxiella endosymbiont from the tick Amblyomma nuttalli, revealing convergent genome reduction across Coxiella clades.

Mutational pressure drives differential genome conservation in two bacterial endosymbionts of sap feeding insects

The paper compares mutation rates between two bacterial endosymbionts in sap-feeding insects, finding that differential mutagenesis drives differences in genome conservation.

Diminutive, degraded but dissimilar: Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes do not conform to a single paradigm

The paper presents new Wolbachia genomes from filarial nematodes, revealing diversity in genome size, transposable elements, and co-evolution patterns compared to arthropod-associated Wolbachia.

Rapid evolution and horizontal gene transfer in the genome of a male-killing Wolbachia

The paper examines the genome and population genomics of a male-killing Wolbachia strain, identifying rapid evolution and horizontal gene transfer in specific regions.

Metabolic cross-feeding allows a gut microbial community to overcome detrimental diets and alter host behaviour

The paper shows that gut bacteria in Drosophila use metabolic cross-feeding to overcome poor diets and influence host behavior.

No evidence for Wolbachia as a nutritional co-obligate endosymbiont in the aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa

The paper re-analyzes sequencing data to show that previous claims of a co-obligate Wolbachia-Buchnera symbiosis in Pentalonia nigronervosa are incorrect due to flawed methods and biased interpretation.

Altered gut microbiota and immunity defines Plasmodium vivax survival in Anopheles stephensi

The paper investigates how Plasmodium vivax affects gut microbiota and immunity in Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, finding that the parasite suppresses bacterial populations to evade immune responses.