Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences

Dynamic but constrained: Repeated acquisitions of nutritional symbionts in bed bugs (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) from a narrow taxonomic pool.

This study identifies multiple bacterial symbionts in bed bugs across 13 species, revealing dynamic evolution of symbiosis with repeated acquisitions and cospeciation events.

Wolbachia-mediated parthenogenesis induction in the aphid hyperparasitoid Alloxysta brevis (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Charipinae)

This paper demonstrates Wolbachia-mediated thelytokous parthenogenesis in Alloxysta brevis, showing antibiotic treatment reduces female offspring production, implicating bacterial symbiosis in reproductive mode.

Mosquito host background influences microbiome-ZIKV interactions in field and laboratory-reared Aedes aegypti

This study examines how mosquito genetic background and associated microbiomes influence Zika virus infection outcomes in Aedes aegypti, revealing line-specific microbiome responses to viral exposure.

Family life and cadmium ingestion independently shape offspring microbiomes in a subsocial insect

This study shows that social environment and cadmium exposure independently shape the microbiome of earwig juveniles without interaction, with family life not affecting cadmium's impact.

Modular evolution and strain-specific partnerships: how Hamiltonella defensa shapes defense and symbiont communities in aphids

The paper characterizes Hamiltonella defensa and APSE strain diversity in pea aphids, revealing modular defensive diversity and strain-specific symbiont interactions.

Heritable viral symbionts in the family Iflaviridae are widespread among aphids

The paper identifies widespread heritable iflaviruses in aphids, showing they are transmitted vertically and co-localize with bacterial symbionts in bacteriocytes.

Evolution in spatiotemporal infection patterns of Burkholderia sensu lato lineages in the gut of Riptortus pedestris

This study investigates how Caballeronia symbionts outcompete other bacteria in the gut of Riptortus pedestris by evolving traits like chemotaxis and resistance to antimicrobial peptides.

The dung beetle microbiome complements host metabolism and nutrition

This study identifies the metabolic capabilities of the dung beetle microbiome in compensating for dietary limitations by synthesizing amino acids and breaking down plant polysaccharides.

Genomic diversity and functional potential of facultative bacterial symbionts across scale insects

The paper analyzes the genomic diversity and functional potential of facultative bacterial symbionts in scale insects using metagenomic data from 120 samples.

Cappable-Seq reveals the transcriptional landscape of stress responses in the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia

The paper uses Cappable-Seq to analyze transcriptional start sites in Wolbachia under stress conditions, revealing differential regulation and insights into gene operon organization.

Wolbachia-mediated antiviral protection is driven by its multimodal effects on Drosophila melanogaster metabolism

This study identifies Wolbachia's antiviral effects in Drosophila by altering host metabolism and triggering immune responses, revealing a multimodal mechanism beyond simple resource competition.

Gut microbial communities of velvet worm Euperipatoides rowelli (Onychophora) across deadwood microhabitats in southeastern Australia.

This study characterizes the gut microbiome of velvet worms in Australian deadwood microhabitats, finding minimal spatial structuring and environmental influence over host-specific microbial associations.

The intracellular symbiont Wolbachia alters Drosophila development and metabolism to buffer against nutritional stress

This study shows Wolbachia supports Drosophila development and buffers against nutritional stress by altering metabolism and gene expression.

The microbiota elicits compensatory adaptation in a seasonally-adapting animal host

This study shows that microbiota influences seasonal adaptation in Drosophila by driving compensatory developmental changes across seasons and locations.

Ecological context shapes microbial contributions to nutrition and development in Drosophila melanogaster

The paper examines how fruit substrate and symbiont origin influence larval nutrition, development, and adult phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster through microbial community analysis.

Symbiont loss and gain, rather than co-diversification shapes honeybee gut microbiota diversity and function

The paper analyzes honeybee gut microbiota using shotgun metagenomics to show that symbiont gains, losses, and replacements drive diversity and function, rather than co-diversification.

Comparative genomics of Rickettsiella bacteria reveal variable metabolic pathways potentially involved in symbiotic interactions with arthropods

This study sequenced Rickettsiella genomes from ticks and used comparative genomics to identify variable metabolic pathways and potential mechanisms for symbiotic interactions with arthropods.

Environment and diet shape the geography-specific Drosophila melanogaster microbiota composition

This study shows that environmental factors like temperature and diet shape the microbiota composition of wild Drosophila melanogaster, linking microbiota variation to host phenotypic differentiation.

Spiroplasma impairs testes gene expression in Glossina fuscipes fuscipes

This study examines the impact of Spiroplasma infection on testes gene expression in G. f. fuscipes, finding significant downregulation of genes related to sperm motility and energy metabolism.

The Microbiotas Response to Host Adaptive Evolution

The paper examines microbiota changes in Drosophila melanogaster populations selected for different aging trajectories, finding a consistent loss of Wolbachia in short-lived populations and its dominance in long-lived ones.

Symbiont replacement and subsequent parallel genome erosion reshape a dual obligate symbiosis in the aphid Lachnus tropicalis

This study examines symbiont replacement in aphids, showing how new and resident symbionts adapt, with insights into genome erosion and co-evolution.

Evolution in response to prophage activation attenuates the virulence of culturable Serratia symbiotica relatives of aphid endosymbionts

This study evolves Serratia symbiotica bacteria in lab conditions and finds that prophage reactivation and phage resistance dominate evolutionary changes, leading to reduced virulence in aphids.

Extracellular microbes are required for mosquito development even in the presence of Wolbachia

The paper shows that Wolbachia does not support mosquito larval development and acts as a metabolic burden, while E. coli is sufficient for development success in Culex quinquefasciatus.

Hologenomic structure of bacterial and fungal community composition in the West Nile virus vector Culex tarsalis

This study examines the hologenomic structure of bacterial and fungal communities in Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, finding geographic and environmental influences on microbiome composition and partial correlation with host genetics.

Independent and repeated acquisition of endosymbiotic bacteria across the diversification of feather lice

The paper investigates the distribution and evolutionary history of Sodalis bacteria in feather lice, finding independent and repeated acquisitions across different louse clades.

In situ architecture of the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis

This study uses cryo-electron tomography to reveal the nanoscale architecture of Wolbachia pipientis structures involved in host manipulation and maternal inheritance.

Friend or foe: A mosquito parasite with mixed transmission mode displays mutualistic traits promoting oogenesis.

This study shows that Ascogregarina taiwanensis, a mosquito parasite, exhibits mutualistic traits that enhance mosquito reproduction through improved nitrogen metabolism and egg development.

Genomic Insights into Wolbachia Strain wCin2USA1 Reveal Promising Cytoplasmic Incompatibility Potential and Next-Generation Dengue Biocontrol

This study identifies wCin2USA1 as a promising Wolbachia strain for dengue control due to its genomic similarities to established strains and unique Cif gene architecture.

Telomere-to-Telomere Genome Assembly Uncovers Wolbachia-Driven Sex-Specific Demography and Challenges Fisher's Principle in a Sawfly

This study presents a telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of a sawfly and its Wolbachia symbiont, revealing sex-specific demographic changes and challenges Fisher's principle through genomic analysis.

What lurks in the dark? - An innovative framework for studying diverse wild insect microbiota

This study uses a novel multi-target amplicon sequencing approach to analyze microbiota in wild scuttle flies, revealing significant variation in bacterial abundance and composition across host species and genotypes.