PCI Zoology

117

Title

Analyses of symbiotic bacterial communities in the plant pest Bemisia tabaci reveal high prevalence of Candidatus Hemipteriphilus asiaticus on the African continentuse asterix (*) to get italics

Authors

Laurence Mouton, Helene Henri, Rahim Romba, Zainab Belgaidi, Olivier Gnankine, Fabrice VavrePlease use the format "First name initials family name" as in "Marie S. Curie, Niels H. D. Bohr, Albert Einstein, John R. R. Tolkien, Donna T. Strickland"

Year

2022

Picture

Abstract

Microbial symbionts are widespread in insects and some of them have been associated to adaptive changes. Primary symbionts (P-symbionts) have a nutritional role that allows their hosts to feed on unbalanced diets (plant sap, wood, blood). Most of them have undergone genome reduction, but their genomes still retain genes involved in pathways that are necessary to synthesize the nutrients that their hosts need. However, in some P-symbionts, essential pathways are incomplete and secondary symbionts (S-symbionts) are required to complete parts of their degenerated functions. The P-symbiont of the phloem sap-feeder Bemisia tabaci, Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarium, lacks genes involved in the synthesis of vitamins, cofactors, and also of some essential amino-acids. Seven S-symbionts have been detected in the B. tabaci species complex. Phenotypic and genomic analyses have revealed various effects, from reproductive manipulation to fitness benefits, notably some of them have complementary metabolic capabilities to Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarium, suggesting that their presence may be obligatory.  In order to get the full picture of the symbiotic community of this pest, we investigated, through metabarcoding approaches, the symbiont content of individuals from Burkina Faso, a West African country where B. tabaci induces severe crop damage. While no new putative B. tabaci S-symbiont was identified, Candidatus Hemipteriphilus asiaticus, a symbiont only described in B. tabaci populations from Asia, was detected for the first time on this continent. Phylogenetic analyses however reveal that it is a different strain than the reference found in Asia. Specific diagnostic PCRs showed a high prevalence of these S-symbionts and especially of Candidatus Hemipteriphilus asiaticus in different genetic groups. These results suggest that Candidatus Hemipteriphilus asiaticus may affect the biology of B. tabaci and provide fitness advantage in some B. tabaci populations.

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Keywords

Bemisia tabaci, Hemipteriphilus asiaticus, secondary symbionts

Methods that require specific expertise (optional)

NonePlease indicate the methods that may require specialised expertise during the peer review process (use a comma to separate various required expertises).

Thematic fields

Biological invasions, Pest management, Symbiosis

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Submission date

2021-10-11 17:45:22

Recommender

Yuval Gottlieb

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