| Autor: |
Martinez, Julien, Ant, Thomas H., Murdochy, Shivan M., Tong, Lily, da Silva Filipe, Ana, Sinkins, Steven P. |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
PLoS Genetics; 9/19/2022, Vol. 18 Issue 9, p1-20, 20p |
| Abstrakt: |
Wolbachia are widespread maternally-transmitted bacteria of arthropods that often spread by manipulating their host's reproduction through cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). Their invasive potential is currently being harnessed in field trials aiming to control mosquito-borne diseases. Wolbachia genomes commonly harbour prophage regions encoding the cif genes which confer their ability to induce CI. Recently, a plasmid-like element was discovered in wPip, a Wolbachia strain infecting Culex mosquitoes; however, it is unclear how common such extra-chromosomal elements are in Wolbachia. Here we sequenced the complete genome of wAlbA, a strain of the symbiont found in Aedes albopictus, after eliminating the co-infecting and higher density wAlbB strain that previously made sequencing of wAlbA challenging. We show that wAlbA is associated with two new plasmids and identified additional Wolbachia plasmids and related chromosomal islands in over 20% of publicly available Wolbachia genome datasets. These plasmids encode a variety of accessory genes, including several phage-like DNA packaging genes as well as genes potentially contributing to host-symbiont interactions. In particular, we recovered divergent homologues of the cif genes in both Wolbachia- and Rickettsia-associated plasmids. Our results indicate that plasmids are common in Wolbachia and raise fundamental questions around their role in symbiosis. In addition, our comparative analysis provides useful information for the future development of genetic tools to manipulate and study Wolbachia symbionts. Author summary: Wolbachia is the most common bacterial symbiont of arthropods, being found in about half of terrestrial species around the globe. It is transmitted from mother to offspring, can spread rapidly by inducing various forms of reproductive parasitism and often provides protection against viral pathogens. These properties are being harnessed by disease control interventions introducing Wolbachia into wild populations of virus-transmitting mosquitoes. Here we sequenced the genome of wAlbA, a strain of the symbiont naturally found in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and demonstrate that it is associated with two extrachromosomal plasmid elements. We then reanalysed publicly available sequencing data and found that plasmids are much more common in Wolbachia than previously thought. Some of them carry genes potentially important for symbiosis and reproductive manipulation as well as phage-like genes that may allow them to move between symbiont strains. Our findings provide a new framework for studying Wolbachia and will help the future development of genetic tools for manipulating symbiont genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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