Loss of Wolbachia infection during colonisation in the invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile

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Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Loss of Wolbachia infection during colonisation in the invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile
Journal
Heredity
Author(s)
Reuter  M., Pedersen  J. S., Keller  L.
ISSN
0018-067X
Publication state
Published
Issued date
03/2005
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
94
Number
3
Pages
364-9
Notes
Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't --- Old month value: Mar
Abstract
WOLBACHIA are maternally inherited bacteria, which are very common in arthropods and nematodes. Wolbachia infection may affect host reproduction through feminisation, parthenogenesis, male-killing, cytoplasmic incompatibility and increased fecundity. Previous studies showing discrepancies between the phylogenies of Wolbachia and its arthropod hosts indicate that infection is frequently lost, but the causes of symbiont extinction have so far remained elusive. Here, we report data showing that colonisation of new habitats is a possible mechanism leading to the loss of infection. The presence and prevalence of Wolbachia were studied in three native and eight introduced populations of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile. The screening shows that the symbiont is common in the three native L. humile populations analysed. In contrast, Wolbachia was detected in only one of the introduced populations. The loss of infection associated with colonisation of new habitats may result from drift (founder effect) or altered selection pressures in the new habitat. Furthermore, a molecular phylogeny based on sequences of the Wolbachia wsp gene indicates that L. humile has been infected by a single strain. Horizontal transmission of the symbiont may be important in ants as suggested by the sequence similarity of strains in the three genera Linepithema, Acromyrmex, and Solenopsis native from South and Central America.
Keywords
Animals Ants/*genetics/*microbiology Argentina Environment *Phylogeny Population Dynamics *Selection (Genetics) Wolbachia/*genetics/*pathogenicity
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
24/01/2008 18:39
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:49
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