Endosymbiotic Bacteria Are Prevalent and Diverse in Agricultural Spiders.

Endosymbiotic Bacteria Are Prevalent and Diverse in Agricultural Spiders.
Microb Ecol. 2019 Jul 12;:
Authors: White JA, Styer A, Rosenwald LC, Curry MM, Welch KD, Athey KJ, Chapman EG
Abstract
Maternally inherited bacterial endosymbionts are common in arthropods, but their distribution and prevalence are poorly characterized in many host taxa. Initial surveys have suggested that vertically transmitted symbionts may be particularly common in spiders (Araneae). Here, we used diagnostic PCR and high-throughput sequencing to evaluate symbiont infection in 267 individual spiders representing 14 species (3 families) of agricultural spiders. We found 27 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that are likely endosymbiotic, including multiple strains of Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Cardinium, which are all vertically transmitted and frequently associated with reproductive manipulation of arthropod hosts. Additional strains included Rickettsiella, Spiroplasma, Rhabdochlamydia, and a novel Rickettsiales, all of which could range from pathogenic to mutualistic in their effects upon their hosts. Seventy percent of spider species had individuals that tested positive for one or more endosymbiotic OTUs, and specimens frequently contained multiple symbiotic strain types. The most symbiont-rich species, Idionella rugosa, had eight endosymbiotic OTUs, with as many as five present in the same specimen. Individual specimens within infected spider species had a...

Source: Microbial Ecology - July 11, 2019 Category: Microbiology Authors: White JA, Styer A, Rosenwald LC, Curry MM, Welch KD, Athey KJ, Chapman EG Tags: Microb Ecol Source Type: research