Dataset Information

Secondary intracellular symbiotic bacteria in aphids of the genus Yamatocallis (Homoptera: Aphididae: Drepanosiphinae).

ABSTRACT: A novel secondary intracellular symbiotic bacterium from aphids of the genus Yamatocallis (subfamily Drepanosiphinae) was characterized by using molecular phylogenetic analysis, in situ hybridization, and diagnostic PCR detection. In the aphid tissues, this bacterium (tentatively designated YSMS [Yamatocallis secondary mycetocyte symbiont]) was found specifically in large cells surrounded by primary mycetocytes harboring Buchnera cells. Of nine drepanosiphine aphids examined, YSMS was detected in only two species of the same genus, Yamatocallis tokyoensis and Yamatocallis hirayamae. In natural populations of these aphids, YSMS was present in 100% of the individuals. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences demonstrated that YSMS of Y. tokyoensis and Y. hirayamae constitute a distinct and isolated clade in the gamma subdivision of the class Proteobacteria. No 16S rDNA sequences of secondary endosymbionts characterized so far from other aphids showed phylogenetic affinity to YSMS. Based on these results, I suggest that YSMS was acquired by an ancestor of the genus Yamatocallis and has been conserved throughout the evolution of the lineage. By using the nucleotide substitution rate for 16S rDNA of Buchnera spp., the time of acquisition of YSMS was estimated to be about 13 to 26 million years ago, in the Miocene epoch of the Tertiary period.

SUBMITTER: Fukatsu T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC93306 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Secondary intracellular symbiotic bacteria in aphids of the genus Yamatocallis (Homoptera: Aphididae: Drepanosiphinae).

Fukatsu T T

Applied and environmental microbiology 20011101 11

A novel secondary intracellular symbiotic bacterium from aphids of the genus Yamatocallis (subfamily Drepanosiphinae) was characterized by using molecular phylogenetic analysis, in situ hybridization, and diagnostic PCR detection. In the aphid tissues, this bacterium (tentatively designated YSMS [Yamatocallis secondary mycetocyte symbiont]) was found specifically in large cells surrounded by primary mycetocytes harboring Buchnera cells. Of nine drepanosiphine aphids examined, YSMS was detected i ...[more]

PMID: 11679361

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Project description:The prevalent way aphids accomplish colony defense against natural enemies is a mutualistic relationship with ants or the occurrence of a specialised soldier caste typical for eusocial aphids, or even both. Despite a group-living life style of those aphid species lacking these defense lines, communal defense against natural predators has not yet been observed there. Individuals of Aphis nerii (Oleander aphid) and Uroleucon hypochoeridis, an aphid species feeding on Hypochoeris radicata (hairy cat's ear), show a behavioral response to visual stimulation in the form of spinning or twitching, which is often accompanied by coordinated kicks executed with hind legs. Interestingly, this behaviour is highly synchronized among members of a colony and repetitive visual stimulation caused strong habituation. Observations of natural aphid colonies revealed that a collective twitching and kicking response (CTKR) was frequently evoked during oviposition attempts of the parasitoid wasp Aphidius colemani and during attacks of aphidophagous larvae. CTKR effectively interrupted oviposition attempts of this parasitoid wasp and even repelled this parasitoid from colonies after evoking consecutive CTKRs. In contrast, solitary feeding A. nerii individuals were not able to successfully repel this parasitoid wasp. In addition, CTKR was also evoked through gentle substrate vibrations. Laser vibrometry of the substrate revealed twitching-associated vibrations that form a train of sharp acceleration peaks in the course of a CTKR. This suggests that visual signals in combination with twitching-related substrate vibrations may play an important role in synchronising defense among members of a colony. In both aphid species collective defense in encounters with different natural enemies was executed in a stereotypical way and was similar to CTKR evoked through visual stimulation. This cooperative defense behavior provides an example of a surprising sociality that can be found in some aphid species that are not expected to be social at all.

Project description:Environmental stressors can be key drivers of phenotypes, including reproductive strategies and morphological traits. The response to stress may be altered by the presence of microbial associates. For example, in aphids, facultative (secondary) bacterial symbionts can provide protection against natural enemies and stress induced by elevated temperatures. Furthermore, aphids exhibit phenotypic plasticity, producing winged (rather than wingless) progeny that may be better able to escape danger, and the combination of these factors improves the response to stress. How symbionts and phenotypic plasticity, both of which shape aphids' stress response, influence one another, and together influence host fitness, remains unclear. In this study, we investigate how environmental stressors drive shifts in fecundity and winged/wingless offspring production, and how secondary symbionts influence the process. We induced production of winged offspring through distinct environmental stressors, including exposure to aphid alarm pheromone and crowding, and, in one experiment, we assessed whether the aphid response is influenced by host plant. In the winged morph, energy needed for wing maintenance may lead to trade-offs with other traits, such as reproduction or symbiont maintenance. Potential trade-offs between symbiont maintenance and fitness have been proposed but have not been tested. Thus, beyond studying the production of offspring of alternative morphs, we also explore the influence of symbionts across wing/wingless polyphenism as well as symbiont interaction with cross-generational impacts of environmental stress on reproductive output. All environmental stressors resulted in increased production of winged offspring and shifts in fecundity rates. Additionally, in some cases, aphid host-by-symbiont interactions influenced fecundity. Stress on first-generation aphids had cross-generational impacts on second-generation adults, and the impact on fecundity was further influenced by the presence of secondary symbionts and presence/absence of wings. Our study suggests a complex interaction between beneficial symbionts and environmental stressors. Winged aphids have the advantage of being able to migrate out of danger with more ease, but energy needed for wing production and maintenance may come with reproductive costs for their mothers and for themselves, where in certain cases, these costs are altered by secondary symbionts.

Dataset Information

Secondary intracellular symbiotic bacteria in aphids of the genus Yamatocallis (Homoptera: Aphididae: Drepanosiphinae).

Publications

Secondary intracellular symbiotic bacteria in aphids of the genus Yamatocallis (Homoptera: Aphididae: Drepanosiphinae).

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