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Article Dans Une Revue The Science of Nature Naturwissenschaften Année : 2011

Does a parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia induce vestigial cytoplasmic incompatibility?

Résumé

Wolbachia is a maternally inherited bacterium that manipulates the reproduction of its host. Recent studies have shown that male-killing strains can induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) when introgressed into a resistant host. Phylogenetic studies suggest that transitions between CI and other Wolbachia phenotypes have also occurred frequently, raising the possibility that latent CI may be widespread among Wolbachia. Here, we investigate whether a parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia strain can also induce CI. Parthenogenetic females of the parasitoid wasp Asobara japonica regularly produce a small number of males that may be either infected or not. Uninfected males were further obtained through removal of the Wolbachia using antibiotics and from a naturally uninfected strain. Uninfected females that had mated with infected males produced a slightly, but significantly more male-biased sex ratio than uninfected females that had mated with uninfected males. This effect was strongest in females that mated with males that had a relatively high Wolbachia titer. Quantitative PCR indicated that infected males did not show higher ratios of nuclear versus mitochondrial DNA content. Wolbachia therefore does not cause diploidization of cells in infected males. While these results are consistent with CI, other alternatives such as production of abnormal sperm by infected males cannot be completely ruled out. Overall, the effect was very small (9%), suggesting that if CI is involved it may have degenerated through the accumulation of mutations.

Dates et versions

hal-00746858 , version 1 (29-10-2012)

Identifiants

Citer

Ken Kraaijeveld, Barbara M Reumer, Laurence Mouton, Natacha Kremer, Fabrice Vavre, et al.. Does a parthenogenesis-inducing Wolbachia induce vestigial cytoplasmic incompatibility?. The Science of Nature Naturwissenschaften, 2011, 98 (3), pp.175-80. ⟨10.1007/s00114-010-0756-x⟩. ⟨hal-00746858⟩
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