Two novel strains of Wolbachia coexisting in both species of mulberry leafhoppers.
Wolbachia is an intracellular symbiont that causes reproductive disorders in many insects. Its presence in the leafhoppers Hishimonoides sellatiformis and Hishimonus sellatus, vectors of mulberry dwarf-Phytoplasma, was confirmed by the PCR analysis of 16S rDNA, ftsZ and wsp. Sequencing of cloned PCR products revealed that two Wolbachia strains coexist in both leafhoppers. The phylogenetic analysis of wsp revealed that these strains belong in novel positions in the B-group of Wolbachia. These strains were detected by PCR and/or PCR-RFLP in all of the tested non-genital organs including salivary glands, as well as in the tested genital organs of Hishimonoides sellatiformis. In addition, Wolbachia-like organisms were observed by electron microscopy in all PCR-positive organs. We discuss the possible horizontal transmission of Wolbachia via mulberry trees.
Mitsuhashi
W
W
Department of Insect Genetics and Evolution, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan.
Saiki
T
T
Wei
W
W
Kawakita
H
H
Sato
M
M
D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000469:parasitology; D007313:Insecta / Q000382:microbiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000382:microbiology; D010063:Ovum / Q000382:microbiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000382:microbiology; D014197:Trees / Q000469:parasitology; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
D017931:DNA Primers; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S