title: Wolbachia: master manipulators of invertebrate biology.
abstract: Wolbachia are common intracellular bacteria that are found in arthropods and nematodes. These alphaproteobacteria endosymbionts are transmitted vertically through host eggs and alter host biology in diverse ways, including the induction of reproductive manipulations, such as feminization, parthenogenesis, male killing and sperm-egg incompatibility. They can also move horizontally across species boundaries, resulting in a widespread and global distribution in diverse invertebrate hosts. Here, we review the basic biology of Wolbachia, with emphasis on recent advances in our understanding of these fascinating endosymbionts.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, New York 14627, USA. werr@mail.rochester.edu
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Werren
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baldo
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001181:Arthropods / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics; D009348:Nematoda / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins