title: The yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus (Pichia anomala) inhabits the midgut and reproductive system of the Asian malaria vector Anopheles stephensi.
abstract: While symbiosis between bacteria and insects has been thoroughly investigated in the last two decades, investments on the study of yeasts associated with insects have been limited. Insect-associated yeasts are placed on different branches of the phylogenetic tree of fungi, indicating that these associations evolved independently on several occasions. Isolation of yeasts is frequently reported from insect habitats, and in some cases yeasts have been detected in the insect gut and in other organs/tissues. Here we show that the yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus, previously known as Pichia anomala, is stably associated with the mosquito Anopheles stephensi, a main vector of malaria in Asia. Wickerhamomyces anomalus colonized pre-adult stages (larvae L(1)-L(4) and pupae) and adults of different sex and age and could be isolated in pure culture. By a combination of transmission electron microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridization techniques, W. anomalus was shown to localize in the midgut and in both the male and female reproductive systems, suggesting multiple transmission patterns.
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Bioscienze e Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Damiani
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scuppa
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crotti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gonella
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ballarini
authors.forename: Bessem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chouaia
authors.forename: N'fale
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sagnon
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alma
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandrioli
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sacchi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bandi
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daffonchio
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Favia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000382:microbiology*; D001208:Asia; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000382:microbiology*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000382:microbiology*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010843:Pichia / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal