title: Cellular tropism, population dynamics, host range and taxonomic status of an aphid secondary symbiont, SMLS (Sitobion miscanthi L type symbiont).
abstract: SMLS (Sitobion miscanthi L type symbiont) is a newly reported aphid secondary symbiont. Phylogenetic evidence from molecular markers indicates that SMLS belongs to the Rickettsiaceae and has a sibling relationship with Orientia tsutsugamushi. A comparative analysis of coxA nucleotide sequences further supports recognition of SMLS as a new genus in the Rickettsiaceae. In situ hybridization reveals that SMLS is housed in both sheath cells and secondary bacteriocytes and it is also detected in aphid hemolymph. The population dynamics of SMLS differ from those of Buchnera aphidicola and titer levels of SMLS increase in older aphids. A survey of 13 other aphids reveals that SMLS only occurs in wheat-associated species.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Zhao-Huan
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Da-Wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D020635:Buchnera / Q000254:growth & development; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000382:microbiology; D058507:Host Specificity / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012287:Rickettsiaceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D018523:Tropism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S