Two strains of male-killing Wolbachia in a ladybird, Coccinella undecimpunctata, from a hot climate.
Ladybirds are a hot-spot for the invasion of male-killing bacteria. These maternally inherited endosymbionts cause the death of male host embryos, to the benefit of female sibling hosts and the bacteria that they contain. Previous studies have shown that high temperatures can eradicate male-killers from ladybirds, leaving the host free from infection. Here we report the discovery of two maternally inherited sex ratio distorters in populations of a coccinellid, Coccinella undecimpunctata, from a hot lowland region of the Middle East. DNA sequence analysis indicates that the male killing is the result of infection by Wolbachia, that the trait is tetracycline sensitive, and that two distinct strains of Wolbachia co-occur within one beetle population. We discuss the implications of these findings for theories of male-killing and suggest avenues for future field-work on this system.
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. sh.elnagdy@gmail.co
Sherif
S
Elnagdy
Susan
S
Messing
Michael E N
ME
Majerus
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002980:Climate; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000187:drug effects; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012737:Sex Factors; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013045:Species Specificity; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C112171:Wsp protein, Wolbachia; D013752:Tetracycline