Bacteria belonging to the genus Burkholderia are obligatory symbionts of the eriococcids Acanthococcus aceris Signoret, 1875 and Gossyparia spuria (Modeer, 1778) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Coccoidea).
In the fat body cells of the scale insects, Gossyparia spuria and Acanthococcus aceris, numerous rod-shaped symbiotic bacteria occur. Molecular analyses have revealed that these microorganisms are closely related to the widely distributed bacterium Burkholderia. Ultrastructural observations have revealed that the bacteria are transovarially (vertically) transmitted from the mother to offspring. The microorganisms leave the fat body cells and invade ovarioles containing vitellogenic oocytes. They pass through the follicular epithelium in the neck region of the ovariole and enter the perivitelline space. Next, the symbionts infest the anterior region of the oocyte.
Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Michalik
Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Teresa
T
Szklarzewicz
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
Małgorzata
M
Kalandyk-Kołodziejczyk
Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
Władysława
W
Jankowska
Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: a.michalik@uj.edu.pl.
Anna
A
Michalik
D000818:Animals; D019117:Burkholderia / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005216:Fat Body / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010063:Ovum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010802:Phylogeny; D013559:Symbiosis
Burkholderia; Scale insects; Symbiotic microorganisms; Transovarial transmission of symbionts