title: Identification, Distribution and Population Dynamics of Francisella-like Endosymbiont in Haemaphysalis doenitzi (Acari: Ixodidae).
abstract: Francisella-like endosymbionts (FLEs) with significant homology to Francisella tularensis (γ-proteobacteria) have been characterized in several tick species, whereas knowledge on their distribution and population dynamics in ticks remains meager. Hence, in the current study, we identified a novel Francisella-like endosymbiont (FLEs-Hd) from the tick Haemaphysalis doenitzi and evaluated the putative functions of this symbiont. Results indicated that FLEs-Hd had 100% infection rate and a perfect vertical transmission in H. doenitzi, and that it is distributed in ovaries, malpighian tubules, salivary glands and midguts of the ticks, suggesting that FLEs-Hd presumably is a crucial symbiont of the host without specific tissue tropism. To further explore the function of the symbiont, the population dynamics of FLEs-Hd at each developmental stage of ticks and in tissues at different reproductive statuses were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR). Results showed that the high density and regular population dynamics of FLEs-Hd appeared in female ovaries, suggesting that the symbiont may provide necessary nutrients or regulators to ensure normal ovary development of ticks.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050024, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jian-Nan
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050024, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Valley Life Sciences Building, Room 5155A, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3140, USA.
authors.forename: Li-Meng
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050024, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ning-Xin
authors.initials: NX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050024, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Rong-Rong
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050024, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Chun-Mian
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050024, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jing-Ze
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005603:Francisella / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010802:Phylogeny; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal