title: Bacteriomes of the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott, 1923) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) harbor Sulcia symbiont: molecular characterization, ultrastructure, and transovarial transmission.
abstract: In this study, we surveyed the bacteriome-associated microbiota of the corn leafhopper Dalbulus maidis by means of histological, ultrastructural, and molecular analyses. Amplification and sequencing of 16S rDNA genes revealed that the endosymbiont "Candidatus Sulcia muelleri" (Phylum Bacteroidetes) resides in bacteriomes of D. maidis. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequence was closely allied to others found in representatives of the subfamily Deltocephalinae. We failed to amplify other sequences as "Candidatus Nasuia deltocephalinicola," a co-primary symbiont frequently associated to deltocephaline leafhoppers. In addition, a metagenetic analysis carried out in order to investigate the presence of other bacteriome-associated bacteria of D. maidis showed that the sequence of Sulcia accounted for 98.56 % of all the sequences. Histological and ultrastructural observations showed that microorganisms harbored in bacteriomes (central syncytium and cytoplasm of uninucleate bacteriocytes) look like others Sulcia described in hemipteran species and they were transovarially transmitted from mother to offspring which is typical of obligate endosymbionts. The only presence of Sulcia in the bacteriomes of D. maidis was discussed.
authors.affiliation: División Entomología. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 1900, La Plata, Argentina. eubrenta@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar.|Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas, Pcia de Bs. As. (CIC) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), La Plata, Argentina. eubrenta@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3019-9949
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brentassi
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones de Fitopatología (CIDEFI). Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones de Fitopatología (CIDEFI). Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balatti
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales (CINDEFI). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, UNLP-CONICET, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones de Fitopatología (CIDEFI). Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bernabei
authors.affiliation: División Entomología. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), 1900, La Plata, Argentina.|Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas, Pcia de Bs. As. (CIC) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Marino de Remes Lenicov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D041963:Bacteroidetes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Bacteriomes; Corn leafhopper; Corn stunt; Obligate endosymbionts; “Candidatus Sulcia muelleri”