title: Genomic evidence for plant-parasitic nematodes as the earliest Wolbachia hosts.
abstract: Wolbachia, one of the most widespread endosymbionts, is a target for biological control of mosquito-borne diseases (malaria and dengue virus), and antibiotic elimination of infectious filarial nematodes. We sequenced and analyzed the genome of a new Wolbachia strain (wPpe) in the plant-parasitic nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. Phylogenomic analyses placed wPpe as the earliest diverging Wolbachia, suggesting two evolutionary invasions into nematodes. The next branches comprised strains in sap-feeding insects, suggesting Wolbachia may have first evolved as a nutritional mutualist. Genome size, protein content, %GC, and repetitive DNA allied wPpe with mutualistic Wolbachia, whereas gene repertoire analyses placed it between parasite (A, B) and mutualist (C, D, F) groups. Conservation of iron metabolism genes across Wolbachia suggests iron homeostasis as a potential factor in its success. This study enhances our understanding of this globally pandemic endosymbiont, highlighting genetic patterns associated with host changes. Combined with future work on this strain, these genomic data could help provide potential new targets for plant-parasitic nematode control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA.
authors.forename: Amanda M V
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA.
authors.forename: Sulochana K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Wasala
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA.
authors.forename: Dana K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, 3420 NW Orchard Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA.
authors.forename: Amy B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Peetz
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, 3420 NW Orchard Avenue, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA.
authors.forename: Inga A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Zasada
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, 3029 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA.
authors.forename: Dee R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Denver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015723:Gene Library; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics; D006706:Homeostasis; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D009348:Nematoda / Q000382:microbiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D010944:Plants / Q000469:parasitology*; D013559:Symbiosis; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007501:Iron