Triple RNASeq of Oryzaephilus surinamensis bacteriomes
To study the mechanics underlying symbiont losses and potential symbiont replacements in insects, we infected Oryzaephilus surinamensis beetles, that harbor the nutrient-supplementing symbiont Shikimatogenerans silvanidophilus, with the culturable bacterium Sodalis praecaptivus. S. praecaptivus established systemic infections in the beetle host and ultimately led to the elimination of S. silvanidophilus. To understand how the Sodalis infection affects host and symbiont transcriptional responses in the bacteriomes of O. surinamensis, we analyzed gene expression of O. surinamensis, S. silvanidophilus and S. praecaptivus in the bacteriomes of adult Sodalis-injected versus control beetles, as well as their offspring seven days after reaching adulthood.