Supergroup C Wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structure
Wolbachia pipientis is possibly the most widespread endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes. While all Wolbachia strains have historically been defined as a single species, 16 monophyletic clusters of diversity (called supergroups) have been described. Different supergroups have distinct host range...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Open Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsob.150099 |
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| author | Francesco Comandatore Richard Cordaux Claudio Bandi Mark Blaxter Alistair Darby Benjamin L. Makepeace Matteo Montagna Davide Sassera |
| author_facet | Francesco Comandatore Richard Cordaux Claudio Bandi Mark Blaxter Alistair Darby Benjamin L. Makepeace Matteo Montagna Davide Sassera |
| author_sort | Francesco Comandatore |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wolbachia pipientis is possibly the most widespread endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes. While all Wolbachia strains have historically been defined as a single species, 16 monophyletic clusters of diversity (called supergroups) have been described. Different supergroups have distinct host ranges and symbiotic relationships, ranging from mutualism to reproductive manipulation. In filarial nematodes, which include parasites responsible for major diseases of humans (such as Onchocerca volvulus, agent of river blindness) and companion animals (Dirofilaria immitis, the dog heartworm), Wolbachia has an obligate mutualist role and is the target of new treatment regimens. Here, we compare the genomes of eight Wolbachia strains, spanning the diversity of the major supergroups (A–F), analysing synteny, transposable element content, GC skew and gene loss or gain. We detected genomic features that differ between Wolbachia supergroups, most notably in the C and D clades from filarial nematodes. In particular, strains from supergroup C (symbionts of O. volvulus and D. immitis) present a pattern of GC skew, conserved synteny and lack of transposable elements, unique in the Wolbachia genus. These features could be the consequence of a distinct symbiotic relationship between C Wolbachia strains and their hosts, highlighting underappreciated differences between the mutualistic supergroups found within filarial nematodes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:54:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3a17638e6c6c47cc82cb2df8527ccb3e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-2441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:54:11Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3a17638e6c6c47cc82cb2df8527ccb3e2022-12-22T02:49:34ZengThe Royal SocietyOpen Biology2046-24412015-01-0151210.1098/rsob.150099150099Supergroup C Wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structureFrancesco ComandatoreRichard CordauxClaudio BandiMark BlaxterAlistair DarbyBenjamin L. MakepeaceMatteo MontagnaDavide SasseraWolbachia pipientis is possibly the most widespread endosymbiont of arthropods and nematodes. While all Wolbachia strains have historically been defined as a single species, 16 monophyletic clusters of diversity (called supergroups) have been described. Different supergroups have distinct host ranges and symbiotic relationships, ranging from mutualism to reproductive manipulation. In filarial nematodes, which include parasites responsible for major diseases of humans (such as Onchocerca volvulus, agent of river blindness) and companion animals (Dirofilaria immitis, the dog heartworm), Wolbachia has an obligate mutualist role and is the target of new treatment regimens. Here, we compare the genomes of eight Wolbachia strains, spanning the diversity of the major supergroups (A–F), analysing synteny, transposable element content, GC skew and gene loss or gain. We detected genomic features that differ between Wolbachia supergroups, most notably in the C and D clades from filarial nematodes. In particular, strains from supergroup C (symbionts of O. volvulus and D. immitis) present a pattern of GC skew, conserved synteny and lack of transposable elements, unique in the Wolbachia genus. These features could be the consequence of a distinct symbiotic relationship between C Wolbachia strains and their hosts, highlighting underappreciated differences between the mutualistic supergroups found within filarial nematodes.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsob.150099wolbachiagc skewfilarial nematodesgenome characteristics |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Comandatore Richard Cordaux Claudio Bandi Mark Blaxter Alistair Darby Benjamin L. Makepeace Matteo Montagna Davide Sassera Supergroup C Wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structure Open Biology wolbachia gc skew filarial nematodes genome characteristics |
| title | Supergroup C Wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structure |
| title_full | Supergroup C Wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structure |
| title_fullStr | Supergroup C Wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Supergroup C Wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structure |
| title_short | Supergroup C Wolbachia, mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes, have a distinct genome structure |
| title_sort | supergroup c wolbachia mutualist symbionts of filarial nematodes have a distinct genome structure |
| topic | wolbachia gc skew filarial nematodes genome characteristics |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsob.150099 |
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