The Evolution and Biogeography of <i>Wolbachia</i> in Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
<i>Wolbachia</i> bacteria are widely distributed across invertebrate taxa, including ants, but several aspects of this host-associated interaction are still poorly explored, especially with regard to the ancestral state association, origin, and dispersion patterns of this bacterium. Ther...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/11/426 |
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| author | Manuela O. Ramalho Corrie S. Moreau |
| author_facet | Manuela O. Ramalho Corrie S. Moreau |
| author_sort | Manuela O. Ramalho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Wolbachia</i> bacteria are widely distributed across invertebrate taxa, including ants, but several aspects of this host-associated interaction are still poorly explored, especially with regard to the ancestral state association, origin, and dispersion patterns of this bacterium. Therefore, in this study, we explored the association of <i>Wolbachia</i> with Formicidae in an evolutionary context. Our data suggest that supergroup F is the ancestral character state for <i>Wolbachia</i> infection in ants, and there is only one transition to supergroup A, and once ants acquired infection with supergroup A, there have been no other strains introduced. Our data also reveal that the origin of <i>Wolbachia</i> in ants likely originated in Asia and spread to the Americas, and then back to Asia. Understanding the processes and mechanisms of dispersion of these bacteria in Formicidae is a crucial step to advance the knowledge of this symbiosis and their implications in an evolutionary context. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:54:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f652e620bb74d2db4d940b3ba0aec17 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:54:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f652e620bb74d2db4d940b3ba0aec172023-11-20T20:41:32ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-11-01121142610.3390/d12110426The Evolution and Biogeography of <i>Wolbachia</i> in Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Manuela O. Ramalho0Corrie S. Moreau1Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USADepartment of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA<i>Wolbachia</i> bacteria are widely distributed across invertebrate taxa, including ants, but several aspects of this host-associated interaction are still poorly explored, especially with regard to the ancestral state association, origin, and dispersion patterns of this bacterium. Therefore, in this study, we explored the association of <i>Wolbachia</i> with Formicidae in an evolutionary context. Our data suggest that supergroup F is the ancestral character state for <i>Wolbachia</i> infection in ants, and there is only one transition to supergroup A, and once ants acquired infection with supergroup A, there have been no other strains introduced. Our data also reveal that the origin of <i>Wolbachia</i> in ants likely originated in Asia and spread to the Americas, and then back to Asia. Understanding the processes and mechanisms of dispersion of these bacteria in Formicidae is a crucial step to advance the knowledge of this symbiosis and their implications in an evolutionary context.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/11/426endosymbiontantvertical transmissionbiogeographyancestral state reconstructionphylogeny |
| spellingShingle | Manuela O. Ramalho Corrie S. Moreau The Evolution and Biogeography of <i>Wolbachia</i> in Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Diversity endosymbiont ant vertical transmission biogeography ancestral state reconstruction phylogeny |
| title | The Evolution and Biogeography of <i>Wolbachia</i> in Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_full | The Evolution and Biogeography of <i>Wolbachia</i> in Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_fullStr | The Evolution and Biogeography of <i>Wolbachia</i> in Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Evolution and Biogeography of <i>Wolbachia</i> in Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_short | The Evolution and Biogeography of <i>Wolbachia</i> in Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_sort | evolution and biogeography of i wolbachia i in ants hymenoptera formicidae |
| topic | endosymbiont ant vertical transmission biogeography ancestral state reconstruction phylogeny |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/11/426 |
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