<it>Arsenophonus</it>, an emerging clade of intracellular symbionts with a broad host distribution
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The genus <it>Arsenophonus </it>is a group of symbiotic, mainly insect-associated bacteria with rapidly increasing number of records. It is known from a broad spectrum of hosts and symbiotic relationships varying from par...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2009-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/9/143 |
| _version_ | 1818790956214779904 |
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| author | Moran Nancy A Hypša Václav Nováková Eva |
| author_facet | Moran Nancy A Hypša Václav Nováková Eva |
| author_sort | Moran Nancy A |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The genus <it>Arsenophonus </it>is a group of symbiotic, mainly insect-associated bacteria with rapidly increasing number of records. It is known from a broad spectrum of hosts and symbiotic relationships varying from parasitic son-killers to coevolving mutualists.</p> <p>The present study extends the currently known diversity with 34 samples retrieved mainly from hippoboscid (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) and nycteribiid (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) hosts, and investigates phylogenetic relationships within the genus.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analysis of 110 <it>Arsenophonus </it>sequences (incl. <it>Riesia </it>and <it>Phlomobacter</it>), provides a robust monophyletic clade, characterized by unique molecular synapomorphies. On the other hand, unstable inner topology indicates that complete understanding of <it>Arsenophonus </it>evolution cannot be achieved with 16S rDNA. Moreover, taxonomically restricted <it>Sampling </it>matrices prove sensitivity of the phylogenetic signal to sampling; in some cases, <it>Arsenophonus </it>monophyly is disrupted by other symbiotic bacteria. Two contrasting coevolutionary patterns occur throughout the tree: parallel host-symbiont evolution and the haphazard association of the symbionts with distant hosts. A further conspicuous feature of the topology is the occurrence of monophyletic symbiont lineages associated with monophyletic groups of hosts without a co-speciation pattern. We suggest that part of this incongruence could be caused by methodological artifacts, such as intragenomic variability.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The sample of currently available molecular data presents the genus <it>Arsenophonus </it>as one of the richest and most widespread clusters of insect symbiotic bacteria. The analysis of its phylogenetic lineages indicates a complex evolution and apparent ecological versatility with switches between entirely different life styles. Due to these properties, the genus should play an important role in the studies of evolutionary trends in insect intracellular symbionts. However, under the current practice, relying exclusively on 16S rRNA sequences, the phylogenetic analyses are sensitive to various methodological artifacts that may even lead to description of new <it>Arsenophonus </it>lineages as independent genera (e.g. <it>Riesia </it>and <it>Phlomobacter</it>). The resolution of the evolutionary questions encountered within the <it>Arsenophonus </it>clade will thus require identification of new molecular markers suitable for the low-level phylogenetics.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T15:03:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c1aa27c47a3843cdb7683bb4a809ed0b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T15:03:41Z |
| publishDate | 2009-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c1aa27c47a3843cdb7683bb4a809ed0b2022-12-21T21:03:50ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802009-07-019114310.1186/1471-2180-9-143<it>Arsenophonus</it>, an emerging clade of intracellular symbionts with a broad host distributionMoran Nancy AHypša VáclavNováková Eva<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The genus <it>Arsenophonus </it>is a group of symbiotic, mainly insect-associated bacteria with rapidly increasing number of records. It is known from a broad spectrum of hosts and symbiotic relationships varying from parasitic son-killers to coevolving mutualists.</p> <p>The present study extends the currently known diversity with 34 samples retrieved mainly from hippoboscid (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) and nycteribiid (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) hosts, and investigates phylogenetic relationships within the genus.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The analysis of 110 <it>Arsenophonus </it>sequences (incl. <it>Riesia </it>and <it>Phlomobacter</it>), provides a robust monophyletic clade, characterized by unique molecular synapomorphies. On the other hand, unstable inner topology indicates that complete understanding of <it>Arsenophonus </it>evolution cannot be achieved with 16S rDNA. Moreover, taxonomically restricted <it>Sampling </it>matrices prove sensitivity of the phylogenetic signal to sampling; in some cases, <it>Arsenophonus </it>monophyly is disrupted by other symbiotic bacteria. Two contrasting coevolutionary patterns occur throughout the tree: parallel host-symbiont evolution and the haphazard association of the symbionts with distant hosts. A further conspicuous feature of the topology is the occurrence of monophyletic symbiont lineages associated with monophyletic groups of hosts without a co-speciation pattern. We suggest that part of this incongruence could be caused by methodological artifacts, such as intragenomic variability.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The sample of currently available molecular data presents the genus <it>Arsenophonus </it>as one of the richest and most widespread clusters of insect symbiotic bacteria. The analysis of its phylogenetic lineages indicates a complex evolution and apparent ecological versatility with switches between entirely different life styles. Due to these properties, the genus should play an important role in the studies of evolutionary trends in insect intracellular symbionts. However, under the current practice, relying exclusively on 16S rRNA sequences, the phylogenetic analyses are sensitive to various methodological artifacts that may even lead to description of new <it>Arsenophonus </it>lineages as independent genera (e.g. <it>Riesia </it>and <it>Phlomobacter</it>). The resolution of the evolutionary questions encountered within the <it>Arsenophonus </it>clade will thus require identification of new molecular markers suitable for the low-level phylogenetics.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/9/143 |
| spellingShingle | Moran Nancy A Hypša Václav Nováková Eva <it>Arsenophonus</it>, an emerging clade of intracellular symbionts with a broad host distribution BMC Microbiology |
| title | <it>Arsenophonus</it>, an emerging clade of intracellular symbionts with a broad host distribution |
| title_full | <it>Arsenophonus</it>, an emerging clade of intracellular symbionts with a broad host distribution |
| title_fullStr | <it>Arsenophonus</it>, an emerging clade of intracellular symbionts with a broad host distribution |
| title_full_unstemmed | <it>Arsenophonus</it>, an emerging clade of intracellular symbionts with a broad host distribution |
| title_short | <it>Arsenophonus</it>, an emerging clade of intracellular symbionts with a broad host distribution |
| title_sort | it arsenophonus it an emerging clade of intracellular symbionts with a broad host distribution |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/9/143 |
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