Diverse toxin repertoire but limited metabolic capacities inferred from the draft genome assemblies of three <i>Spiroplasma</i> (Citri clade) strains associated with <i>Drosophila</i>.

ABSTRACT: Spiroplasma (class Mollicutes) is a diverse wall-less bacterial genus whose members are strictly dependent on eukaryotic hosts (mostly arthropods and plants), with which they engage in pathogenic to mutualistic interactions. Spiroplasma are generally fastidious to culture in vitro, especially those that are vertically transmitted by their hosts, which include flies in the genus Drosophila. Drosophila has been invaded by at least three independent clades of Spiroplasma: Poulsonii (the best studied, contains reproductive manipulators and defensive mutualists associated with two major clades of Drosophila and has amongst the highest substitution rates within bacteria), Citri (restricted to the repleta group of Drosophila) a

SUBMITTER: Ramirez P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12453411 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature