New insights into the evolution of Wolbachia infections in filarial nematodes inferred from a large range of screened species.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Wolbachia are intriguing symbiotic endobacteria with a peculiar host range that includes arthropods and a single nematode family, the Onchocercidae encompassing agents of filariases. This raises the question of the origin of infection in filariae. Wolbachia infect the female germline and the hypodermis. Some evidences lead to the theory that Wolbachia act as mutualist and coevolved with filariae from one infection event: their removal sterilizes female filariae; all the specimens of a positive species are infected; Wolbachia are vertically inherited; a few species lost the symbiont. However, most data on Wolbachia and filaria relationships derive from studies on few species of Onchocercinae and Dirofilariinae, from mammals.

Methodology/principal findings

We invest

SUBMITTER: Ferri E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3120775 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature