Some like it hot: evolution and ecology of novel endosymbionts in bat flies of cave-roosting bats (hippoboscoidea, nycterophiliinae).

ABSTRACT: We investigated previously unknown associations between bacterial endosymbionts and bat flies of the subfamily Nycterophiliinae (Diptera, Streblidae). Molecular analyses revealed a novel clade of Gammaproteobacteria in Nycterophilia bat flies. This clade was not closely related to Arsenophonus-like microbes found in its sister genus Phalconomus and other bat flies. High population infection rates in Nycterophilia across a wide geographic area, the presence of the symbionts in pupae, the general codivergence between hosts and symbionts, and high AT composition bias in symbiont genes together suggest that this host-symbiont association is obligate in nature and ancient in origin. Some Nycterophilia samples (14.8%) also contained Wolbachia supergroup F (Alphaproteobacteria), suggesting a facu

SUBMITTER: Morse SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3502899 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature