Phenotypic shift in Wolbachia virulence towards its native host across serial horizontal passages.

ABSTRACT: Vertical transmission mode is predicted to decrease the virulence of symbionts. However, Wolbachia, a widespread vertically transmitted endosymbiont, exhibits both negative and beneficial effects on arthropod fitness. This 'Jekyll and Hyde' behaviour, as well as its ability to live transiently outside host cells and to establish new infections via horizontal transmission, may reflect the capacity of Wolbachia to exhibit various phenotypes depending on the prevailing environmental constraints. To study the ability of Wolbachia to readily cope with new constraints, we forced this endosymbiont to spread only via horizontal transmission. To achieve this, we performed serial horizontal transfers of haemolymph from Wolbachia-infected to naive individuals of the isopod

SUBMITTER: Le Clec'h W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5543228 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature