Multiple concurrent and convergent stages of genome reduction in bacterial symbionts across a stink bug family.

ABSTRACT: Nutritional symbioses between bacteria and insects are prevalent and diverse, allowing insects to expand their feeding strategies and niches. A common consequence of long-term associations is a considerable reduction in symbiont genome size likely influenced by the radical shift in selective pressures as a result of the less variable environment within the host. While several of these cases can be found across distinct insect species, most examples provide a limited view of a single or few stages of the process of genome reduction. Stink bugs (Pentatomidae) contain inherited gamma-proteobacterial symbionts in a modified organ in their midgut and are an example of a long-term nutritional symbiosis, but multiple cases of new symbiont acquisition throughout the history of the family have been

SUBMITTER: Otero-Bravo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8032781 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature