Widespread phages of endosymbionts: Phage WO genomics and the proposed taxonomic classification of Symbioviridae.

ABSTRACT: Wolbachia are the most common obligate, intracellular bacteria in animals. They exist worldwide in arthropod and nematode hosts in which they commonly act as reproductive parasites or mutualists, respectively. Bacteriophage WO, the largest of Wolbachia's mobile elements, includes reproductive parasitism genes, serves as a hotspot for genetic divergence and genomic rearrangement of the bacterial chromosome, and uniquely encodes a Eukaryotic Association Module with eukaryotic-like genes and an ensemble of putative host interaction genes. Despite WO's relevance to genome evolution, selfish genetics, and symbiotic applications, relatively little is known about its origin, host range, diversification, and taxonomic classification. Here we analyze the most comprehensive set of 150 Wolbachia and

SUBMITTER: Bordenstein SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9203015 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature