biostudies-literatureFujiwara AMEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceNARO Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement InstitutionMEXT | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)MEXT | Leading Initiative for Excellent Young ResearchersRIKEN ()RIKENMEXT | Leading Initiative for Excellent Young Researchers (LEADER)e0468422https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9927142biostudies-literatureUnknown11(1)Many insects contain endosymbiotic bacteria within their bodies. In multiple endosymbiotic systems comprising two or more symbionts, each of the symbionts is generally localized in a different host cell or tissue. Bemisia tabaci (Sweet potato whitefly) possesses a unique endosymbiotic system where co-obligate symbionts are localized in the same bacteriocytes. Using fluorescence <i>in situ</i> hybridization, we found that endosymbionts in <i>B. tabaci</i> MEAM1 occupy distinct subcellular habitats, or niches, within a single bacteriocyte. <i>Hamiltonella</i> was located adjacent to the nucleus of the bacteriocyte, while <i>Portiera</i> was present in the cytoplasm surrounding <i>Hamiltonella</i>. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the endoplasmic reticulum separates the two symbiontMicrobiology spectrumSubcellular Niche Segregation of Co-Obligate Symbionts in Whiteflies.PMC9927142Research program on the development of innovative technologySpecial Postdoctoral Researcher (SPDR) Program18K05673Kamagata YMeng XYTsuchida TFujiwara AfalseSubcellular Niche Segregation of Co-Obligate Symbionts in Whiteflies.Many insects contain endosymbiotic bacteria within their bodies. In multiple endosymbiotic systems comprising two or more symbionts, each of the symbionts is generally localized in a different host cell or tissue. Bemisia tabaci (Sweet potato whitefly) possesses a unique endosymbiotic system where co-obligate symbionts are localized in the same bacteriocytes. Using fluorescence <i>in situ</i> hybridization, we found that endosymbionts in <i>B. tabaci</i> MEAM1 occupy distinct subcellular habitats, or niches, within a single bacteriocyte. <i>Hamiltonella</i> was located adjacent to the nucleus of the bacteriocyte, while <i>Portiera</i> was present in the cytoplasm surrounding <i>Hamiltonella</i>. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the endoplasmic reticulum separates the two symbiont2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Feb2025-04-18T21:29:56.679Z2025-04-07T09:21:41.395ZS-EPMC99271423654685510.1128/spectrum.04684-22