Werren J H, Bartos J D
Biology Department, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA.
Curr Biol. 2001 Mar 20;11(6):431-5. doi: 10.1016/s0960-9822(01)00101-4.
Wolbachia are widely distributed intracellular bacteria that cause a number of reproductive alterations in their eukaryotic hosts. Such alterations include the induction of parthenogenesis, feminization, cytoplasmic incompatibility, and male killing [1-11]. These important bacteria may play a role in rapid speciation in insects [12-14], and there is growing interest in their potential uses as tools for biological control and genetic manipulation of pests and disease vectors [15-16]. Here, we show recombination in the Wolbachia outer surface protein gene (wsp) between strains of Wolbachia. In addition, we find a possible ecological context for this recombination. Evidence indicates either genetic exchange between Wolbachia in a parasitoid wasp and in the fly that it parasitizes or horizontal transfer of Wolbachia between the parasitoid and the fly, followed by a recombination event. Results have important implications for the evolution of these bacteria and the potential use of Wolbachia in biological control.
沃尔巴克氏体是广泛分布的细胞内细菌，可在其真核宿主中引起多种生殖改变。这些改变包括诱导孤雌生殖、雌性化、细胞质不亲和以及雄性致死[1 - 11]。这些重要细菌可能在昆虫的快速物种形成中发挥作用[12 - 14]，并且人们对其作为害虫和疾病媒介的生物防治及基因操纵工具的潜在用途的兴趣与日俱增[15 - 16]。在此，我们展示了沃尔巴克氏体菌株之间沃尔巴克氏体外表面蛋白基因（wsp）的重组。此外，我们发现了这种重组可能的生态背景。证据表明，要么在寄生蜂体内的沃尔巴克氏体与它所寄生的果蝇体内的沃尔巴克氏体之间发生了基因交换，要么沃尔巴克氏体在寄生蜂和果蝇之间进行了水平转移，随后发生了重组事件。这些结果对这些细菌的进化以及沃尔巴克氏体在生物防治中的潜在应用具有重要意义。
