Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, USA.
Curr Opin Insect Sci. 2019 Apr;32:22-27. doi: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.10.006. Epub 2018 Oct 24.
Entomopathogenic nematodes in the genus Steinernema (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) have a mutualistic relationship with Xenorhabdus bacteria (Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae). This partnership however, is pathogenic to a wide range of insect species. Because of their potent insecticidal ability, they have successfully been implemented in biological control and integrated pest management programs worldwide. Steinernema-Xenorhabdus-insect partnerships are extremely diverse and represent a model system in ecology and evolution to investigate symbioses between invertebrates and microbes. The reproductive fitness of the nematode-bacterium partnership is tightly associated, and maintenance of their virulence is critical to the conversion of the insect host as a suitable environment where this partnership can be perpetuated.
斯氏线虫属（ nematoda:Steinernematidae ）的昆虫病原线虫与 Xenorhabdus 细菌（革兰氏阴性肠杆菌科）之间存在共生关系。然而，这种伙伴关系对广泛的昆虫物种具有致病性。由于它们具有强大的杀虫能力，它们已成功地在全球范围内的生物防治和综合虫害管理计划中得到实施。斯氏线虫-Xenorhabdus-昆虫伙伴关系非常多样化，是研究无脊椎动物和微生物之间共生关系的生态和进化模型系统。线虫-细菌伙伴关系的生殖适应性紧密相关，维持其毒力对于将昆虫宿主转化为适合这种伙伴关系持续存在的合适环境至关重要。
