Breeuwer J A, Jacobs G
Institute of Systematics and Population Biology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Exp Appl Acarol. 1996 Aug;20(8):421-34. doi: 10.1007/BF00053306.
Cytoplasmically transmitted Wolbachia (alpha-Proteobacteria) are a group of closely related intracellular microorganisms that alter reproduction in arthropods. They are found in a few isopods and are widespread in insects. Wolbachia are implicated as the cause of parthenogenesis in parasitic wasps, feminization in isopods and reproductive (cytoplasmic) incompatibility in many insects. Here we report on the widespread occurrence of Wolbachia in spider mites and predatory mites based on a PCR assay for a 730 bp fragment of the ftsZ gene with primers that are specific for Wolbachia. An additional PCR, using two primer pairs that amplify a 259 bp region of the ftsZ gene that are diagnostic for the two Wolbachia subdivisions A and B, showed that infected mites only carried type B and not type A Wolbachia. The fact that some species tested negative for Wolbachia does not mean that the entire species is uninfected. We found that natural populations of Tetranychus urticae are polymorphic for the infection. The possible effects of Wolbachia on mite reproduction and post-zygotic reproductive isolation are discussed.
胞质传播的沃尔巴克氏体（α-变形菌纲）是一组密切相关的细胞内微生物，可改变节肢动物的繁殖方式。它们在少数等足类动物中被发现，在昆虫中广泛存在。沃尔巴克氏体被认为是寄生蜂孤雌生殖、等足类动物雌性化以及许多昆虫生殖（细胞质）不相容的原因。在此，我们基于针对ftsZ基因730 bp片段的PCR检测方法，使用对沃尔巴克氏体特异的引物，报告了沃尔巴克氏体在叶螨和捕食螨中的广泛存在情况。另外一项PCR使用两对引物扩增ftsZ基因的259 bp区域，该区域可用于诊断沃尔巴克氏体的A和B两个亚群，结果显示受感染的螨只携带B型沃尔巴克氏体，而不携带A型。某些物种沃尔巴克氏体检测呈阴性这一事实并不意味着整个物种都未被感染。我们发现，二斑叶螨的自然种群在感染情况上具有多态性。文中还讨论了沃尔巴克氏体对螨繁殖以及合子后生殖隔离可能产生的影响。
