Evolution and Diversity of Inherited Spiroplasma Symbionts in Myrmica Ants

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dc.contributor.authorBallinger, Mathew J.
dc.contributor.authorLogan, D. Moore
dc.contributor.authorPerlman, Steve
dc.date.accessioned2018-02-15T14:52:59Z
dc.date.copyright2018en_US
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractMicrobial partners play important roles in the biology and ecology of animals. In insects, maternally transmitted symbionts are especially common and can have host effects ranging from reproductive manipulation to nutrient provisioning and defense against natural enemies. In this study, we report a genus-wide association of Myrmica ants with the inherited bacterial symbiont Spiroplasma. We screen Myrmica ants collected from the wild, including the invasive European fire ant, Myrmica rubra, and find an extraordinarily high prevalence of this symbiont—8 of 9 species, 42 of 43 colonies, and 250 of 276 individual workers harbored Spiroplasma—only one host species was uninfected. In our screens, each host species carried a distinct Spiroplasma strain, and none were infected with more than one strain. All symbionts belong to the citri clade, allied most closely with pathogenic strains of Spiroplasma infecting corn crops and honeybees, and there is strong evidence of host-symbiont persistence across evolutionary time scales. Genome sequencing of two Spiroplasma symbionts revealed candidate genes that may play a part in the symbiosis, a nutrient transporter absent from other Spiroplasma strains, and a ribosome-inactivating protein previously implicated in parasite defense. These results together suggest long-term, likely mutualistic, relationships atypical of Spiroplasma-insect associations with potential significance for broad ecological interactions with Myrmica. IMPORTANCE: Animal-associated microbial symbionts can dramatically affect the biology of their hosts. The identification and characterization of these intimate partnerships remain an essential component of describing and predicting species interactions, especially for invasive host species. Ants perform crucial ecological functions as ecosystem engineers, scavengers, and predators, and ants in the genus Myrmica can be aggressive resource competitors and reach high densities in their native and invaded habitats. In this study, a novel symbiosis is identified between Myrmica ants and the facultative bacterial symbiont Spiroplasma. Broad host distribution, high frequencies of infection, and host-symbiont codivergence over evolutionary time scales, an uncommon feature of Spiroplasma associations, suggest an important likely mutualistic interaction. Genome sequencing identified highly divergent gene candidates that may contribute to Spiroplasma's role as a possible defensive or nutritional partner in Myrmica.en_US
dc.description.embargo2018-08-01
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis work was funded by a Sinergia grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation awarded to S.J.P. and a Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award from the University of Victoria to L.D.M.en_US
dc.identifier.citationBallinger, M.J., Moore, L.D., Perlman, S.J. (2018). Evolution and diversity of inherited Spiroplasma symbionts in Myrmica ants. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 84(4):e02299-17. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02299-17en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02299-17
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/9070
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherApplied and Environmental Microbiologyen_US
dc.subjectdefensive symbiosisen_US
dc.subjectfacultative symbionten_US
dc.subjectmutualismen_US
dc.subjectribosome-inactivating proteinsen_US
dc.subjectsymbiosisen_US
dc.titleEvolution and Diversity of Inherited Spiroplasma Symbionts in Myrmica Antsen_US
dc.typePostprinten_US

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