Abstract:
Stink bug species (Pentatomoidea superfamily) have developed an interdependence
with obligate bacterial gut symbionts in specialized midgut crypts (M4 sub-region).
Species of the Enterobacteriaceae family (predominantly Pantoea) are vertically
transferred to their offspring and provide nutrients that cannot be obtained from
plant sap food sources. However, the bacteria in the other gut compartments of
stink bugs have rarely been investigated. The two-spotted stink bug, Bathycoelia
distincta, is a serious pest of macadamias in South Africa. Nothing is currently
known regarding its gut microbiome or how symbionts are transferred between
insect generations. In this study, the consistency of B. distincta gut bacteria
across geographic locations and life stages was determined with 16S rRNA
metabarcoding, considering both the M4 and other gut compartments. A novel
Pantoea species was found to be the primary M4 gut symbiont and is vertically
transferred to the offspring. The other gut compartments had a low bacterial
diversity and genera varied between stink bug populations but a Sodalis species
was prominent in all populations. Sequence data of the M4 compartment were
used to produce high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) for
the Pantoea and Sodalis species. Functional analyses suggested a similar role in
nutrient provision for the host, yet also unique metabolites produced by each
species. The Sodalis sp. also had additional traits, such as secretion systems, that
likely allowed it to establish itself in the host. The Pantoea species was described
as Pantoea bathycoeliae sp. nov based on the rules of the SeqCode.
Description:
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/, BioProject PRJNA972719 and PRJNA987703.