Remnants of horizontal transfers of Wolbachia genes in a Wolbachia-free woodwasp

Queffelec, Josephine; Postma, Alisa; Allison, Jeremy D.; Slippers, Bernard

Remnants of horizontal transfers of Wolbachia genes in a Wolbachia-free woodwasp

Queffelec, Josephine; Postma, Alisa; Allison, Jeremy D.; Slippers, Bernard

URI: https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/86379

Date: 2022-03

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Wolbachia is a bacterial endosymbiont of many arthropod and nematode species. Due to its capacity to alter host biology, Wolbachia plays an important role in arthropod and nematode ecology and evolution. Sirex noctilio is a woodwasp causing economic loss in pine plantations of the Southern Hemisphere. An investigation into the genome of this wasp revealed the presence of Wolbachia sequences. Due to the potential impact of Wolbachia on the populations of this wasp, as well as its potential use as a biological control agent against invasive insects, this discovery warranted investigation. RESULTS: In this study we first investigated the presence of Wolbachia in S. noctilio and demonstrated that South African populations of the wasp are unlikely to be infected. We then screened the full genome of S. noctilio and found 12 Wolbachia pseudogenes. Most of these genes constitute building blocks of various transposable elements originating from the Wolbachia genome. Finally, we demonstrate that these genes are distributed in all South African populations of the wasp. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence that S. noctilio might be compatible with a Wolbachia infection and that the bacteria could potentially be used in the future to regulate invasive populations of the wasp. Understanding the mechanisms that led to a loss of Wolbachia infection in S. noctilio could indicate which host species or host population should be sampled to find a Wolbachia strain that could be used as a biological control against S. noctilio.

Description:

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF1 compared to similar protein sequences of 11 Wolbachia strains and one protein sequence from Diplorickettsia massiliensis (Gammaproteobacteria: Coxiellaceae) (out group). The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF1 among other Wolbachia protein sequences. All Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wAus, Plutella australiana; wCauA, Carposina sasakii; wDi, Diaphorina citri; wNfla, Nomada flava; wNleu, Nomada leucophthalma; wNo, Drosophila simulans; wNpa, Nomada panzeri; wPip, Culex quinquefasciatus; wPnig, Pentalonia nigronervosa; wStri, Laodelphax striatellus; wVulC, Armadillidium vulgare.

Additional file 2: Figure S2. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF2 compared to similar protein sequences of 12 Wolbachia strains and one protein sequence from Herpetosiphon llansteffanense (Terrabacteria: Herpetosiphonales) (out group). The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF2 among other Wolbachia protein sequences. All Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wAna, Drosophila ananassae; wCauA, Carposina sasakii; wCobs, Cardiocondyla obscurior; wCon, Cylisticus convexus; wHa, Drosophila simulans; wKgib, Kradibia gibbosae; wLug, Nilaparvata lugens; wMelPop, Drosophila melanogaster; wPnig, Pentalonia nigronervosa; wUni, Muscidifurax uniraptor; wTpre, Trichogramma pretiosum; wVulC, Armadillidium vulgare.

Additional file 3: Figure S3. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF3 compared to similar protein sequences of two Wolbachia strains and one protein sequence from Mastigocladopsis repens (Cyanobacteria: Symphyonemataceae) (out group). The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF3 among other protein sequences. The two Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wFcan, Folsomia candida; wVulC, Armadillidium vulgare.

Additional file 4: Figure S4. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF4 compared to similar protein sequences of seven Wolbachia strains and one protein sequence from Legionella pneumophila (Gammaproteobacteria: Legionellaceae) (out group). The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF4 among other Wolbachia protein sequences. All Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wAu, Drosophila simulans; wDac, Dactylopius coccus; wHa, Drosophila simulans; wMelPop, Drosophila melanogaster; wOne, Nasonia oneida; wUni, Muscidifurax uniraptor; wVulC, Armadillidium vulgare.

Additional file 5: Figure S5. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF6 compared to similar protein sequences of 23 Wolbachia strains and one protein sequence from Holospora undulata (Alphaproteobacteria: Holosporaceae) (out group). The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF6 among other Wolbachia protein sequences. All Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wAna, Drosophila ananassae; wBt, Bemisia tabaci; wCauA, Carposina sasakii; wCobs, Cardiocondyla obscurior; wCon, Cylisticus convexus; wDac, Dactylopius coccus; wDi, Diaphorina citri; wFcan, Folsomia candida; wKgib, Kradibia gibbosae; wLug, Nilaparvata lugens; wMau, Drosophila mauritiana; wMeg, Chrysomya megacephala; wMelPop, Drosophila melanogaster; wNfe, Nomada ferruginata; wNo, Drosophila simulans; wOne, Nasonia oneida; wPip, Culex quinquefasciatus; wPip_Mol, Culex molestus; wPnig, Pentalonia nigronervosa; wStri, Laodelphax striatellus; wTei, Drosophila teissieri; wVulC, Armadillidium vulgare; wYak, Drosophila yakuba.

Additional file 6: Figure S6. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF7 compared to similar protein sequences of 22 Wolbachia strains and one protein sequence from Holospora undulata (Alphaproteobacteria: Holosporaceae). The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF7 among other Wolbachia protein sequences. All Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wBt, Bemisia tabaci; wCauA, Carposina sasakii; wCfeT, Ctenocephalides felis; wCobs, Cardiocondyla obscurior; wCon, Cylisticus convexus; wDac, Dactylopius coccus; wDi, Diaphorina citri; wFcan, Folsomia candida; wGmo, Glossina morsitans; wInc, Drosophila incompta; wKgib, Kradibia gibbosae; wLug, Nilaparvata lugens; wMau, Drosophila mauritiana; wMeg, Chrysomya megacephala; wNleu, Nomada leucophthalma; wNo, Drosophila simulans; wNpa, Nomada panzeri; wPip, Culex quinquefasciatus; wPnig, Pentalonia nigronervosa; wStri, Laodelphax striatellus; wVulC, Armadillidium vulgare.

Additional file 7: Figure S7. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF9 compared to similar protein sequences of 20 Wolbachia strains and one protein sequence from Moorea producens (Cyanobacteria: Oscillatoriaceae). The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF9 among other Wolbachia protein sequences. All Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wAna, Drosophila ananassae; wAu, Drosophila simulans; wBt, Bemisia tabaci; wCfeT, Ctenocephalides felis; wCon, Cylisticus convexus; wDac, Dactylopius coccus; wDi, Diaphorina citri; wInc, Drosophila incompta; wKgib, Kradibia gibbosae; wMeg, Chrysomya megacephala; wMel, Drosophila melanogaster; wOb, Operophtera brumata; wOne, Nasonia oneida; wPip, Culex quinquefasciatus; wPol, Atemnus politus; wSan, Drosophila santomea; wStri, Laodelphax striatellus; wTei, Drosophila teissieri; wVulC, Armadillidium vulgare; wYak, Drosophila yakuba.

Additional file 8: Figure S8. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF10 compared to similar protein sequences of 21 Wolbachia strains and one protein sequence from Diplorickettsia massiliensis (Gammaproteobacteria: Coxiellaceae). The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF10 among other Wolbachia protein sequences. All Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wAlbB, Aedes albopictus ; wAna, Drosophila ananassae; wAus, Plutella australiana ; wCauA, Carposina sasakii; wCfeJ, Ctenocephalides felis; wCle, Cimex lectularius; wCobs, Cardiocondyla obscurior; wCon, Cylisticus convexus; wDi, Diaphorina citri; wFcan, Folsomia candida; wMau, Drosophila mauritiana; wMel, Drosophila melanogaster; wNfe, Nomada ferruginata; wNo, Drosophila simulans; wOb, Operophtera brumata; wPip, Culex quinquefasciatus; wPnig, Pentalonia nigronervosa; wSan, Drosophila santomea; wStri, Laodelphax striatellus; wVulC, Armadillidium vulgare.

Additional file 9: Figure S9. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF11 compared to similar protein sequences of 10 Wolbachia strains. The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF11 among other Wolbachia protein sequences. All Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wAlbB, Aedes albopictus; wAus, Plutella australiana; wBlon, Brontispa longissima; wCobs, Cardiocondyla obscurior; wDi, Diaphorina citri; wMau, Drosophila mauritiana; wNo, Drosophila simulans; wPip, Culex quinquefasciatus; wPnig, Pentalonia nigronervosa; wStri, Laodelphax striatellus.

Additional file 10: Figure S10. Maximum likelihood tree. It was constructed with the protein sequence of ORF12 compared to similar protein sequences of seven Wolbachia strains. The branch indicated in red represents the position of ORF12 among other Wolbachia protein sequences. All Wolbachia strains are named after their hosts as follows: wAlbB, Aedes albopictus; wAus, Plutella australiana; wDi, Diaphorina citri; wPip, Culex quinquefasciatus; wPip_Mol, Culex molestus; wPnig, Pentalonia nigronervosa; wStri, Laodelphax striatellus.

Additional file 11: Table S1. PCR cycling protocol. Tm = Annealing temperature specific to the primer pair (Table 2); * T° decreases by 0.5°C at the start of each cycle.

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