Infection Dynamics of Cotransmitted Reproductive Symbionts Are Mediated by Sex, Tissue, and Development.

One of the most prevalent intracellular infections on earth is with , a bacterium in the that infects a range of insects, crustaceans, chelicerates, and nematodes. is maternally transmitted to offspring and has profound effects on the reproduction and physiology of its hosts, which can result in reproductive isolation, altered vectorial capacity, mitochondrial sweeps, and even host speciation. Some populations stably harbor multiple strains, which can further contribute to reproductive isolation and altered host physiology.

The Symbiont Inhibits Growth of Pathogenic Rickettsiaceae in Tick Cells: Implications for Vector Competence.

is the primary vector of tick-borne pathogens in North America but notably does not transmit pathogenic species. This tick harbors the transovarially transmitted endosymbiont , which is widespread in populations, suggesting that it confers a selective advantage for tick survival such as providing essential nutrients. The genome includes genes with similarity to those involved in antibiotic synthesis.

Tick Cell Culture Analysis of Growth Dynamics and Cellular Tropism of , an Endosymbiont of the Blacklegged Tick, .

The blacklegged tick, , a species of significant importance to human and animal health, harbors an endosymbiont sensu stricto. The symbiont is largely restricted to the ovaries, but all life stages can harbor various quantities or lack entirely. The endosymbiont is cultivable in cell lines isolated from embryos of ticks.

Growth Dynamics and Antibiotic Elimination of Symbiotic Rickettsia buchneri in the Tick Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae).

is the principal symbiotic bacterium of the medically significant tick This species has been detected primarily in the ovaries of adult female ticks and is vertically transmitted, but its tissue tropism in other life stages and function with regard to tick physiology is unknown. In order to determine the function of , it may be necessary to produce ticks free from this symbiont. We quantified the growth dynamics of naturally occurring in ticks throughout their life cycle and compared it with bacterial growth in ticks in which symbiont numbers were experimentally reduced or eliminated.