Natural Shifts in Endosymbionts' Occurrence and Relative Frequency in Their Ciliate Host Population.

The role of bacterial endosymbionts harbored by heterotrophic species is complex. Obligate intracellular bacteria supposedly always inflict costs as the host is the only possible provider of resources. However, several experimental studies have shown that paramecia carrying bacterial endosymbionts can benefit from their infection.

Dual-Seq reveals genome and transcriptome of Caedibacter taeniospiralis, obligate endosymbiont of Paramecium.

Interest in host-symbiont interactions is continuously increasing, not only due to the growing recognition of the importance of microbiomes. Starting with the detection and description of novel symbionts, attention moves to the molecular consequences and innovations of symbioses. However, molecular analysis requires genomic data which is difficult to obtain from obligate intracellular and uncultivated bacteria.

Identification and Characterization of Nep1-Like Proteins From the Grapevine Downy Mildew Pathogen .

The obligate biotrophic oomycete causes tremendous problems in viticulture by evoking grapevine downy mildew. , like other plant pathogens, achieves infection by suppression of plant innate immunity by secretion of effector molecules into its host plant. An ever-expanding family of proteins with effector-like characteristics is formed by the "Necrosis and Ethylene inducing peptide 1 (Nep1)-like proteins" (NLPs).

More than the "Killer Trait": Infection with the Bacterial Endosymbiont Caedibacter taeniospiralis Causes Transcriptomic Modulation in Paramecium Host.

Endosymbiosis is a widespread phenomenon and hosts of bacterial endosymbionts can be found all-over the eukaryotic tree of life. Likely, this evolutionary success is connected to the altered phenotype arising from a symbiotic association. The potential variety of symbiont's contributions to new characteristics or abilities of host organisms are largely unstudied.

Draft Genome Sequence and Annotation of the Obligate Bacterial Endosymbiont , Causative Agent of the Killer Phenotype in .

is an obligate endosymbiont living in the cytoplasm of causes the so-called killer trait, eliminating intraspecific competitors of its host when released into the medium by the concerted action of the unusual protein structure R-body (refractile body) in addition to an as-yet-unknown toxin.

Fitness Impact of Obligate Intranuclear Bacterial Symbionts Depends on Host Growth Phase.

According to text book definition, parasites reduce the fitness of their hosts whereas mutualists provide benefits. But biotic and abiotic factors influence symbiotic interactions, thus under certain circumstances parasites can provide benefits and mutualists can harm their host. Here we addressed the question which intrinsic biotic factors shape a symbiosis and are crucial for the outcome of the interaction between the obligate intranuclear bacterium () and its unicellular eukaryotic host (Alveolata; Ciliophora).

Draft genome sequence of the marine strain O3.65, cultivated from oil-polluted seawater of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The marine alphaproteobacterium strain O3.65 was isolated from an enrichment culture of surface seawater contaminated with weathered oil (slicks) from the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill and belongs to the ubiquitous, diverse and ecological relevant group within the . Here, we present a preliminary set of physiological features of strain O3.