Defensive fungal symbiosis on insect hindlegs.

Tympanal organs as "insect ears" have evolved repeatedly. Dinidorid stinkbugs were reported to possess a conspicuous tympanal organ on female's hindlegs. Here we report an unexpected discovery that the stinkbug's "tympanal organ" is actually a novel symbiotic organ.

Host's guardian protein counters degenerative symbiont evolution.

Microbial symbioses significantly contribute to diverse organisms, where long-lasting associations tend to result in symbiont genome erosion, uncultivability, extinction, and replacement. How such inherently deteriorating symbiosis can be harnessed to stable partnership is of general evolutionary interest. Here, we report the discovery of a host protein essential for sustaining symbiosis.

Genome Analysis of " Regiella insecticola" Strain TUt, Facultative Bacterial Symbiont of the Pea Aphid .

The genome of " Regiella insecticola" strain TUt, a facultative bacterial symbiont of the pea aphid , was analyzed. We determined a 2.5-Mb draft genome consisting of 14 contigs; this will contribute to the understanding of the symbiont, which underpins various ecologically adaptive traits of the host insect.

Genome Sequence of " Serratia symbiotica" Strain IS, a Facultative Bacterial Symbiont of the Pea Aphid .

" Serratia symbiotica" is a facultative bacterial symbiont of aphids that affects various ecological traits of the host insects. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of " Serratia symbiotica" strain IS, consisting of a 2,736,352-bp chromosome and an 82,605-bp plasmid, from the pea aphid .

Genomic Insight into Symbiosis-Induced Insect Color Change by a Facultative Bacterial Endosymbiont, " Rickettsiella viridis".

Members of the genus are bacterial pathogens of insects and other arthropods. Recently, a novel facultative endosymbiont, " Rickettsiella viridis," was described in the pea aphid , whose infection causes a striking host phenotype: red and green genetic color morphs exist in aphid populations, and upon infection with the symbiont, red aphids become green due to increased production of green polycyclic quinone pigments. Here we determined the complete genome sequence of the symbiont.

Role of Egr1 on Pancreatic Endoderm Differentiation.

The low efficiency of in vitro differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into insulin-producing cells is a crucial hurdle for the clinical implementation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Our previous investigation into the key factors for the differentiation of PSCs into insulin-producing cells suggested that the expression of GATA binding protein 6 (GATA6) and Gremlin 1 (GREM1) and inhibition of early growth response protein 1 (Egr1) may be important factors. In this study, we investigated the role of Egr1 in pancreas development.

A Novel, Extremely Elongated, and Endocellular Bacterial Symbiont Supports Cuticle Formation of a Grain Pest Beetle.

The saw-toothed grain beetle, (Silvanidae), is a cosmopolitan stored-product pest. Early studies on in the 1930s described the presence of peculiar bacteriomes harboring endosymbiotic bacteria in the abdomen. Since then, however, the microbiological nature of the symbiont has been elusive.

Small genome symbiont underlies cuticle hardness in beetles.

Beetles, representing the majority of the insect species diversity, are characterized by thick and hard cuticle, which plays important roles for their environmental adaptation and underpins their inordinate diversity and prosperity. Here, we report a bacterial endosymbiont extremely specialized for sustaining beetle's cuticle formation. Many weevils are associated with a γ-proteobacterial endosymbiont lineage , whose evolutionary origin is estimated as older than 100 million years, but its functional aspect has been elusive.

Novel bacteriocyte-associated pleomorphic symbiont of the grain pest beetle (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae).

Background: The lesser grain borer (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is a stored-product pest beetle. Early histological studies dating back to 1930s have reported that and other bostrichid species possess a pair of oval symbiotic organs, called the bacteriomes, in which the cytoplasm is densely populated by pleomorphic symbiotic bacteria of peculiar rosette-like shape. However, the microbiological nature of the symbiont has remained elusive.

DNApod: DNA polymorphism annotation database from next-generation sequence read archives.

With the rapid advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS), datasets for DNA polymorphisms among various species and strains have been produced, stored, and distributed. However, reliability varies among these datasets because the experimental and analytical conditions used differ among assays. Furthermore, such datasets have been frequently distributed from the websites of individual sequencing projects.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Intracellular Bacterial Symbiont TC1 in the Anaerobic Ciliate Trimyema compressum.

A free-living ciliate, Trimyema compressum, found in anoxic freshwater environments harbors methanogenic archaea and a bacterial symbiont named TC1 in its cytoplasm. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the TC1 symbiont, consisting of a 1.59-Mb chromosome and a 35.

Obligate bacterial mutualists evolving from environmental bacteria in natural insect populations.

Diverse organisms are associated with obligate microbial mutualists. How such essential symbionts have originated from free-living ancestors is of evolutionary interest. Here we report that, in natural populations of the stinkbug Plautia stali, obligate bacterial mutualists are evolving from environmental bacteria.

Suppression of Bedbug's Reproduction by RNA Interference of Vitellogenin.

Recent resurgence of the bedbug Cimex lectularius is a global problem on the public health. On account of the worldwide rise of insecticide-resistant bedbug populations, exploration of new approaches to the bedbug control and management is anticipated. In this context, gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) has been considered for its potential application to pest control and management, because RNAi enables specific suppression of target genes and thus flexible selection of target traits to be disrupted.

Potential Factors for the Differentiation of ESCs/iPSCs Into Insulin-Producing Cells.

The low efficiency of in vitro differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into insulin-producing cells thus creates a crucial hurdle for the clinical implementation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). In this study, we investigated the key factors for the differentiation of PSCs into insulin-producing cells. We obtained microarray data of HUES8 and HUES6 from two GeneChips (GPL3921: Affymetrix HT Human Genome U133A Array, GPL570: Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.

Riboflavin Provisioning Underlies Wolbachia's Fitness Contribution to Its Insect Host.

Unlabelled: Endosymbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia represent the most successful symbiotic bacteria in the terrestrial ecosystem. The success of Wolbachia has been ascribed to its remarkable phenotypic effects on host reproduction, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, whereby maternally inherited bacteria can spread in their host populations at the expense of their host's fitness. Meanwhile, recent theoretical as well as empirical studies have unveiled that weak and/or conditional positive fitness effects may significantly facilitate invasion and spread of Wolbachia infections in host populations.

Insect's intestinal organ for symbiont sorting.

Symbiosis has significantly contributed to organismal adaptation and diversification. For establishment and maintenance of such host-symbiont associations, host organisms must have evolved mechanisms for selective incorporation, accommodation, and maintenance of their specific microbial partners. Here we report the discovery of a previously unrecognized type of animal organ for symbiont sorting.

Symbiont-supplemented maternal investment underpinning host's ecological adaptation.

Maternal investment for offspring's growth and survival is widespread among diverse organisms. Vertical symbiont transmission via maternal passage is also pivotal for offspring's growth and survival in many organisms. Hence, it is expected that vertical symbiont transmission may coevolve with various organismal traits concerning maternal investment in offspring.

Evolutionary origin of insect-Wolbachia nutritional mutualism.

Obligate insect-bacterium nutritional mutualism is among the most sophisticated forms of symbiosis, wherein the host and the symbiont are integrated into a coherent biological entity and unable to survive without the partnership. Originally, however, such obligate symbiotic bacteria must have been derived from free-living bacteria. How highly specialized obligate mutualisms have arisen from less specialized associations is of interest.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Burkholderia sp. Strain RPE67, a Bacterial Gut Symbiont of the Bean Bug Riptortus pedestris.

Burkholderia sp. strain RPE67 is a bacterial symbiont isolated from a field-collected bean bug, Riptortus pedestris. To understand the genetic basis of the insect-microbe symbiosis, we performed whole-genome sequencing of the Burkholderia strain, revealing an 8.

Fine-scale geographical origin of an insect pest invading North America.

Invasive species may rapidly spread throughout new areas once introduced, which may potentially lead to serious damage to local fauna and flora. Information on geographical origins, introduction routes, and biology in native regions of such invasive species is of critical importance in identifying means of transport, preventing reintroduction, and establishing control/eradication methods. The plataspid stinkbug Megacopta cribraria, known as kudzu bug, recently invaded North America and now has become not only an agricultural pest of soybean but also a nuisance pest.

Horizontal gene acquisition of Liberibacter plant pathogens from a bacteriome-confined endosymbiont of their psyllid vector.

he Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri is a notorious agricultural pest that transmits the phloem-inhabiting alphaproteobacterial 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' and allied plant pathogens, which cause the devastating citrus disease called Huanglongbing or greening disease. D. citri harbors two distinct bacterial mutualists in the symbiotic organ called bacteriome: the betaproteobacterium 'Candidatus Profftella armatura' in the syncytial cytoplasm at the center of the bacteriome, and the gammaproteobacterium 'Candidatus Carsonella ruddii' in uninucleate bacteriocytes.

Purine biosynthesis-deficient Burkholderia mutants are incapable of symbiotic accommodation in the stinkbug.

The Riptortus-Burkholderia symbiotic system represents a promising experimental model to study the molecular mechanisms involved in insect-bacterium symbiosis due to the availability of genetically manipulated Burkholderia symbiont. Using transposon mutagenesis screening, we found a symbiosis-deficient mutant that was able to colonize the host insect but failed to induce normal development of host's symbiotic organ. The disrupted gene was identified as purL involved in purine biosynthesis.

Complete Genome Sequence of Burkholderia sp. Strain RPE64, Bacterial Symbiont of the Bean Bug Riptortus pedestris.

We isolated Burkholderia symbiont strain RPE64 from the bean bug Riptortus pedestris. Analysis of the complete 6.96-Mb genome, which consists of three chromosomes and two plasmids, will facilitate further understanding of insect-microbe symbiosis and the development of pest-control technologies.

Horizontal gene transfer from diverse bacteria to an insect genome enables a tripartite nested mealybug symbiosis.

The smallest reported bacterial genome belongs to Tremblaya princeps, a symbiont of Planococcus citri mealybugs (PCIT). Tremblaya PCIT not only has a 139 kb genome, but possesses its own bacterial endosymbiont, Moranella endobia. Genome and transcriptome sequencing, including genome sequencing from a Tremblaya lineage lacking intracellular bacteria, reveals that the extreme genomic degeneracy of Tremblaya PCIT likely resulted from acquiring Moranella as an endosymbiont.