Abstract
Whiteflies (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aleyrodidae) are plant sap-sucking insects that harbor prokaryotic primary endosymbionts (P-endosymbionts) within specialized cells located in their body cavity. Four-kilobase DNA fragments containing 16S-23S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were amplified from the P-endosymbiont of 24 whiteflies from 22 different species of 2 whitefly subfamilies. In addition, 3-kb DNA fragments containing mitochondrial cytB, nd1, and large-subunit rDNA (LrDNA) were amplified from 17 whitefly species. Comparisons of the P-endosymbiont (16S-23S rDNA) and host (cytB-nd1-LrDNA) phylogenetic trees indicated overall congruence consistent with a single infection of a whitefly ancestor with a bacterium and subsequent cospeciation (cocladogenesis) of the host and the P-endosymbiont. On the basis of both the P-endosymbiont and host trees, the whiteflies could be subdivided into at least five clusters. The major subdivision was between the subfamilies Aleyrodinae and Aleurodicinae. Unlike the P-endosymbionts of may other insects, the P-endosymbionts of whiteflies were related to Pseudomonas and possibly to the P-endosymbionts of psyllids. The lineage consisting of the P-endosymbionts of whiteflies is given the designation "Candidatus Portiera" gen. nov., with a single species, "Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum" sp. nov.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Bacteria / classification
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Bacteria / genetics*
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Bacteria / isolation & purification
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DNA, Bacterial / analysis
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DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
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DNA, Ribosomal / analysis
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Evolution, Molecular*
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Hemiptera / classification
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Hemiptera / genetics
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Hemiptera / microbiology*
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phylogeny
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
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RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
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Sequence Analysis, DNA
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Symbiosis*
Substances
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DNA, Bacterial
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DNA, Mitochondrial
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DNA, Ribosomal
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
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RNA, Ribosomal, 23S
Associated data
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GENBANK/AF211870
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GENBANK/AY266092
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