Evolutionary relationships of primary prokaryotic endosymbionts of whiteflies and their hosts

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 Jun;70(6):3401-6. doi: 10.1128/AEM.70.6.3401-3406.2004.

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

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / classification
  • Bacteria / genetics*
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal / analysis
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Hemiptera / classification
  • Hemiptera / genetics
  • Hemiptera / microbiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Symbiosis*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF211870
  • GENBANK/AY266092
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