Current Microbiology (2004) 49, 10-12

Toon Ruang-areerate, Pattamaporn Kittayapong, Elizabeth A. McGraw, Vitsut Baimai and Scott L. O'Neill (2004)
Wolbachia replication and host cell division in Aedes albopictus
Current Microbiology 49 (1), 10-12
Abstract: Wolbachia pipientis is an obligate intracellular endosymbiont of a range of arthropod species. The microbe is best known for its manipulations of host reproduction that include inducing cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, feminization, and male-killing. Like other vertically transmitted intracellular symbionts, Wolbachia 's replication rate must not outpace that of its host cells if it is to remain benign. The mosquito Aedes albopictus is naturally infected both singly and doubly with different strains of Wolbachia pipientis. During diapause in mosquito eggs, no host cell division is believed to occur. Further development is triggered only by subsequent exposure of the egg to water. This study uses diapause in Wolbachia-infected Aedes albopictus eggs to determine whether symbiont replication slows or stops when host cell division ceases or whether it continues at a low but constant rate. We have shown that Wolbachia densities in eggs are greatest during embryonation and then decline throughout diapause, suggesting that Wolbachia replication is dependent on host cell replication.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Pattamaporn Kittayapong, Scott L. O'Neill

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aedes albopictus
Wolbachia (genus - entomopathogens)	Aedes albopictus