Interaction between host genotype and environmental conditions affects bacterial density in Wolbachia symbiosis - PubMed (original) (raw)

Interaction between host genotype and environmental conditions affects bacterial density in Wolbachia symbiosis

Laurence Mouton et al. Biol Lett. 2007.

Abstract

Regulation of microbial population density is a necessity in stable symbiotic interactions. In Wolbachia symbiosis, both bacterial and host genotypes are involved in density regulation, but environmental factors may also affect bacterial population density. Here, we studied the interaction between three strains of Wolbachia in two divergent homozygous lines of the wasp Leptopilina heterotoma at two different temperatures. Wolbachia density varied between the two host genotypes at only one temperature. Moreover, at this temperature, reciprocal-cross F1 insects displayed identical Wolbachia densities, which were intermediate between the densities in the two parental lines. While these findings confirm that the host genotype plays an important role in Wolbachia density, they also highlight its interaction with environmental conditions, making possible the evolution of local adaptations for the regulation of Wolbachia density.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Load of each Wolbachia strain in A7 and SF4 females. Numbers of cells per mg host of each Wolbachia strain in five triply infected individuals of the A7 and SF4 genotypes reared at 20 or 26°C. In one modality, each symbol represents the Wolbachia density in one individual.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Wolbachia load in A7, SF4 and F1 hybrid females at 20°C. A and S correspond to the A7 and SF4 genotypes, respectively. AS females derived from crosses between A7 females and SF4 males, and SA females from the reciprocal crosses. Bars show standard errors (_n_=7). Means indicated with the same letter are not significantly different (Student's _t_-test, _p_=0.05).

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