Projects per year
Abstract
Endosymbiotic bacteria that live inside the cells of insects are typically only transmitted maternally and can spread by increasing host fitness and/or modifying reproduction in sexual hosts. Transinfections of Wolbachia endosymbionts are now being used to introduce useful phenotypes into sexual host populations, but there has been limited progress on applications using other endosymbionts and in asexual populations. Here, we develop a unique pathway to application in aphids by transferring the endosymbiont Rickettsiella viridis to the major crop pest Myzus persicae. Rickettsiella infection greatly reduced aphid fecundity, decreased heat tolerance, and modified aphid body color, from light to dark green. Despite inducing host fitness costs, Rickettsiella spread rapidly through caged aphid populations via plant-mediated horizontal transmission. The phenotypic effects of Rickettsiella were sensitive to temperature, with spread only occurring at 19 °C and not 25 °C. Body color modification was also lost at high temperatures despite Rickettsiella maintaining a high density. Rickettsiella shows the potential to spread through natural M. persicae populations by horizontal transmission and subsequent vertical transmission. Establishment of Rickettsiella in natural populations could reduce crop damage by modifying population age structure, reducing population growth and providing context-dependent effects on host fitness. Our results highlight the importance of plant-mediated horizontal transmission and interactions with temperature as drivers of endosymbiont spread in asexual insect populations.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e2217278120 |
Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America |
Volume | 120 |
Issue number | 18 |
ISSN | 0027-8424 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2 May 2023 |
Keywords
- aphid
- endosymbiont
- horizontal transmission
- Rickettsiella
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'A rapidly spreading deleterious aphid endosymbiont that uses horizontal as well as vertical transmission'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Using bugs living in insect pests to control the pests
Kristensen, T. N. (PI) & Hoffmann, A. A. (PI)
01/01/2022 → 31/12/2023
Project: Research
Press/Media
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Bakterier kan blive et grønt alternativ til pesticider
02/01/2024
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Forskere fra Aalborg bekæmper bladlus med bakterier
06/12/2023 → 10/12/2023
4 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media