scholarly journals Extrachromosomal DNA of the Symbiont Sodalis glossinidius

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (14) ◽  
pp. 5003-5007 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Darby ◽  
J. Lagnel ◽  
C. Z. Matthew ◽  
K. Bourtzis ◽  
I. Maudlin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Extrachromosomal Dna ◽  
Sodalis Glossinidius

ABSTRACT The extrachromosomal DNA of Sodalis glossinidius from two tsetse fly species was sequenced and contained four circular elements: three plasmids, pSG1 (82 kb), pSG2 (27 kb), and pSG4 (11 kb), and a bacteriophage-like pSG3 (19 kb) element. The information suggests S. glossinidius is evolving towards an obligate association with tsetse flies.

scholarly journals Tsetse blood-meal sources, endosymbionts and trypanosome-associations in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a wildlife-human-livestock interface

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. e0008267
Author(s):  
Edward Edmond Makhulu ◽  
Jandouwe Villinger ◽  
Vincent Owino Adunga ◽  
Maamun M. Jeneby ◽  
Edwin Murungi Kimathi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Meal ◽  
Glossina Pallidipes ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
African Buffalo ◽  
African Trypanosomiasis ◽  
African Trypanosomes ◽  
Sodalis Glossinidius ◽  
Vertebrate Hosts ◽  
Blood Meals

African trypanosomiasis (AT) is a neglected disease of both humans and animals caused by Trypanosoma parasites, which are transmitted by obligate hematophagous tsetse flies (Glossina spp.). Knowledge on tsetse fly vertebrate hosts and the influence of tsetse endosymbionts on trypanosome presence, especially in wildlife-human-livestock interfaces, is limited. We identified tsetse species, their blood-meal sources, and correlations between endosymbionts and trypanosome presence in tsetse flies from the trypanosome-endemic Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR) in Kenya. Among 1167 tsetse flies (1136 Glossina pallidipes, 31 Glossina swynnertoni) collected from 10 sampling sites, 28 (2.4%) were positive by PCR for trypanosome DNA, most (17/28) being of Trypanosoma vivax species. Blood-meal analyses based on high-resolution melting analysis of vertebrate cytochrome c oxidase 1 and cytochrome b gene PCR products (n = 354) identified humans as the most common vertebrate host (37%), followed by hippopotamus (29.1%), African buffalo (26.3%), elephant (3.39%), and giraffe (0.84%). Flies positive for trypanosome DNA had fed on hippopotamus and buffalo. Tsetse flies were more likely to be positive for trypanosomes if they had the Sodalis glossinidius endosymbiont (P = 0.0002). These findings point to complex interactions of tsetse flies with trypanosomes, endosymbionts, and diverse vertebrate hosts in wildlife ecosystems such as in the MMNR, which should be considered in control programs. These interactions may contribute to the maintenance of tsetse populations and/or persistent circulation of African trypanosomes. Although the African buffalo is a key reservoir of AT, the higher proportion of hippopotamus blood-meals in flies with trypanosome DNA indicates that other wildlife species may be important in AT transmission. No trypanosomes associated with human disease were identified, but the high proportion of human blood-meals identified are indicative of human African trypanosomiasis risk. Our results add to existing data suggesting that Sodalis endosymbionts are associated with increased trypanosome presence in tsetse flies.

scholarly journals The Obligate Mutualist Wigglesworthia glossinidia Influences Reproduction, Digestion, and Immunity Processes of Its Host, the Tsetse Fly

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (19) ◽  
pp. 5965-5974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roshan Pais ◽  
Claudia Lohs ◽  
Yineng Wu ◽  
Jingwen Wang ◽  
Serap Aksoy
Keyword(s):  
Blood Meal ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Mutualistic Symbiosis ◽  
Sodalis Glossinidius ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Amplification Assay ◽  
Blood Meal Digestion ◽  
Vectorial Competence

ABSTRACT Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are vectors for trypanosome parasites, the agents of the deadly sleeping sickness disease in Africa. Tsetse also harbor two maternally transmitted enteric mutualist endosymbionts: the primary intracellular obligate Wigglesworthia glossinidia and the secondary commensal Sodalis glossinidius. Both endosymbionts are transmitted to the intrauterine progeny through the milk gland secretions of the viviparous female. We administered various antibiotics either continuously by per os supplementation of the host blood meal diet or discretely by hemocoelic injections into fertile females in an effort to selectively eliminate the symbionts to study their individual functions. A symbiont-specific PCR amplification assay and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis were used to evaluate symbiont infection outcomes. Tetracycline and rifampin treatments eliminated all tsetse symbionts but reduced the fecundity of the treated females. Ampicillin treatments did not affect the intracellular Wigglesworthia localized in the bacteriome organ and retained female fecundity. The resulting progeny of ampicillin-treated females, however, lacked Wigglesworthia but still harbored the commensal Sodalis. Our results confirm the presence of two physiologically distinct Wigglesworthia populations: the bacteriome-localized Wigglesworthia involved with nutritional symbiosis and free-living Wigglesworthia in the milk gland organ responsible for maternal transmission to the progeny. We evaluated the reproductive fitness, longevity, digestion, and vectorial competence of flies that were devoid of Wigglesworthia. The absence of Wigglesworthia completely abolished the fertility of females but not that of males. Both the male and female Wigglesworthia-free adult progeny displayed longevity costs and were significantly compromised in their blood meal digestion ability. Finally, while the vectorial competence of the young newly hatched adults without Wigglesworthia was comparable to that of their wild-type counterparts, older flies displayed higher susceptibility to trypanosome infections, indicating a role for the mutualistic symbiosis in host immunobiology. The ability to rear adult tsetse that lack the obligate Wigglesworthia endosymbionts will now enable functional investigations into this ancient symbiosis.

scholarly journals TonB-Dependent Heme Iron Acquisition in the Tsetse Fly Symbiont Sodalis glossinidius

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (8) ◽  
pp. 2900-2909 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gili Hrusa ◽  
William Farmer ◽  
Brian L. Weiss ◽  
Taylor Applebaum ◽  
Jose Santinni Roma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Acquisition ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Enteric Bacteria ◽  
Heme Iron ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Iron Source ◽  
Sodalis Glossinidius ◽  
Acquisition Processes

ABSTRACTSodalis glossinidiusis an intra- and extracellular symbiont of the tsetse fly (Glossinasp.), which feeds exclusively on vertebrate blood.S. glossinidiusresides in a wide variety of tsetse tissues and may encounter environments that differ dramatically in iron content. TheSodalischromosome encodes a putative TonB-dependent outer membrane heme transporter (HemR) and a putative periplasmic/inner membrane ABC heme permease system (HemTUV). Because these gene products mediate iron acquisition processes by other enteric bacteria, we characterized their regulation and physiological role in theSodalis/tsetse system. Our results show that thehemRandtonBgenes are expressed byS. glossinidiusin the tsetse fly. Furthermore, transcription ofhemRinSodalisis repressed in a high-iron environment by the iron-responsive transcriptional regulator Fur. Expression of theS. glossinidiushemRandhemTUVgenes in anEscherichia colistrain unable to use heme as an iron source stimulated growth in the presence of heme or hemoglobin as the sole iron source. This stimulation was dependent on the presence of either theE. coliorSodalistonBgene.SodalistonBandhemRmutant strains were defective in their ability to colonize the gut of tsetse flies that lacked endogenous symbionts, while wild-typeS. glossinidiusproliferated in this same environment. Finally, we show that theSodalisHemR protein is localized to the bacterial membrane and appears to bind hemin. Collectively, this study provides strong evidence that TonB-dependent, HemR-mediated iron acquisition is important for the maintenance of symbiont homeostasis in the tsetse fly, and it provides evidence for the expression of bacterial high-affinity iron acquisition genes in insect symbionts.

scholarly journals OmpA-Mediated Biofilm Formation Is Essential for the Commensal Bacterium Sodalis glossinidius To Colonize the Tsetse Fly Gut

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (21) ◽  
pp. 7760-7768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele A. Maltz ◽  
Brian L. Weiss ◽  
Michelle O'Neill ◽  
Yineng Wu ◽  
Serap Aksoy
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Symbiotic Bacteria ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
African Trypanosomes ◽  
Sodalis Glossinidius

ABSTRACTMany bacteria successfully colonize animals by forming protective biofilms. Molecular processes that underlie the formation and function of biofilms in pathogenic bacteria are well characterized. In contrast, the relationship between biofilms and host colonization by symbiotic bacteria is less well understood. Tsetse flies (Glossinaspp.) house 3 maternally transmitted symbionts, one of which is a commensal (Sodalis glossinidius) found in several host tissues, including the gut. We determined thatSodalisforms biofilms in the tsetse gut and that this process is influenced by theSodalisouter membrane protein A (OmpA). MutantSodalisstrains that do not produce OmpA (SodalisΔOmpA mutants) fail to form biofilmsin vitroand are unable to colonize the tsetse gut unless endogenous symbiotic bacteria are present. Our data indicate that in the absence of biofilms,SodalisΔOmpA mutant cells are exposed to and eliminated by tsetse's innate immune system, suggesting that biofilms helpSodalisevade the host immune system. Tsetse is the sole vector of pathogenic African trypanosomes, which also reside in the fly gut. Acquiring a better understanding of the dynamics that promoteSodaliscolonization of the tsetse gut may enhance the development of novel disease control strategies.

scholarly journals The holobiont transcriptome of teneral tsetse fly species of varying vector competence

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Medina Munoz ◽  
Caitlyn Brenner ◽  
Dylan Richmond ◽  
Noah Spencer ◽  
Rita V. M. Rio
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
African Trypanosomes ◽  
Animal African Trypanosomiasis ◽  
Protein Coding Genes ◽  
Sodalis Glossinidius ◽  
Immunological Protection

Abstract Background Tsetse flies are the obligate vectors of African trypanosomes, which cause Human and Animal African Trypanosomiasis. Teneral flies (newly eclosed adults) are especially susceptible to parasite establishment and development, yet our understanding of why remains fragmentary. The tsetse gut microbiome is dominated by two Gammaproteobacteria, an essential and ancient mutualist Wigglesworthia glossinidia and a commensal Sodalis glossinidius. Here, we characterize and compare the metatranscriptome of teneral Glossina morsitans to that of G. brevipalpis and describe unique immunological, physiological, and metabolic landscapes that may impact vector competence differences between these two species. Results An active expression profile was observed for Wigglesworthia immediately following host adult metamorphosis. Specifically, ‘translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis’ followed by ‘coenzyme transport and metabolism’ were the most enriched clusters of orthologous genes (COGs), highlighting the importance of nutrient transport and metabolism even following host species diversification. Despite the significantly smaller Wigglesworthia genome more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between interspecific isolates (n = 326, ~ 55% of protein coding genes) than between the corresponding Sodalis isolates (n = 235, ~ 5% of protein coding genes) likely reflecting distinctions in host co-evolution and adaptation. DEGs between Sodalis isolates included genes involved in chitin degradation that may contribute towards trypanosome susceptibility by compromising the immunological protection provided by the peritrophic matrix. Lastly, G. brevipalpis tenerals demonstrate a more immunologically robust background with significant upregulation of IMD and melanization pathways. Conclusions These transcriptomic differences may collectively contribute to vector competence differences between tsetse species and offers translational relevance towards the design of novel vector control strategies.

scholarly journals Conjugal DNA Transfer in Sodalis glossinidius, a Maternally Inherited Symbiont of Tsetse Flies

mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Kendra ◽  
Chelsea M. Keller ◽  
Roberto E. Bruna ◽  
Mauricio H. Pontes
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Zoonotic Disease ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Dna Transfer ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Dna Uptake ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sodalis Glossinidius

ABSTRACT Stable associations between insects and bacterial species are widespread in nature. This is the case for many economically important insects, such as tsetse flies. Tsetse flies are the vectors of Trypanosoma brucei, the etiological agent of African trypanosomiasis—a zoonotic disease that incurs a high socioeconomic cost in regions of endemicity. Populations of tsetse flies are often infected with the bacterium Sodalis glossinidius. Following infection, S. glossinidius establishes a chronic, stable association characterized by vertical (maternal) and horizontal (paternal) modes of transmission. Due to the stable nature of this association, S. glossinidius has been long sought as a means for the implementation of anti-Trypanosoma paratransgenesis in tsetse flies. However, the lack of tools for the genetic modification of S. glossinidius has hindered progress in this area. Here, we establish that S. glossinidius is amenable to DNA uptake by conjugation. We show that conjugation can be used as a DNA delivery method to conduct forward and reverse genetic experiments in this bacterium. This study serves as an important step in the development of genetic tools for S. glossinidius. The methods highlighted here should guide the implementation of genetics for the study of the tsetse-Sodalis association and the evaluation of S. glossinidius-based tsetse fly paratransgenesis strategies. IMPORTANCE Tsetse flies are the insect vectors of T. brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness—a zoonotic disease that inflicts a substantial economic cost on a broad region of sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, tsetse flies can be infected with the bacterium S. glossinidius to establish an asymptomatic chronic infection. This infection can be inherited by future generations of tsetse flies, allowing S. glossinidius to spread and persist within populations. To this effect, S. glossinidius has been considered a potential expression platform to create flies which reduce T. brucei stasis and lower overall parasite transmission to humans and animals. However, the efficient genetic manipulation of S. glossinidius has remained a technical challenge due to its complex growth requirements and uncharacterized physiology. Here, we exploit a natural mechanism of DNA transfer among bacteria and develop an efficient technique to genetically manipulate S. glossinidius for future studies in reducing trypanosome transmission.

scholarly journals Conjugal DNA transfer in the maternally inherited symbiont of tsetse flies Sodalis glossinidius

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Kendra ◽  
Chelsea M. Keller ◽  
Roberto E. Bruna ◽  
Mauricio H. Pontes
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Zoonotic Disease ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Dna Transfer ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Dna Uptake ◽  
Sodalis Glossinidius

AbstractStable associations between insects and bacterial species are widespread in nature. This is the case for many economically important insects, such as tsetse flies. Tsetse flies are the vectors of Trypanosoma brucei, the etiological agent of African trypanosomiasis—a zoonotic disease that incurs a high socioeconomic cost in endemic regions. Populations of tsetse flies are often infected with the bacterium Sodalis glossinidius. Following infection, S. glossinidius establishes a chronic, stable association characterized by vertical (maternal) and horizontal (paternal) modes of transmission. Due to the stable nature of this association, S. glossinidius has been long sought as a means for the implementation of anti-Trypanosoma paratransgenesis in tsetse flies. However, the lack of tools for the genetic modification of S. glossinidius has hindered progress in this area. Here we establish that S. glossinidius is amenable to DNA uptake by conjugation. We show that conjugation can be used as a DNA delivery method to conduct forward and reverse genetic experiments in this bacterium. This study serves as an important step in the development of genetic tools for S. glossinidius. The methods highlighted here should guide the implementation of genetics for the study of the tsetse-Sodalis association and the evaluation of S. glossinidius-based tsetse fly paratransgenesis strategies.ImportanceTsetse flies are the insect vectors of T. brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness—a zoonotic disease that inflicts a substantial economic cost to a broad region of sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, tsetse flies can be infected with the bacterium S. glossinidius to establish an asymptomatic chronic infection. This infection can be inherited by future generations of tsetse flies allowing S. glossinidius to spread and persist within populations. To this effect, S. glossinidius has been considered as a potential expression platform to create flies which reduce T. brucei stasis and lower overall parasite transmission to humans and animals. However, the efficient genetic manipulation of S. glossinidius has remained a technical challenge due to its complex growth requirements and uncharacterized physiology. Here we exploit a natural mechanism of DNA transfer among bacteria and develop an efficient technique to genetically manipulate S. glossinidius for future studies in reducing trypanosome transmission.

scholarly journals Genome Size Determination and Coding Capacity of Sodalis glossinidius, an Enteric Symbiont of Tsetse Flies, as Revealed by Hybridization to Escherichia coliGene Arrays

2001 ◽  
Vol 183 (15) ◽  
pp. 4517-4525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leyla Akman ◽  
Rita V. M. Rio ◽  
Charles B. Beard ◽  
Serap Aksoy
Keyword(s):  
Genome Size ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Whole Genome Sequence ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
African Trypanosomes ◽  
Sodalis Glossinidius ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Conserved Gene ◽  
Coding Capacity

ABSTRACT Recent molecular characterization of various microbial genomes has revealed differences in genome size and coding capacity between obligate symbionts and intracellular pathogens versus free-living organisms. Multiple symbiotic microorganisms have evolved with tsetse fly, the vector of African trypanosomes, over long evolutionary times. Although these symbionts are indispensable for tsetse fecundity, the biochemical and molecular basis of their functional significance is unknown. Here, we report on the genomic aspects of the secondary symbiont Sodalis glossinidius. The genome size ofSodalis is approximately 2 Mb. Its DNA is subject to extensive methylation and based on some of its conserved gene sequences has an A+T content of only 45%, compared to the typically AT-rich genomes of endosymbionts. Sodalis also harbors an extrachromosomal plasmid about 134 kb in size. We used a novel approach to gain insight into Sodalis genomic contents, i.e., hybridizing its DNA to macroarrays developed for Escherichia coli, a closely related enteric bacterium. In this analysis we detected 1,800 orthologous genes, corresponding to about 85% of theSodalis genome. The Sodalis genome has apparently retained its genes for DNA replication, transcription, translation, transport, and the biosynthesis of amino acids, nucleic acids, vitamins, and cofactors. However, many genes involved in energy metabolism and carbon compound assimilation are apparently missing, which may indicate an adaptation to the energy sources available in the only nutrient of the tsetse host, blood. We present gene arrays as a rapid tool for comparative genomics in the absence of whole genome sequence to advance our understanding of closely related bacteria.

scholarly journals Comparative performance of traps in catching tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) in Tanzania

2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imna I. Malele ◽  
Johnson O. Ouma ◽  
Hamisi S. Nyingilili ◽  
Winston A. Kitwika ◽  
Deusdedit J. Malulu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glossina Pallidipes ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Tsetse Fly ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
Fly Control ◽  
Tsetse Fly Control ◽  
Species Being ◽  
Biconical Traps

This study was conducted to determine the efficiency of different tsetse traps in 28 sites across Tanzania. The traps used were biconical, H, NGU, NZI, pyramidal, S3, mobile, and sticky panels. Stationary traps were deployed at a distance of 200 m apart and examined 72 h after deployment. The results showed that 117 (52.2%) out of the 224 traps deployed captured at least one Glossina species. A total of five Glossina species were captured, namely Glossina brevipalpis, Glossina pallidipes, Glossina swynnertoni, Glossina morsitans, and Glossina fuscipes martinii. Biconical traps caught tsetse flies in 27 sites, pyramidal in 26, sticky panel in 20, mobile in 19, S3 in 15, NGU in 7, H in 2 and NZI in 1. A total of 21 107 tsetse flies were trapped, with the most abundant species being G. swynnertoni (55.9%), followed by G. pallidipes (31.1%), G. fuscipes martinii (6.9%) and G. morsitans (6.0%). The least caught was G. brevipalpis (0.2%). The highest number of flies were caught by NGU traps (32.5%), followed by sticky panel (16%), mobile (15.4%), pyramidal (13.0%), biconical (11.3%) and S3 (10.2%). NZI traps managed to catch 0.9% of the total flies and H traps 0.7%. From this study, it can be concluded that the most efficient trap was NGU, followed by sticky panel and mobile, in that order. Therefore, for tsetse fly control programmes, NGU traps could be the better choice. Conversely, of the stationary traps, pyramidal and biconical traps captured tsetse flies in the majority of sites, covering all three ecosystems better than any other traps; therefore, they would be suitable for scouting for tsetse infestation in any given area, thus sparing the costs of making traps for each specific Glossina species.Keywords: tseste; traps; densties; Glossina; mobile; stationary; Tanzania

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