6533b871fe1ef96bd12d23b9
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Incipient genome erosion and metabolic streamlining for antibiotic production in a defensive symbiont
Robert B. WeissMario Sandoval-calderónAleš SvatošDiane M. DunnTaras Y. NechitayloAlexander GoesmannMartin KaltenpothColin DaleNatalie WielschErhard StrohmTobias EnglTobias Englsubject
Arthropod Antennaeprotective mutualismEvolutionWaspsBeewolfGenomicsProteomicsGenomeStreptomyces03 medical and health sciencesdefensive symbiosis418AnimalsSymbiosisGene030304 developmental biologyGenetics0303 health sciencesMultidisciplinarybiologyObligate030306 microbiologyHost (biology)fungiBiological Sciencesbiology.organism_classificationStreptomycesAnti-Bacterial Agentsgenome erosionAphidsCommentarybacteriaFemalepseudogenizationGenome BacterialPseudogenesMolecular Chaperonesdescription
Significance Genome reduction is commonly observed in bacteria of several phyla engaging in obligate nutritional symbioses with insects. In Actinobacteria, however, little is known about the process of genome evolution, despite their importance as prolific producers of antibiotics and their increasingly recognized role as defensive partners of insects and other organisms. Here, we show that “Streptomyces philanthi,” a defensive symbiont of digger wasps, has a G+C-enriched genome in the early stages of erosion, with inactivating mutations in a large proportion of genes, causing dependency on its hosts for certain nutrients, which was validated in axenic symbiont cultures. Additionally, overexpressed catabolic and biosynthetic pathways of the bacteria inside the host indicate host–symbiont metabolic integration for streamlining and control of antibiotic production.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-04-27 |