Wolbachia – The biology of cytoplasmic incompatibility

By,B.C. Muthubharathi,III B.Sc.,Biotechnology.

What is Wolbachia?Systematic classification Kingdom : Bacteria Phylum : Proteobacteria Class : Alphaproteobacteria Order : Rickettsiales Family : Rickettsiaceae Genus : Wolbachia Species : melophagi persica pipientis

Infectsarthropod(insects), NematodesParasitic microbe1924 , Marshall hertig

Biocontrol agentBiopesticide

Is it an Insecticide?IntracellularInfect reproductive tissueParthenogenesisFeminizationMale KillingCytoplasmic IncompatibilityAlter the Phenotype

It affects• Cherry Fruit Fly, • Mosquitoes, • Mites, Isopods etc.,

Cytoplasmic Incompatibility

• Results in sperm and egg unable to form viable offspring

• Changes in gamete cells• Leads to delayed entry of male pronucleus• Embryonic mortality

Cellular Mechanism28 Strains are identified WMelPop-CLA : Reduce life span of adult WMel : Induce reproductive phenotypeModification - SpermatogenisisRescue - After fertilzationSpematocytes and spermatidesSomatic cyst cell surrounding germcell

Prevent transmission of arbovirus , Human parasitesProtect infected insects from RNA virus

Role of Wolbachia in Reproduction of insects

Areas affected with Dengu

Cont..

Unidirectional CI: Mating of infected males and uninfected females results in

CI. All other crosses are compatible.

Bidirectional CI: Mating of males infected with Wolbachia strain I and females

infected by Wolbachia strain II (and vice versa) results in CI.