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Interspecific horizontal Wolbachia transmission in action

Interspecific horizontal Wolbachia transmission in action

Hannes Schuler (ORCID: 0000-0001-8307-9831)
  • Grant DOI 10.55776/P31441
  • Funding program Principal Investigator Projects
  • Status ended
  • Start July 1, 2018
  • End December 31, 2022
  • Funding amount € 308,427

Disciplines

Biology (40%); Agriculture and Forestry, Fishery (60%)

Keywords

    Rhagoletis, Wolbachia, Horizontal Transmission, Invasive Species

Abstract Final report

Many animals harbor symbiotic microorganisms inside their body. They are especially abundant in insects. The most common endosymbiont is Wolbachia. This bacterium can influence the reproduction of its host to its own advantage facilitating its vertical transmission. Unlike other endosymbionts, Wolbachia usually does not show coevolution with its host suggesting that the bacteria can switch horizontally between insect species. However, examples of the occurrence of horizontal transmission and subsequent spread in field populations are scarce. The eastern cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis cingulata is an important economic pest species infesting cherries species in its native range in North America. It was recently introduced to Europe were it co- infests cherries with the native European cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis cerasi. The shared habitat of the two insect species resulted in the horizontal transmission of a Wolbachia strain from R. cerasi to R. cingulata. Additionally specific R. cerasi populations are infected by a Wolbachia strain that is present in R. cingulata. Thus, the two fruit fly species provide a unique opportunity to resolve the dynamics of a horizontal transfer of Wolbachia in nature. Our research objective will be accomplished by five-component strategy. First, we will sequence and compare the whole genome of different Wolbachia strains to precisely characterize the identities and relatedness of different Wolbachia strains. Second, we will specifically survey Wolbachia in invasive R. cingulata populations in Europe and trace the spatial and temporal distribution of the newly acquired endosymbiont in natural populations. Third, we will test for reproductive effects on their hosts through laboratory crosses. Forth, we will determine the introduction routes of R. cingulata performing extensive genomic characterization of native and invasive fly populations. Fifth, we will investigate the interaction of different Wolbachia strains within the host fly by comparing the density of strains in single and double infected flies. Taken together, our joint study of Wolbachia and its native and invasive Rhagoletis hosts will provide novel insights into the early stages of Wolbachia transmission, the spread of the endosymbiont in nature and the consequences of the new infection for the fly.

Interspecific horizontal Wolbachia transmission in action Many animals harbor symbiotic microorganisms inside their body. They are especially abundant in insects. The most common endosymbiont is Wolbachia. This bacterium can influence the reproduction of its host to its own advantage facilitating its vertical transmission. Unlike other endosymbionts, Wolbachia usually does not show coevolution with its host suggesting that the bacteria can switch horizontally between insect species. However, examples of the occurrence of horizontal transmission and subsequent spread in field populations are scarce. Here, we studied two species of cherry fruit flies, Rhagoletis cerasi and R. cingulata. R. cerasi is native to Europe, while R. cingulata is native to North America but has become invasive in Europe. The shared habitat of the two insect species resulted in the horizontal transmission of a Wolbachia strain from R. cerasi to R. cingulata. Additionally specific R. cerasi populations are infected by a Wolbachia strain that is present in R. cingulata. Thus, the two fruit fly species provide a unique opportunity to resolve the dynamics of a horizontal transfer of Wolbachia in nature. Here we re-investigated the Wolbachia acquisition through horizontal transfer in natural field populations and studied its possible influence on invasive fly species' reproductive success and population dynamics. First, we performed whole genome sequencing on different Wolbachia strains in cherry flies in Europe and North America to determine if they are genetically identical. Second, we investigated the distribution of Wolbachia strains in cherry fly populations to resolve the history and dynamics of horizontal transfer events. Third, we studied the phenotypic effects of the newly acquired Wolbachia strain in cherry fly crossing experiments and assess whether it is associated with cytoplasmic incompatibility or other fitness effects. Forth, we aimed to investigate the introduction history of R. cingulata through surveys of fly populations in Europe and North America. And firth, we usined a quantitative PCR strategy to study potential strain interactions within the new fly hosts. The outcomes of our joint study of Wolbachia and its native and invasive Rhagoletis hosts provides novel insights into the early stages of Wolbachia transmission, the spread of the endosymbiont in nature and the consequences of the new infection for the fly.

Research institution(s)
  • Universität für Bodenkultur Wien - 100%
International project participants
  • Arndt Telschow, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität - Germany
  • Lisa Klasson, Uppsala Universitet - Sweden
  • Jeffrey Feder, University of Notre Dame - USA

Research Output

  • 122 Citations
  • 13 Publications
  • 1 Methods & Materials
  • 2 Datasets & models
  • 10 Disseminations
  • 7 Scientific Awards
  • 1 Fundings
Publications
  • 2024
    Title Speciation, Process of; In: Encyclopedia of Biodiversity
    DOI 10.1016/b978-0-12-822562-2.00025-6
    Type Book Chapter
    Publisher Elsevier
  • 2021
    Title Genomically correlated trait combinations and antagonistic selection contributing to counterintuitive genetic patterns of adaptive diapause divergence in Rhagoletis flies
    DOI 10.1111/jeb.13952
    Type Journal Article
    Author Calvert M
    Journal Journal of Evolutionary Biology
    Pages 146-163
  • 2021
    Title Testing the potential contribution of Wolbachia to speciation when cytoplasmic incompatibility becomes associated with host-related reproductive isolation
    DOI 10.1111/mec.16157
    Type Journal Article
    Author Bruzzese D
    Journal Molecular Ecology
    Pages 2935-2950
    Link Publication
  • 2020
    Title Population genetics of the brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys in the early phase of invasion in South Tyrol (Northern Italy)
    DOI 10.1017/s0007485320000553
    Type Journal Article
    Author Schuler H
    Journal Bulletin of Entomological Research
    Pages 394-401
    Link Publication
  • 2020
    Title Evidence for spatial clines and mixed geographic modes of speciation for North American cherry-infesting Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae) flies
    DOI 10.1002/ece3.6667
    Type Journal Article
    Author Doellman M
    Journal Ecology and Evolution
    Pages 12727-12744
    Link Publication
  • 2020
    Title Identification of Plant DNA in Adults of the Phytoplasma Vector Cacopsylla picta Helps Understanding Its Feeding Behavior
    DOI 10.3390/insects11120835
    Type Journal Article
    Author Barthel D
    Journal Insects
    Pages 835
    Link Publication
  • 2020
    Title Wolbachia-Mitochondrial DNA Associations in Transitional Populations of Rhagoletis cerasi
    DOI 10.3390/insects11100675
    Type Journal Article
    Author Bakovic V
    Journal Insects
    Pages 675
    Link Publication
  • 2022
    Title First report of the American eastern cherry fruit fly Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Lithuania
    DOI 10.3391/bir.2022.11.4.08
    Type Journal Article
    Author Wolfe T
    Journal BioInvasions Records
    Pages 893-899
    Link Publication
  • 2021
    Title Comparative genome sequencing reveals insights into the dynamics of Wolbachia in native and invasive cherry fruit flies
    DOI 10.1111/mec.15923
    Type Journal Article
    Author Wolfe T
    Journal Molecular Ecology
    Pages 6259-6272
    Link Publication
  • 2019
    Title The Apennines as a cryptic Pleistocene refugium of the bark beetle Pityogenes chalcographus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
    DOI 10.1093/biolinnean/blz012
    Type Journal Article
    Author Schebeck M
    Journal Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
    Pages 24-33
    Link Publication
  • 2019
    Title Dynamics of an Ongoing Wolbachia Spread in the European Cherry Fruit Fly, Rhagoletis cerasi (Diptera: Tephritidae)
    DOI 10.3390/insects10060172
    Type Journal Article
    Author Schebeck M
    Journal Insects
    Pages 172
    Link Publication
  • 2019
    Title Geographic and Ecological Dimensions of Host Plant-Associated Genetic Differentiation and Speciation in the Rhagoletis cingulata (Diptera: Tephritidae) Sibling Species Group
    DOI 10.3390/insects10090275
    Type Journal Article
    Author Doellman M
    Journal Insects
    Pages 275
    Link Publication
  • 2019
    Title Host plant-related genomic differentiation in the European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi
    DOI 10.1111/mec.15239
    Type Journal Article
    Author Bakovic V
    Journal Molecular Ecology
    Pages 4648-4666
    Link Publication
Methods & Materials
  • 2021 Link
    Title Novel DNA extraction protocol
    Type Technology assay or reagent
    Public Access
    Link Link
Datasets & models
  • 2021
    Title Data and scripts of Wolfe et al. 2021
    DOI 10.5061/dryad.p8cz8w9pz
    Type Database/Collection of data
    Public Access
  • 2019 Link
    Title Data from: Host plant-related genomic differentiation in the European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi (L., 1758) (Diptera: Tephritidae)
    DOI 10.5061/dryad.8c1g8jf
    Type Database/Collection of data
    Public Access
    Link Link
Disseminations
  • 2021
    Title Schuler H 2021 Auch Insekten haben eine Darmflora - Spannende Geschichten zu Symbiose, Konkurrenz und Manipulation zwischen Insekten und Mikroorganismen. Naturmuseum Bozen-Bolzano - Invited talk.
    Type A talk or presentation
  • 2022
    Title Organization of a course about insects at the Kinderuni
    Type Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
  • 2023
    Title Schuler H 2023 Insekten und deren Mikroorganismen - Geschichten von Symbiosen mit Dr. Jekyll und Mr. Hyde, Vortragsreihe Plattform Biodiversität, Naturmuseum Bozen - Invited talk.
    Type A talk or presentation
  • 2019
    Title Seminar series (3 units) at the Radio Uni, Rai Südtirol with the topic "Invasive species, a new challenge for the future agriculture and forestry in South Tyrol"
    Type A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
  • 2021
    Title Invasive Schädlinge, eine neue Gefahr für die Südtiroler Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Realgymnasium "Albert Einstein" Meran, 31.03.2022
    Type A talk or presentation
  • 2021
    Title Pflanzen schützen? Seminar about plant protection, Wirtschaftsfachoberschule "Franz Kafka" Meran, 25.03.2021
    Type A talk or presentation
  • 2022
    Title Seminar series (3 units) at the Radio Uni, Rai Südtirol with the topic "Plant protection - protection of plants?". 19.02.-05.03.2022.
    Type A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
  • 2020
    Title Course guidance service for the high school senior classes at the Oberschule für Landwirtschaft, Auer
    Type A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
  • 2023
    Title Invasive Schädlinge, eine neue Gefahr für die Südtiroler Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Fachoberschule für Obst- Wein und Gartenbau Laimburg, 13.03.2023
    Type A talk or presentation
  • 2019
    Title Organization of a student excursion for Oberschule für Landwirtschaft at the UniBZ, 21.03.2019
    Type Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Scientific Awards
  • 2023
    Title Keynote speaker XII International congress of Entomology
    Type Personally asked as a key note speaker to a conference
    Level of Recognition Continental/International
  • 2022
    Title Member of Euphresco
    Type Awarded honorary membership, or a fellowship, of a learned society
    Level of Recognition Continental/International
  • 2022
    Title Member of an EIP Agri Focus group
    Type Awarded honorary membership, or a fellowship, of a learned society
    Level of Recognition Continental/International
  • 2022
    Title Invited talk Population ecology lab, Poznan
    Type Personally asked as a key note speaker to a conference
    Level of Recognition National (any country)
  • 2021
    Title Editor Communications Biology
    Type Appointed as the editor/advisor to a journal or book series
    Level of Recognition Continental/International
  • 2021
    Title Scientific Advisory Board, Journal of Applied Entomology
    Type Appointed as the editor/advisor to a journal or book series
    Level of Recognition Continental/International
  • 2019
    Title Topic Editor
    Type Appointed as the editor/advisor to a journal or book series
    Level of Recognition Continental/International
Fundings
  • 2022
    Title Dynamics of Wolbachia Spread in Rhagoletis cerasi
    Type Research grant (including intramural programme)
    Start of Funding 2022
    Funder Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

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