Dynamics of Multiple Wolbachia Infections in Nasonia Vitripennis

Abstract

Wolbachia are cellular bacteria harboured by wide number of arthropod and nematode species. These are maternally inherited bacteria like mitochondria. In order to increase their own transmission, these bacteria alter the reproductive biology of the host by inducing different phenotypes like feminization, parthenogenesis, male killing and cytoplasmic incompatibility. Till date, Wolbachia have been divided into 8 (A-H) super groups. About 66% of terrestrial arthropods have been found to be Wolbachia infected. Some of them carry single infection while others carry two or more. The present study explores the potential intra-host competition between A and B super group of Wolbachia within single host, Nasonia vitripennis, in various developmental stages. Our data shows higher super group-B density than super group-A in different developmental stages of Nasonia vitripennis males and is in accordance with results in previous studies. Nature of this difference needs to be investigated further.