Transgenic cytoplasmic incompatibility persists across age and temperature variation in Drosophila melanogaster

Environmental stressors can impact the basic biology and applications of host-microbe symbioses. For example, Wolbachia symbiont densities and cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) levels can decline in response to extreme temperatures and host aging. To investigate whether transgenic expression of CI-ca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	iScience Vol. 25; no. 11; p. 105327
Main Authors:	Ritchie, Isabella T., Needles, Kelly T., Leigh, Brittany A., Kaur, Rupinder, Bordenstein, Seth R.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Elsevier Inc 18-11-2022 Elsevier
Subjects:	Microbial interactions Microbiology Microbial interactions Microbiology
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	Environmental stressors can impact the basic biology and applications of host-microbe symbioses. For example, Wolbachia symbiont densities and cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) levels can decline in response to extreme temperatures and host aging. To investigate whether transgenic expression of CI-causing cif genes overcomes the environmental sensitivity of CI, we exposed transgenic male flies to low and high temperatures as well as aging treatments. Our results indicate that transgenic cif expression induces nearly complete CI regardless of temperature and aging, despite severe weakening of Wolbachia-based wild-type CI. Strong CI levels correlate with higher levels of cif transgene expression in young males. Altogether, our results highlight that transgenic CI persists against common environmental pressures and may be relevant for future control applications involving the cifA and cifB transgenes. [Display omitted] •Symbiont adaptations are often weakened by life history and environmental parameters•Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) declines with host age and temperature•Transgenic CI is robust to age and temperature variation in Drosophila melanogaster•Transgenic CI circumvents pressures that diminish wildtype CI Microbiology; Microbial interactions.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Lead contact
ISSN:	2589-0042 2589-0042
DOI:	10.1016/j.isci.2022.105327