Abstract
Where multiple symbionts coexist in the same host, the selective elimination of a specific symbiont may enable the roles of a given symbiont to be investigated. We treated the Mediterranean species of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci complex by oral delivery of the antibiotic rifampicin, and then examined the temporal changes of its primary symbiont “Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum” and secondary symbiont “Ca. Hamiltonella defensa” as well as host fitness for three generations. In adults treated with rifampicin (F0), the secondary symbiont was rapidly reduced, approaching complete disappearance as adults aged. In contrast, the primary symbiont was little affected until later in the adult life. In the offspring of these adults (F1), both symbionts were significantly reduced and barely detectable when the hosts reached the adult stage. The F1 adults laid few eggs (F2), all of which failed to hatch. Mating experiments illustrated that the negative effects of rifampicin on host fitness were exerted via female hosts but not males. This study provides the first evidence of differential temporal reductions of primary and secondary symbionts in whiteflies following an antibiotic treatment. Studies that disrupt functions of bacterial symbionts must consider their temporal changes.
Highlights
Complex are notorious invasive pests and have caused enormous losses to agriculture worldwide in the past 30 years[24]
In the populations of various B. tabaci cryptic species maintained in our laboratory, the secondary symbionts varied in species and composition; the MED whitefly tested in this study harbours only Hamiltonella[36]
We report the results of antibiotic treatment of the MED whitefly, which bears the primary symbiont Portiera, and only one secondary symbiont, Hamiltonella[36]
Summary
Complex are notorious invasive pests and have caused enormous losses to agriculture worldwide in the past 30 years[24]. We too have attempted to establish lines of a given whitefly species bearing or lacking certain symbionts via antibiotic treatments in the past four years. We report the results of antibiotic treatment of the MED whitefly, which bears the primary symbiont Portiera, and only one secondary symbiont, Hamiltonella[36]. Our study provides the first set of data to demonstrate the differential temporal reductions of primary and secondary symbionts in whiteflies following an antibiotic treatment, and illustrates that the antibiotic exerted its effects on host fitness via females and whether the males are treated has little contribution. We show it is not feasible to cure the secondary symbiont by this antibiotic treatment without affecting the primary symbiont and establish MED whitefly lines lacking Hamiltonella for experimental studies
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