Endosymbiont-derived metabolites are essential for tick host reproductive fitness.

Abstract

Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLE) are essential to the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus for feeding and reproduction. This symbiosis is based on the supplementation of B vitamins lacking in the blood diet. The involvement of additional metabolites has been suggested, but no experimental evidence is available as yet to confirm a metabolic interaction. Here, we show that B vitamins and L-proline, both of which contribute to tick reproductive fitness, are produced by CLE. These findings demonstrate the importance of symbiont-derived metabolites for the host's persistence and shed light on the complex bacteria-host metabolic interaction, which can be channeled to manipulate and control tick populations.