John (Jack) Werren
(University of Rochester Rochester)

07/11/06, 15:30 (理学部3号館6階数理生物学セミナー室)

Reproductive parasites are typically transmitted via the reproduction of their hosts, and alter host reproduction in ways advantageous to the parasite. Reproductive parasitism has evolved numerous times independently in different microbial taxa. However, the most widespread and diverse group below to the bacterial genus Wolbachia. Wolbachia are intracellular alpha proteobacteria that is common and widespread in arthropods and filarial nematodes. The horizontal spread of these bacteria within the arthropods (the most abundant animal group) can be considered one of the major pandemics in the history of life. These bacteria are routinely inherited vertically through the egg cytoplasm, and alter cellular and reproductive biology of their hosts. Effects include induction of parthenogenetic development, feminization, male-killing and sperm-egg incompatibility. These bacteria may be important in accelerating arthropod evolution. Here I describe recent developments in genomic, functional, ecological and evolutionary aspects of Wolbachia and their interactions with their hosts. Attention is paid to the global dynamics of these bacteria and their effects on ecology and evolution of their hosts, including studies of lateral gene transfer between Wolbachia and invertebrates.

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