Candidatus Cardinium: Difference between revisions
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‘Candidatus Cardinium’ is a bacterium from the Bacteriodetes group. It is involved in reproduction alterations of arthropod host organisms including cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, and feminization. | ‘Candidatus Cardinium’ is a bacterium from the Bacteriodetes group. It is involved in reproduction alterations of arthropod host organisms including cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, and feminization. | ||
This bacterium is often located within the reproductive tissues of the host. It is often found with other arthropod-associated Bacteroidetes that alter host biology. Distantly related hosts can harbor closely related Cardinium. Closely related Cardinium also tend to cluster with closely related hosts. | This bacterium is often located within the reproductive tissues of the host. It is often found with other arthropod-associated Bacteroidetes that alter host biology (ex. Wolbachia). Distantly related hosts can harbor closely related Cardinium. Closely related Cardinium also tend to cluster with closely related hosts. | ||
Current research has shown 'Cardinium' to be an endosymbiot capable of altering host sexuality, resultant offspring as well as possible antibiotic resistance. Research on this microbe is still in its infancy but further research could help explain the nature endosymbiotic flora of arthropods. | |||
==Genome Structure== | ==Genome Structure== |
Revision as of 13:39, 24 April 2011
Classification
Domain (Bacteria); Super Phylum (Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi group); Phylum (Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides); Class (Bacteroidetes); Order (Bacteroidales); Family (Bacteroidaceae); Genus (Candidatus Cardinium)
Species
Candidatus Cardinium
Description and Significance
‘Candidatus Cardinium’ is a bacterium from the Bacteriodetes group. It is involved in reproduction alterations of arthropod host organisms including cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, and feminization.
This bacterium is often located within the reproductive tissues of the host. It is often found with other arthropod-associated Bacteroidetes that alter host biology (ex. Wolbachia). Distantly related hosts can harbor closely related Cardinium. Closely related Cardinium also tend to cluster with closely related hosts.
Current research has shown 'Cardinium' to be an endosymbiot capable of altering host sexuality, resultant offspring as well as possible antibiotic resistance. Research on this microbe is still in its infancy but further research could help explain the nature endosymbiotic flora of arthropods.
Genome Structure
‘Candidatus Cardinium’ has linear 1364 bp DNA sequence. There are 3 main varieties of Cardinium which differ in their 16s rRNA sequences.
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Ecology and Pathogenesis
This bacteria is located within the reproductive tissues of the host organism. Commonly found in arthropods. Often transmitted from mother to daughter.‘Candidatus Cardinium' has the capacity to feminize the host organism. Feminization can be functional or genetic alone. In some cases, it has been shown to increase fecundity of the female host. This endosymbiont does not appear to have a negative effect on the host. It has been hypothesized that it confers a slight insectiside resistance to the host.
References
Author
Page authored by Benjamin Lowe & Brian Lovett, students of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.
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