Candidatus Cardinium

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Fig. 1. Electron micrographs of ‘Candidatus Cardinium’ in ovaries of Encarsia parasitoid wasps. (a) Bacteria in a follicle cell of E. hispida. (b–d) Bacteria in sexual E. pergandiella nurse cells. (e) Bacteria in an E. hispida oocyte. Arrowheads point to MLSs; l, lipid-filled vacuoles in the oocyte; m, mitochondrion; p, protein. Bars, 0·25 µm.

Classification

Domain (Bacteria); Super Phylum (Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi group); Phylum (Bacteroidetes); Class (Bacteroidetes); Order (Bacteroidales); Family (Bacteroidaceae); Genus (Candidatus Cardinium)

Species

Candidatus Cardinium

Description and Significance

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.

-Picture in references -Bacterium from Bacteriodetes group -Involved in reproduction alterations of arthropod host organisms. -Cytoplasmic incompatibility -Parthenogenesis -Feminization -Distantly related hosts can harbor closely related Cardinium -Closely related Cardinium tended to cluster with closely related hosts. -Often found with other anthropod-associated Bacteroidetes that alter host biology.

Genome Structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?

-http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/EU567084.1 -Linear DNA

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

-Specifically located in reproductive tissues of host.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

-Capacity to feminize (ex. B. californicus). -Does not have a negative effect on fitness of organism. -May contribute to host organism by adding insectiside resistance.

References

[1] Zchori-Fein, E, S. Perlman, S. Kelly, N. Katzir, M, Hunter. "Characterization of a ‘Bacteroidetes’ symbiont in Encarsia wasps (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae): proposal of ‘Candidatus Cardinium hertigii’ ". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2004. Volume 54. p. 961-968.

Author

Page authored by Benjamin Lowe & Brian Lovett, students of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.

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