Wolbachia, A Heritable Pandemic
Created by Sarah Bordenstein, Marine Biological Laboratory
Wolbachia is a genus of inherited alpha-proteobacteria that form intracellular infections in many invertebrate hosts. One of the most common bacterial endosymbionts on the planet, it was first identified in 1924 and gained widespread attention of researchers in 1971 when its role in cytoplasmic incompatibility was revealed. Cytoplasmic incompatibility refers to a sperm-egg incompatibility in which Wolbachia modify host sperm, ultimately leading to embryonic mortality unless rescued by the presence of the same Wolbachia infection in the egg. It is typically expressed in crosses between an infected male and uninfected female, thereby reducing the fitness of uninfected females. Wolbachia, the ultimate reproductive parasite, has also been shown to induce parthenogenesis, selectively kill males, influence sperm competition and stimulate host feminization. While Wolbachia is predominantly transmitted through females to developing eggs, it can also undergo horizontal gene transfer in host species.
Transmission electron micrograph of Wolbachia within an insect cell, courtesy of Scott O'Neill under a CC-BY license.
This collection of resources offers an overview of Wolbachia biology as well as highlights a few key topics in the field:
- Wolbachia Evolution
- Reproductive Strategies
- Symbiosis & Host-Microbe Interactions
- Human Disease
- Speciation in Insects
- Vector Control
- Viruses/Phage: The Parasites Within
Learn more about Wolbachia with this collection of resources including informational websites, news releases, primary literature, and educational modules.
Blood-engorged female Aedes albopictus mosquito feeding on a human host. Image courtesy of CDC under Public Domain.
The Microbes Within is a WebQuest exploring the effects of endosymbiosis on reproduction, evolution and human health.
For additional resources about Wolbachia, search the Microbial Life collection.