A New Cytogenetic Mechanism For Bacterial Endosymbiont-induced Parthenogenesis In Hymenoptera

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 20 Aug 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Vertically transmitted bacteria, such as Wolbachia, Cardinium and Rickettsia induce parthenogenesis. In Hymenoptera, the mechanism of diploidization due to Wolbachia infection, known as gamete duplication, is a postmeiotic modification. We outline an alternative cytogenetic mechanism for bacterial endosymbiont-induced parthenogenesis in Hymenoptera.

During female gamete formation in a Rickettsia-infected wasp, meiotic cells undergo only a single equational division followed by the expulsion of a single polar body.

This observation corresponds well with the genetic data. We conclude diploidy in the wasp is maintained through functionally apomictic cloning mechanism which differs entirely from the mechanism induced by Wolbachia.

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