Wolbachia infection frequency and phylogenetic affiliation of Wolbachia cell division protein gene (ftsZ) in Uzi fly Exorista sorbillans (Diptera: Tachinidae) of Karnataka (India)

Abstract

Wolbachia are a group of obligate intracellular endosymbionts of a wide range of arthropod species. This microorganism is known for its manipulations of host reproduction that include cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, feminization and male killing. Wolbachia harbours a temperate bacteriophage named phage WO which may be contribute to the reproductive alterations induced in their hosts. Wolbachia and phage WO infections were characterized using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the Wolbachia ftsZ (Wolbachia cell division protein) gene and on minor capsid protein genes (orf 2 and orf 7 markers) of the phage WO. This paper results reports that in Exorista sorbillans individuals are infected by Wolbachia and its phage WO. Further, construction of molecular phylogeny of Wolbachia cell division protein (ftsZ) gene revealed double infection of Wolbachia strain A and B in Uzi fly Exorista sorbillans. Thus by evaluating, Wolbachia induced fitness attributes in Uzi fly and its potential role in control of Uzi fly Exorista sorbillans a serious menace of silkworm Bombyx mori L are discussed.