Genome reduction is pervasive among maternally-inherited endosymbiotic organisms, from bacteriocyte- to gut-associated ones. This genome erosion is a step-wise process in which once free-living organisms evolve to become obligate associates, thereby losing non-essential or redundant genes/functions. Serratia symbiotica (Gammaproteobacteria), a secondary endosymbiont present in many aphids (Hemi...

Endosymbiosis is a common phenomenon in nature, especially between bacteria and insects, whose typically unbalanced diets are usually complemented by their obligate endosymbionts. While much interest and focus has been directed toward phloem-feeders like aphids and mealybugs, blood-feeders such as the Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), Glossina flies, and the human body louse (Pediculus hum...

Symbiotic associations play a pivotal role in multicellular life by facilitating acquisition of new traits and expanding the ecological capabilities of organisms. In insects that are obligatorily dependent on intracellular bacterial symbionts, novel host cells (bacteriocytes) or organs (bacteriomes) have evolved for harboring beneficial microbial partners. The processes regulating the cellular ...

Surprisingly, some of the world's most dangerous parasites appear to have had a benign photosynthetic past in the ocean. The phylum Apicomplexa includes the causative agents of malaria and a number of additional human and animal diseases. These diseases threaten the life and health of hundreds of millions each year and pose a tremendous challenge to public health. Recent findings suggest that A...

Here, we report the genome of "Candidatus Carsonella ruddii" strain BC, a nutritional endosymbiont of the tomato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli The 173,802-bp genome contains 198 protein-coding genes, with a G+C content of 14.8%.

The adult females of two new species of armored scale, Fiorinia tianshuiensis Wei & Feng sp. n. and F. dinghuensis Wei & Feng sp. n., are described and illustrated from specimens collected from China. A key is provided for the all Fiorilim species known from China.

Stony corals are promising transplant candidates for the ecological engineering of artificial coastal defences such as seawalls they attract and host numerous other organisms. However, exposed to a wide range environmental stressors associated with periods emersion during low tide desiccation changes in salinity, temperature, solar irradiance. All these variables have known deleterious effects ...

The entire length of the beard worm, Oligobrachia mashikoi (Pogonophora), including the posterior end, the "opisthosoma" was collected successfully. This species is exclusive to Tsukumo Bay in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Although the portion preceding the opisthosoma was similar to a fine filament, it abruptly assumed a shape similar to a shovel and appeared to be composed of many segmental str...