Biodiversity and systematics of nematode–bacterium entomopathogens

• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2005.11.008
• Publication Date: 2006-01-10T12:08:03Z
• Authors: Byron J. Adams; Andras Fodor; Heather S. Koppen...; Erko Stackebrandt; S. Patricia Stock; Michael G. Klein
• Keywords: Photorhabdus; Xenorhabdus; Heterorhabditis; Photorhabdus luminescens

Nematodes are one of the most abundant animals on earth, and bacteria comprise the most biologically and phylogenetically diverse domains of organisms. On at least two separate occasions a soil dwelling nematode and a bacterium have entered into a mutualistic, insecticidal association. From such origins arose two distinct lineages of nematode–bacterium entomopathogens, Steinernema–Xenorhabdus and Heterorhabditis–Photorhabdus. Herein, we present a summary and discussion of the known evolutionary diversity and systematics of these two groups relative to other nematodes and bacteria, and their shared evolutionary history.