Ultrastructural and molecular identification of a Wolbachia endosymbiont in a spider, Nephila clavata

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2583.2000.00218.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-12T02:11:13Z
• Authors: Hyun Woo Oh; Mi Gwang Kim; Sang Woon Shin; Kyung Sook Bae; Young Joon Ahn; Ho‐Yong Park
• Keywords: DNA, Bacterial; 0301 basic medicine; Molecular Sequence Data; Spiders; DNA, Ribosomal; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Microscopy, Electron; 03 medical and health sciences; Bacterial Proteins; Genes, Bacterial; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Animals; Female; Symbiosis; Phylogeny; Wolbachia; Ovum

Abstract Wolbachia‐like bacteria were observed in the egg cells of golden orb‐weaving spider, Nephila clavata, by means of transmission electron microscopy. The bacteria exhibited the typical morphology of Wolbachia, including three enveloping membranes. Based on the amplification and sequencing of partial 16S rDNA and ftsZ gene, the bacteria were identified as Wolbachia, intracellular, transovarially inherited α‐proteobacteria in invertebrates. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA and ftsZ gene sequences invariably indicated that the intracellular bacteria from N. clavata belonged to group A Wolbachia, which were found only from insects. Clustering of Wolbachia from N. clavata with group A Wolbachia indicates that the bacteria were probably transferred horizontally between insects and the spider.