Mosaic Nature of theWolbachiaSurface Protein

• DOI: 10.1128/jb.187.15.5406-5418.2005
• Publication Date: 2005-07-19T19:33:01Z
• Authors: Laura Baldo; Nathan Lo; John H. Werren
• Keywords: Hypervariable region; Horizontal Gene Transfer; Molecular evolution; Conserved sequence

ABSTRACT Lateral gene transfer and recombination play important roles in the evolution of many parasitic bacteria. Here we investigate intragenic Wolbachia bacteria, considered among most abundant intracellular bacteria on earth. We conduct a detailed analysis patterns variation within surface protein, utilizing an extensive set published new sequences from five main supergroups . Analysis nucleotide amino acid sequence variations confirms four hypervariable regions (HVRs), separated by under strong conservation. Comparison shared polymorphisms reveals complex mosaic structure gene, characterized clear recombining segments several distinct strains, whose major effect is shuffling relatively conserved motifs each HVRs. Exchanges occurred both between arthropod supergroups. Analyses based phylogenetic methods specific detection program (MAXCHI) significantly support this partitioning indicating chimeric origin wsp Although has been widely used to define macro- microtaxonomy these results clearly show that it not suitable for purpose. The role bacterium-host interactions currently unknown, but presented here indicate exchanges HVR are favored natural selection. Identifying host proteins interact with variants should help reveal how widespread bacterial parasites affect evolve response cellular environments their invertebrate hosts.