The Endosymbiotic Bacterium Wolbachia Selectively Kills Male Hosts by Targeting the Masculinizing Gene

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005048
• Publication Date: 2015-07-14T18:05:02Z
• Authors: Takahiro Fukui; Munetaka Kawamoto; Keisuke Shoji; Takashi Kiuchi; Sumio Sugano; Toru Shimada; Yutaka Suzuki; Susumu Katsuma
• Keywords: Doublesex; Cytoplasmic incompatibility

Pathogens are known to manipulate the reproduction and development of their hosts for own benefit. Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic bacterium that infects a wide range insect species. as example parasite manipulates sex its host's progeny. Infection Ostrinia moths by causes production all-female progeny, however, mechanism how accomplishes this male-specific killing unknown. Here we show first time targets host masculinizing gene accomplish male-killing. We found Wolbachia-infected O. furnacalis embryos do not express splice variant doublesex, which acts at downstream end differentiation cascade, throughout embryonic development. Transcriptome analysis revealed infection markedly reduces mRNA level Masc, encodes protein required both masculinization dosage compensation in silkworm Bombyx mori. Detailed bioinformatic also elucidated Z-linked genes fails embryos, phenomenon extremely similar observed Masc mRNA-depleted male B. Finally, injection vitro transcribed cRNA into rescued Our results Wolbachia-induced male-killing caused failure via repression gene. study shows novel strategy pathogen hijacks determination cascade.