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What generates the diversity of Wolbachia—arthropod interactions?

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Wolbachia are strictly endocellular, vertically transmitted bacteria associated with insects and crustaceans. This group of parasites modify their hosts' reproduction so as to increase their own fitness. This paper reviews the variability of these parasitic alterations and their consequences for host biology and populations. Wolbachia induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (a characteristic apparently specific to Wolbachia) in several insects and one isopod crustacean; parthenogenesis (thelytoky) in haplo-diploid insects; feminization in various isopods. The consequences of these phenomena on speciation, population dynamics and genetic polymorphism are discussed. The variability of the mechanisms of host sex determination is one important factor responsible for the diversity of Wolbachia-host interactions. However, parasite characteristics, such as the capacity to disturb host mitosis, and the ability to be horizontally transferred between hosts, also appear to play a role in this diversity.

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  1. Laboratoire de Biologie Animale, URA CNRS 1975, Université de Poitiers, 40 avenue du Recteur Pineau, F-86022, Poitiers Cedex, France

    Thierry Rigaud

  2. I.S.E.M., URA CNRS 327 ‘Génétique et Environnement’, CC 065, Université de Montpellier 2, Place Eugène Bataillon, F-34095, Montpellier Cedex 05, France

    François Rousset

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Rigaud, T., Rousset, F. What generates the diversity of Wolbachia—arthropod interactions?. Biodivers Conserv 5, 999–1013 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00054417

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