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Genetic and Electron-Microscopic Characterization of ‘Rickettsiella agriotidis’, a new Rickettsiella Pathotype Associated with Wireworm, Agriotes sp. (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

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Abstract

Wireworms, the polyphagous larvae of click beetles belonging to the genus Agriotes (Coleoptera: Elateridae), are severe and widespread agricultural pests affecting numerous crops. A previously unknown intracellular bacterium has been identified in a diseased Agriotes larva. Microscopic studies revealed the subcellular structures characteristic of Rickettsiella infections. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 16S ribosomal RNA and signal recognition particle receptor (FtsY) encoding sequences demonstrates that the wireworm pathogen belongs to the taxonomic genus Rickettsiella. Therefore, the new pathotype designation ‘R. agriotidis’ is proposed to refer to this organism. Moreover, genetic analysis makes it likely that—on the basis of the currently accepted organization of the genus Rickettsiella—this new pathotype should be considered a synonym of the nomenclatural type species, Rickettsiella popilliae.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) through the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), grant number 2808HS005.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Biological Control, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Heinrichstraße 243, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Andreas Leclerque, Regina G. Kleespies, Christina Schuster & Simon Feiertag

  2. Technische Universität Darmstadt, Institut für Mikrobiologie und Genetik, Schnittspahnstraße 10, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Andreas Leclerque

  3. State Institute for Agriculture and Fishing Research Mecklenburg-West Pomerania (LFA), Centre for Field Vegetable Production (GKZ), Dorfplatz 1, 18276, Gülzow, Germany

    Claudia Ritter & Simon Feiertag

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  1. Andreas Leclerque
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  2. Regina G. Kleespies
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  4. Christina Schuster
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Correspondence to Andreas Leclerque.

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Leclerque, A., Kleespies, R.G., Ritter, C. et al. Genetic and Electron-Microscopic Characterization of ‘Rickettsiella agriotidis’, a new Rickettsiella Pathotype Associated with Wireworm, Agriotes sp. (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Curr Microbiol 63, 158–163 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-011-9958-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-011-9958-5

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