Ontogeny, species identity, and environment dominate microbiome dynamics in wild populations of kissing bugs (Triatominae)

Microbiome

Václav Hypša¹  Anbu Poosakkannu¹  Jan Zima¹  Sonia M. Rodríguez-Ruano¹  Giampiero Batani¹  Joel J. Brown²  Eva Nováková³  Justin O. Schmidt⁴  Walter Roachell⁵ 

[1] Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;Southwestern Biological Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA;US Army Public Health Command-Central, JBSA Fort Sam, Houston, TX, USA;

关键词: Bacteria;    Blood;    Hematophagous;    Insect;    Microbiome;    Ontogeny;    Pathogen;    Triatominae;    Vector;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40168-020-00921-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundKissing bugs (Triatominae) are blood-feeding insects best known as the vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas’ disease. Considering the high epidemiological relevance of these vectors, their biology and bacterial symbiosis remains surprisingly understudied. While previous investigations revealed generally low individual complexity but high among-individual variability of the triatomine microbiomes, any consistent microbiome determinants have not yet been identified across multiple Triatominae species.MethodsTo obtain a more comprehensive view of triatomine microbiomes, we investigated the host-microbiome relationship of five Triatoma species sampled from white-throated woodrat (Neotoma albigula) nests in multiple locations across the USA. We applied optimised 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding with a novel 18S rRNA gene blocking primer to a set of 170 T. cruzi-negative individuals across all six instars.ResultsTriatomine gut microbiome composition is strongly influenced by three principal factors: ontogeny, species identity, and the environment. The microbiomes are characterised by significant loss in bacterial diversity throughout ontogenetic development. First instars possess the highest bacterial diversity while adult microbiomes are routinely dominated by a single taxon. Primarily, the bacterial genus Dietzia dominates late-stage nymphs and adults of T. rubida, T. protracta, and T. lecticularia but is not present in the phylogenetically more distant T. gerstaeckeri and T. sanguisuga. Species-specific microbiome composition, particularly pronounced in early instars, is further modulated by locality-specific effects. In addition, pathogenic bacteria of the genus Bartonella, acquired from the vertebrate hosts, are an abundant component of Triatoma microbiomes.ConclusionOur study is the first to demonstrate deterministic patterns in microbiome composition among all life stages and multiple Triatoma species. We hypothesise that triatomine microbiome assemblages are produced by species- and life stage-dependent uptake of environmental bacteria and multiple indirect transmission strategies that promote bacterial transfer between individuals. Altogether, our study highlights the complexity of Triatominae symbiosis with bacteria and warrant further investigation to understand microbiome function in these important vectors.26uaj7E81qJUzay5q4KdpFVideo abstract.

【 授权许可】

CC BY