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Front Microbiol

Title:		Bacterial Associates of a Gregarious Riparian Beetle With Explosive Defensive Chemistry
Author(s):		McManus R; Ravenscraft A; Moore W;
Address:		"Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Entomology and Insect Science, Tucson, AZ, United States. Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States. Center for Insect Science, Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States"
Journal Title:		Front Microbiol
Year:		2018
Volume:		20181005
Issue:
Page Number:		2361 -
DOI:		10.3389/fmicb.2018.02361
ISSN/ISBN:		1664-302X (Print) 1664-302X (Electronic) 1664-302X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Bombardier beetles (Carabidae: Brachininae) are well known for their unique explosive defensive chemistry. These beetles are found in riparian corridors throughout the American Southwest, where they commonly form large diurnal multispecies aggregations in moist areas under rocks, in crevices, and in leaf litter. Using high throughput 16S amplicon sequencing, we provide the first microbiome survey of a bombardier beetle, Brachinus elongatulus, collected from two sites in Arizona. Two bacterial taxa were present in all individuals sampled: Enterococcus and Dysgonomonas. Enterococcus has been implicated in the production of fecal aggregation pheromone components, which have been shown to regulate aggregation in the German cockroach; it is possible that Enterococcus plays a similar role in Brachinus. Dysgonomonas was found in all the secretory cells of the defensive system and gut samples. Additional studies are needed to determine if these microbes play a role in these beetles' unique chemical defense. Results also show that the majority of B. elongatulus individuals collected from both sites were infected with Spiroplasma. Many Spiroplasma are intracellular, vertically transmitted insect symbionts that may manipulate host reproduction (e.g., cause male-killing) or provide resistance to nematodes and/or parasitoid wasps. Defensive protection could be especially beneficial to B. elongatulus, which are frequently parasitized by horsehair worms (Nematomorpha). In sum, findings suggest several testable hypotheses on the effects bacteria may have on bombardier beetle behavior and physiology"
Keywords:		16s rDNA Brachinus elongatulus Nematomorpha Spiroplasma bombardier beetle microbiome;
Notes:		"PubMed-not-MEDLINEMcManus, Reilly Ravenscraft, Alison Moore, Wendy eng K12 GM000708/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ Switzerland 2018/10/23 Front Microbiol. 2018 Oct 5; 9:2361. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02361. eCollection 2018"