Wolbachia

Wolbachia
Transmission electron micrograph of Wolbachia within an insect cell
Credit:Public Library of Science / Scott O'Neill
Scientific classification
Domain: Bacteria
Kingdom: Pseudomonadati
Phylum: Pseudomonadota
Class: Alphaproteobacteria
Order: Rickettsiales
Family: Ehrlichiaceae
Genus: Wolbachia
Hertig 1936 (Approved Lists 1980)
Species
  • "Candidatus Wolbachia bourtzisii" Ramirez-Puebla et al. 2015
  • "Candidatus Wolbachia brugii" Ramirez-Puebla et al. 2015
  • "Candidatus Wolbachia collembolicola" Ramirez-Puebla et al. 2015
  • "Candidatus Wolbachia ivorensis" Ehounoud et al. 2016
  • Wolbachia melophagi (Nöller 1917) Philip 1956 (Approved Lists 1980)
  • "Candidatus Wolbachia multihospitum" Ramirez-Puebla et al. 2015
  • "Candidatus Wolbachia onchocercicola" Ramirez-Puebla et al. 2015
  • Wolbachia pipientis Hertig 1936 (Approved Lists 1980)

Wolbachia is a genus of gram-negative bacteria infecting many species of arthropods and filarial nematodes. The symbiotic relationship ranges from parasitism to obligate mutualism. It is one of the most common parasitic microbes of arthropods, and is possibly the most widespread reproductive parasite bacterium in the biosphere. Its interactions with hosts are complex and highly diverse across different host species. Some host species cannot reproduce, or even survive, without Wolbachia colonisation. One study concluded that more than 16% of neotropical insect species carry bacteria of this genus, and as many as 25 to 70% of all insect species are estimated to be potential hosts.