Biomaterial Database

Genomic revelations of a mutualism: the pea aphid and its obligate bacterial symbiont. 2011

Shuji Shigenobu, and Alex C C Wilson

NIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Myodaiji, Okazaki, Japan. shige@nibb.ac.jp

The symbiosis of the pea aphid Acyrthosphion pisum with the bacterium Buchnera aphidicola APS represents the best-studied insect obligate symbiosis. Here we present a refined picture of this symbiosis by linking pre-genomic observations to new genomic data that includes the complete genomes of the eukaryotic and prokaryotic symbiotic partners. In doing so, we address four issues central to understanding the patterns and processes operating at the A. pisum/Buchnera APS interface. These four issues include: (1) lateral gene transfer, (2) host immunity, (3) symbiotic metabolism, and (4) regulation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001042	Aphids	A family (Aphididae) of small insects, in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, that suck the juices of plants. Important genera include Schizaphis and Myzus. The latter is known to carry more than 100 virus diseases between plants.	Aphididae,Lice, Plant,Myzus,Plant Lice,Schizaphis,Louse, Plant,Plant Louse,Aphid,Lices, Plant,Louses, Plant,Plant Lices,Plant Louses,Schizaphi
D013559	Symbiosis	The relationship between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other or a relationship between different species where both of the organisms in question benefit from the presence of the other.	Endosymbiosis,Commensalism,Mutualism
D020635	Buchnera	A genus of gram-negative bacteria which are obligately intracellular endosymbionts of APHIDS. The bacteria are found within specialized cells in the aphid body cavity.	Buchnera aphidicola
D022761	Gene Transfer, Horizontal	The naturally occurring transmission of genetic information between organisms, related or unrelated, circumventing parent-to-offspring transmission. Horizontal gene transfer may occur via a variety of naturally occurring processes such as GENETIC CONJUGATION; GENETIC TRANSDUCTION; and TRANSFECTION. It may result in a change of the recipient organism's genetic composition (TRANSFORMATION, GENETIC).	Gene Transfer, Lateral,Horizontal Gene Transfer,Lateral Gene Transfer,Recombination, Interspecies,Recombination, Interspecific,Gene Transfers, Lateral,Interspecies Recombination,Interspecific Recombination,Lateral Gene Transfers