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Wednesday, 17 November 2004
D0441
A phylogenetic analysis of the entomopathogenic nematode symbiont, Xenorhabdus, based on housekeeping gene DNA sequences
Heather L. Smith, hsmith@ifas.ufl.edu, University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, PO Box 110620, Gainesville, FL, Byron J. Adams, bjadams@byu.edu, Brigham Young University, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 775 WIDB, Provo, UT, Albrecht Koppenhöfer, koppenhofer@AESOP.RUTGERS.EDU, Rutgers University, Department of Entomology, Blake Hall, 93 Lipman Dr, New Brunswick, NJ, and Jeffrey Jones, jbjones@ufl.edu, University of Florida, Department of Plant Pathology, PO Box 110680, Gainesville, FL.
Bacteria of the genus Xenorhabdus have a mutualistic relationship with nematodes of the family Steinernematidae. The nematode-bacterium complex is used for the biological control of numerous insect pests. While many of the symbiotic bacteria have been mined for their insecticidal properties, their evolutionary and taxonomic diversity is only beginning to come to light. Currently, there are 36 described species of Steinernematid nematodes, each having a unique bacterial association. Some of these nematodes have specific insect host and environmental requirements which more than likely affect the evolution of the symbiont. For this study, DNA sequences from several housekeeping genes have been used to construct a phylogeny of Xenorhabdus. Some species of Xenorhabdus formed monophyletic groups, while others had unique independent lineages.
Species 1: Enterobacteriales Enterobacteriaceae Xenorhabdus
Species 2: Rhabditida Steinernematidae Steinernema
Keywords: phylogeny, housekeeping genes
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