Author
Kristi Gladem
kristi.gladem@ucr.edu
University of California Riverside, Riverside
United States
Coauthors
Ikju Park, University of California Riverside, Riverside, United States
Abstract
Rickettsia are obligate intracellular bacteria that transmit both horizontally and vertically among insects, plants, and vertebrates. These bacteria can manipulate the reproduction, nutrition, fitness, and defense mechanisms of their hosts. Rickettsia infection alters the sex ratio of Ceratapion basicorne, a rosette weevil that feeds on yellow starthistle, which was approved for release in the United States in 2019. It is the first recorded Rickettsia associated sex ratio distortion in the superfamily Curculionoidea and the sixth reported in insects. Rickettsia infections have been primarily reported from hematophagous insects as causative agents of vertebrate disease and may be overlooked in other systems. National Center for Biotechnology Information accessions suggest a co-evolved lineage of Rickettsia within weevils, highlighting the potential role in biological control programs for weeds. We discuss the potential impacts of Rickettsia infections on target weeds and biological control agents in pre-release risk assessments and post-release monitoring.
Keywords
Endosymbionts
Rickettsia
Weevils
Pathogens
Rearing
Highlights
Rickettsia induce genetic and ecological repercussions to biological control agents
The first reported Rickettsia-associated sex-ratio distortion within weevils and the 6th in insects
Biological control programs should consider Rickettsia infection and transmission