Wolbachia Utilize Host @entity19631 for Efficient Maternal Transmission in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity59931 @entity19631 @entity281 @entity72092 @entity779 @entity14637 @entity238
UNASSIGNED: Wolbachia pipientis is a ubiquitous, maternally transmitted bacterium that infects the germline of insect hosts. Estimates are that Wolbachia infect nearly 40% of insect species on the planet, making it the most prevalent @entity281 on Earth. The bacterium, infamous for the reproductive phenotypes it induces in arthropod hosts, has risen to recent prominence due to its use in vector control. @entity281 prevents the colonization of vectors by RNA viruses, including @entity14637 and important @entity1 pathogens such as @entity779 . Here we present data indicating that Wolbachia utilize the host @entity19631 cytoskeleton during oogenesis for persistence within and transmission between @entity238 generations. We show that phenotypically wild type flies heterozygous for cytoskeletal mutations in @entity238 @entity59931 (chic221/+ and chic1320/+) or @entity72092 (qua6-396/+) either clear a @entity281 , or result in significantly reduced @entity281 levels. This reduction of Wolbachia is supported by PCR evidence, Western blot results and cytological examination. This phenotype is unlikely to be the result of maternal loading defects, defects in oocyte polarization, or germline stem cell proliferation, as the flies are phenotypically wild type in egg size, shape, and number. Importantly, however, heterozygous mutant flies exhibit decreased total G- @entity19631 in the ovary, compared to control flies and chic221 heterozygous mutants exhibit decreased expression of @entity59931 . Additionally, RNAi knockdown of @entity59931 during development decreases Wolbachia titers. We analyze evidence in support of alternative theories to explain this Wolbachia phenotype and conclude that our results support the hypothesis that Wolbachia utilize the @entity19631 skeleton for efficient transmission and maintenance within @entity238 .
