Section: New Results

Genomics of symbiosis

Insect symbioses are model systems for studying the evolution of bacterial genomes. Importantly, evolution is directly related to the type of interaction and may also be influenced by the presence of other symbionts [11] . We are currently studying the genomes of different symbionts. The first one is the genome of the Wolbachia strain that has recently become obligatory for the reproduction of Asobara tabida. First results indicate that this genome may have been recently invaded by mobile elements. The second project concerns the sequencing of the different symbionts that co-exist in the insect Bemisia tabaci. The initial sequences are promising and we hope to close the genome of four different symbionts in this system, which will allow the study of the complementation between symbionts and lateral gene transfers among symbionts sharing the same intracellular arena. This work is done in collaboration among others with L. Mouton.