Investigating the Diversity of Wolbachia across the Spiny Ants (Polyrhachis)

Among insects, Wolbachia is an exceedingly common bacterial endosymbiont with a range of consequences infection. Despite the frequency infection, very little known about this bacteria’s diversity and role within hosts, especially ant hosts. In study, we analyze occurrence across spiny ants (Polyrhachis), large geographically diverse genus. Polyrhachis samples from throughout host genus’ phylogenetic biogeographical were first screened for single infections using wsp gene Sanger sequencing. The multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme was then used on these singly infected to identify strains. A phylogeny inferred analyzed in study as well other Formicidae MLST profiles online database. We hypothesized that three key factors impacting genus: biogeography, phylogeny, species level. results suggest biogeography hosts have no impact diversity; however, level may some limited influence. Additionally, strains appear group according being either Old World or New taxa able form complete allelic profiles, all twenty are seemingly new