In this paper we provide the first evidence that a bacterium modulates its host genomic imprinting, influencing the expression of genes involved in sex differentiation and development.
In the leafhopper Zyginidia pullula, males feminized by the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis display phenotypic features that are typical of females, including female gonads, and a female genomic imprinting. Interestingly, some rare feminized males, which are characterised by an extremely low bacterium density, maintain testes and a male genome-methylation pattern.
Our data show that Wolbachia infection disrupts male imprinting, and the alteration occurs only if the bacterium exceeds a threshold density.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of the journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.
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