Three genomes, two organisms and one host: Interactions between the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis, the WO bacteriophage and drosophila simulans

沃尔巴克氏体是一种与宿主昆虫保持共生关系数百万年的变形菌。沃尔巴克氏体存在于宿主细胞的细胞质中，尤其是卵巢和睾丸细胞中，因此是内共生体。沃尔巴克氏菌与其宿主之间的关系有两个有趣的方面。首先，宿主似乎无法识别沃尔巴克氏体的存在，因为它没有产生典型的抗菌免疫反应。我的实验室一直在研究这些细菌在宿主细胞内存活和复制的机制，我们已经证明，宿主和细菌合作减少活性氧（RO）造成的潜在细胞和DNA损伤。反渗透酶在感染细胞中大量产生，宿主和细菌的抗氧化酶都被招募来中和它们。这是首次在动物细胞和细菌之间描述这种类型的合作。

Wolbachia pipientis are proteobacteria that have maintained symbiotic associations with host insects for millions of years. Wolbachia exist within the cytoplasm of host cells, preferentially cells of the ovaries and testes, and are therefore endosymbionts. There are two intriguing aspects about the relationship between Wolbachia and its hosts. First, the host does not seem to recognize the presence of Wolbachia because it does not mount a typical anti-bacterial immune response. My laboratory has been studying the mechanisms that allow these bacteria to survive and replicate inside the host cells, and we have shown that the host and bacteria cooperate to reduce potential cellular and DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen (RO). RO species are generated at high levels in infected cells, and both host and bacterial antioxidant enzymes are recruited to neutralize them. This is the first time that cooperation of this type has been described between animal cells and bacteria.