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

Wolbachia pipientis是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，优选卵巢和睾丸的细胞，并且因此是内共生体。关于沃尔巴克氏体与其宿主之间的关系，有两个有趣的方面。首先，宿主似乎没有识别出沃尔巴克氏体的存在，因为它没有产生典型的抗细菌免疫反应。我的实验室一直在研究允许这些细菌在宿主细胞内生存和复制的机制，我们已经证明宿主和细菌合作减少活性氧（RO）引起的潜在细胞和DNA损伤。RO物质在受感染的细胞中以高水平产生，宿主和细菌的抗氧化酶都被招募来中和它们。这是第一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.