Transformation of the Drosophila Sex-Manipulative Endosymbiont Spiroplasma poulsonii and Persisting Hurdles for Functional Genetic Studies

Abstract

Dozens of bacterial endosymbiont species have been described and estimated to infect about half of all insect species. However, only a few them are tractable in vitro , which hampers our understanding of the bacterial determinants of the host-symbiont interaction. Developing a transformation method for S. poulsonii is a major step toward genomic engineering of this symbiont, which will foster basic research on endosymbiosis. This could also open the way to practical uses of endosymbiont engineering through paratransgenesis of vector or pest insects.