Sexual Sabotage by the Bacterial Parasite Wolbachia

Reproductive Manipulations on Parasitoids Transmitted through the reproductive systems of insects, crustaceans, mites and nematode worms, the Wolbachia is endocellular bacteria whose interactions between the host and itself are far from mutualistic (Hurst & Randerson 2002:44). The bacteria are unable to be transmitted through sperm so they invade the cytoplasm of eggs in female hosts to be capable of increasing their numbers. The Wolbachia have a variety of reproductive manipulations that enable successful transmission such as …

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