Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Sep 28;18(9):e0292229.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292229. eCollection 2023.

Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of Wolbachia endosymbionts in bed bugs (Hemiptera; Cimicidae) collected in Paris

Dahlia Chebbah  1   2 , Omar Hamarsheh  3 , Denis Sereno  4   5 , Nohal Elissa  2 , Sophie Brun  1 , Julie Jan  6 , Arezki Izri  1   7 , Mohammad Akhoundi  1   7
Affiliations

Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of Wolbachia endosymbionts in bed bugs (Hemiptera; Cimicidae) collected in Paris

Dahlia Chebbah et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of Wolbachia in field-caught bed bug species in Paris areas.

Methods: The bed bug specimens were captured from various infested localities in Paris and surrounding cities. They belonged to diverse life stages, including egg, nymph, and adult. They were then identified using morphological and molecular approaches. Furthermore, Wolbachia was detected, and its genetic diversity was investigated by conventional PCR of 16S-rRNA and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) genes.

Results: A total of 256 bed bug specimens belonging to various life stages [adult (183 specimens), nymph (48), and egg (25)] were captured from seven private apartments, five social apartments, three houses, two immigrant residences, and one retirement home situated in 10 districts of Paris and 8 surrounding cities. They were identified as Cimex lectularius (237 specimens) and C. hemipterus (19) using morphological and molecular approaches. The presence and diversity of Wolbachia were ascertained by targeting 16S-rRNA and wsp genes. Based on molecular analysis, 182 and 148 out of 256 processed specimens were positive by amplifying 16S-rRNA and wsp fragments, respectively. The inferred phylogenetic analysis with 16S-rRNA and wsp sequences displayed monophyletic Wolbachia strains clustering each one in three populations. The median-joining network, including the Wolbachia 16S-rRNA and wsp sequences of C. lectularius and C. hemipterous specimens, indicated a significant genetic differentiation among these populations in Paris areas which was consent with Neighbor-Joining analyses. A phylogenetic analysis of our heterogenic Wolbachia sequences with those reported from other arthropod species confirmed their belonging to supergroup F. Moreover, no difference between Wolbachia sequences from eggs, nymphs, and adults belonging to the same clade and between Wolbachia sequences of C. lectularius and C. hemipterus were observed after sequence alignment. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between multiple geographical locations (or accomodation type) where bed bugs were collected and the genetic diversity of Wolbachia.

Conclusions: We highlight a significant heterogeneity within Wolbachia symbionts detected in C. lectularius and C. hemipterus. No correlation between Wolbachia species and bed bug species (C. lectularius versus C. hemipterus), physiological stages (egg, nymph, and adult), and sampling location was recorded in this study.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
A) Neighbor-joining (NJ) tree reconstructed from the 16S-rRNA sequences of Wolbachia isolates detected in various life stages (egg, larva & adult) of bed bug specimens we collected (beginning with AVC) and sequences from GenBank, B) Median-joining network for the 16S-rRNA sequences of C. lectularius and C. hemipterus specimens processed in this study.
Fig 2
Fig 2
A) Neighbor-joining (NJ) tree reconstructed from the wsp sequences of Wolbachia isolates detected in various life stages (egg, larva & adult) of bed bug specimens we collected (beginning with AVC) and sequences from GenBank, B) Median-joining network analysis of wsp sequences for the same specimens.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Unrooted phylogenetic tree of Wolbachia 16S sequences belonging to specimens we collected (named AVC) and Wolbachia strains reported from diverse arthropod and helminth hosts collected from GenBank.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Global network analysis of Wolbachia 16S-rRNA sequences of bed bug specimens analyzed in this study and homologous counterparts of other arthropods and nematodes collected in GenBank.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Goddard J, deShazo R. Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and clinical consequences of their bites. JAMA. 2009;301:1358–1366. - PubMed
    1. Goddard J, de Shazo R. Psychological effects of bed bug attacks (Cimex lectularius L.). Am J Med. 2012;125:101–103. - PubMed
    1. Delaunay P, Blanc V, Del Giudice P, Levy-Bencheton A, Chosidow O, Marty P, et al. Bed bugs and infectious diseases. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52:200–10. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciq102 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Davies TGE, Field LM, Williamson MS. The Re-Emergence of the Bed Bug as a Nuisance Pest: Implications of Resistance to the Pyrethroid Insecticides. Med Vet Entomol. 2012;26:241–54. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2011.01006.x - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kanyile SN, Engl T, Kaltenpoth M. Nutritional symbionts enhance structural defense against predation and fungal infection in a grain pest beetle. J Exp Biol. 2022;225:jeb243593. - PMC - PubMed