Cophylogenetic analysis suggests cospeciation between the Scorpion Mycoplasma Clade symbionts and their hosts

PLoS One. 2019 Jan 9;14(1):e0209588. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209588. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Scorpions are predator arachnids of ancient origin and worldwide distribution. Two scorpion species, Vaejovis smithi and Centruroides limpidus, were found to harbor two different Mollicutes phylotypes: a Scorpion Mycoplasma Clade (SMC) and Scorpion Group 1 (SG1). Here we investigated, using a targeted gene sequencing strategy, whether these Mollicutes were present in 23 scorpion morphospecies belonging to the Vaejovidae, Carboctonidae, Euscorpiidae, Diplocentridae, and Buthidae families. Our results revealed that SMC is found in a species-specific association with Vaejovidae and Buthidae, whereas SG1 is uniquely found in Vaejovidae. SMC and SG1 co-occur only in Vaejovis smithi where 43% of the individuals host both phylotypes. A phylogenetic analysis of Mollicutes 16S rRNA showed that SMC and SG1 constitute well-delineated phylotypes. Additionally, we found that SMC and scorpion phylogenies are significantly congruent, supporting the observation that a cospeciation process may have occurred. This study highlights the phylogenetic diversity of the scorpion associated Mollicutes through different species revealing a possible cospeciation pattern.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gene Targeting
  • Mycoplasma / genetics*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics*
  • Scorpions / microbiology*
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Grants and funding

This research was supported by CONACyT Basic Science grant 253116 to EMR and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México PAPIIT (UNAM) IN207718 to EMR. TGS is a doctoral student from the graduate program in Biomedical Sciences UNAM and received a fellowship (number 580519) from CONACYT. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.