Wolbachia induced transsexuality in terrestrial isopods

In this study Wolbachia is found in populations of four Isopod species. Wolbachia causes feminization in its host A. vulgare. Only female biased and balanced sex ratios are found in infected populations. In some infected populations evidence for a masculinising factor was found, that drives the sex ratio back to balance. This factor appears to act as a supressor. In addition, we looked at the relationship between Wolbachia in different species. Not all Wolbachia in Isopods cluster together in a phylogenetic tree based on the ftsZ gene, but all are type B Wolbachia. Bacteria from Armadillidium spp. cluster together, while Wolbachia from P.scaber and O.asellus form a different cluster, even though these specimen were collected at the same location. Thus, there appears to be no indication for horizontal transmission between Isopod species.