Microbiota associated with Bactrocera carambolae and B. dorsalis (Insecta: Tephritidae) revealed by next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene

• Main Authors: Yong, Hoi Sen, Song, Sze Looi, Chua, Kah Ooi, Lim, Phaik Eem
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2017
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QH Natural history
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/18907/; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mgene.2016.10.009

Many fruit flies in the genus Bactrocera are agricultural pests. The microbiota associated with these insects may provide beneficial services to their hosts. This study reports the microbiota associated with Bactrocera carambolae and B. dorsalis from Malaysia, of which B. carambolae represents the first report. Six mature adult male Bactrocera specimens were collected in Peninsular Malaysia and whole genome DNA of individual specimen was extracted. The microbiotas of these specimens were investigated using targeted 16S rRNA gene (V3 region) sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq. Next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed the presence of 6 bacterial phyla (Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes) in both B. carambolae and B. dorsalis, Fusobacteria in B. carambolae and Planctomycetes in B. dorsalis. The bacterial composition varied among conspecific and interspecific fruit fly samples. Proteobacteria was the predominant phylum in all the B. carambolae and B. dorsalis samples. The other major phyla present in all the samples were Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, while three phyla occurred with very low relative abundance (Fusobacteria and Tenericutes sporadically in B. carambolae; and Planctomycetes and Tenericutes in both B. dorsalis samples). For conspecific samples of B. carambolae and B. dorsalis, those from Batu Pahat had higher number of bacterial families, genera and species than those from the University of Malaya. In the present study, 5 bacterial phyla, 10 classes, 20 orders, 30 families, 30 genera and 8 species were identified in all the B. carambolae and B. dorsalis samples. Next-generation sequencing method will greatly facilitate the study of microbial diversity.