Host‐Associated Bacterial Community Changes After Laboratory Introduction Vary With Wolbachia Presence
Abstract
Translocating organisms from their natural habitats to laboratories can significantly alter their microbial communities, yet this impact is often overlooked. While common in research, the effects on microbiomes and how laboratory findings relate to natural field dynamics require further study. Symbionts may stabilise microbial communities or increase susceptibility to change, influencing results. This study investigates the effects of laboratory translocation on host-microbiome interactions using the parasitic wasp Asobara japonica and its endosymbiont Wolbachia. Three infected (asexual) and three uninfected (sexual) lines, each with seven iso-female lines, were introduced into the laboratory to track microbial community changes over four generations via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our results show laboratory translocation reduces bacterial diversity, with stochastic processes driving changes in the microbial community. Changes in bacterial composition differed between sexual and asexual lines. Over four generations, the asexual wasps' bacterial community became more similar, while sexual wasps exhibited greater diversity. Notably, changes in bacterial communities emerged over generations rather than in the first generation. Finally, Wolbachia abundance varied following laboratory introduction, likely impacting bacterial community structure and assembly over time. Overall, our research highlights how laboratory conditions can affect host-associated microbial communities in different ways, potentially impacting their functions and host interactions.
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BibTeX
@article{brinker2026hostassociated,
title = {{Host‐Associated Bacterial Community Changes After Laboratory Introduction Vary With Wolbachia Presence}},
author = {Pina Brinker and Joana Falcao Salles and Leo W Beukeboom and Michael C. Fontaine},
journal = {Environmental Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.70265},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05794785v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Host‐Associated Bacterial Community Changes After Laboratory Introduction Vary With Wolbachia Presence
AU - Pina Brinker
AU - Joana Falcao Salles
AU - Leo W Beukeboom
AU - Michael C. Fontaine
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Environmental Microbiology
DO - 10.1111/1462-2920.70265
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05794785v1
AB - Translocating organisms from their natural habitats to laboratories can significantly alter their microbial communities, yet this impact is often overlooked. While common in research, the effects on microbiomes and how laboratory findings relate to natural field dynamics require further study. Symbionts may stabilise microbial communities or increase susceptibility to change, influencing results. This study investigates the effects of laboratory translocation on host-microbiome interactions using the parasitic wasp Asobara japonica and its endosymbiont Wolbachia. Three infected (asexual) and three uninfected (sexual) lines, each with seven iso-female lines, were introduced into the laboratory to track microbial community changes over four generations via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our results show laboratory translocation reduces bacterial diversity, with stochastic processes driving changes in the microbial community. Changes in bacterial composition differed between sexual and asexual lines. Over four generations, the asexual wasps' bacterial community became more similar, while sexual wasps exhibited greater diversity. Notably, changes in bacterial communities emerged over generations rather than in the first generation. Finally, Wolbachia abundance varied following laboratory introduction, likely impacting bacterial community structure and assembly over time. Overall, our research highlights how laboratory conditions can affect host-associated microbial communities in different ways, potentially impacting their functions and host interactions.
SN - 1462-2912
SN - 1462-2920
ER -