Biodiversity
and systematics of nematode–bacterium entomopathogens
Byron J. Adamsa,*, Andras
Fodorb, Heather S. Koppenhöferd,
Erko Stackebrandte, S. Patricia Stockf,
Michael G. Kleinc
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Department, Evolutionary
Ecology Laboratories, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
84602-5253, USA.
Abstract
Nematodes are one of the most abundant animals
on earth, and bacteria comprise the most biologically and
phylogenetically diverse domains of organisms. On at least
two separate occasions a soil dwelling nematode and a bacterium
have entered into a mutualistic, insecticidal association.
From such origins arose two distinct lineages of nematode–bacterium
entomopathogens, Steinernema–Xenorhabdus and
Heterorhabditis–Photorhabdus. Herein, we present
a summary and discussion of the known evolutionary diversity
and systematics of these two groups relative to other nematodes
and bacteria, and their shared evolutionary history.
Keywords:Biodiversity, Heterorhabditis,
Steinernema, Photorhabdus, Xenorhabdus, Taxonomy, Systematics,
Evolution, Entomopathogenic nematodes, Mutualism, Symbiosis,taxonomy.
Corresponding author: Fax: +1 801 422 0519
E-mail: bjadams@byu.edu |
