Journal
TISSUE & CELL
Volume 36, Issue 1, Pages 43-53Publisher
CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE
DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2003.08.004
Keywords
Ixodes ricinus; mitochondria invasion; ultrastructure; alpha-proteobacterium IricES1; ovary
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We have recently performed molecular characterisation of an intracellular alpha-proteobacterium, named IricES1, which resides in the ovarian tissue of female Ixodes ricinus ticks from Italy. A unique characteristic of this bacterium is its ability to invade the mitochondria of the cells in which it resides. Although some ultrastructural studies have been performed on close relatives of this bacterium from I. ricinus in England and Switzerland, a number of questions remain about its movement within ovarian tissues and mitochondria. We have performed the first detailed ultrastructural examination of IricES I in engorged female adult I ricinus. Among our findings was that the bacterium enters mitochondria in a similar way to that employed by the 'predatory' bacterium Bdellovibro bacteriovorus, that is, between the inner and outer membranes. It then appears to multiply, with the new 'colony' consuming the mitochondrial matrix. Despite having many of their mitochondria consumed, oocytes appear to develop normally, and the bacteria are likely to be vertically transferred to all eggs. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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