Bacteria Associated with the Antarctic Endemic Insect Belgica antarctica Jacobs (Diptera Chironomidae)

Abstract

Abstract: Insects are one of the most successful groups of multicellular organisms with more than a million species. Among them, there is Belgica antarctica Jacobs (Diptera Chironomidae) representing an endemic species of Antarctica that exists under extremely cold conditions. A significant number of microorganisms colonize most species of insects resulting in symbiotic interaction, which may improve the adaptability of a host organism to cold conditions. Using PCR and metagenomic analysis, it has been demonstrated that endosymbiotic bacteria Spiroplasma and Wolbachia seem to be absent in Belgica antarctica. Nevertheless, 14 species of bacteria have been revealed that can be potentially associated with Belgica antarctica and/or with the substrate where this species lives by screening the whole-genome sequences available in open databases. To ascertain the constant association of identified microorganisms with Belgica antarctica and their possible preference to this species, it is necessary to perform further analysis.