Microbiome-related aspects of locust density-dependent phase transition

Omer Lavy, Ohad Lewin-Epstein, Yonatan Bendett, Uri Gophna, Eran Gefen, Lilach Hadany, Amir Ayali

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Locust plagues are a notorious, ancient phenomenon. These swarming pests tend to aggregate and perform long migrations, decimating cultivated fields along their path. When population density is low, however, the locusts will express a cryptic, solitary, non-aggregating phenotype that is not considered a pest. Although the transition from the solitary to the gregarious phase has been well studied, associated shifts in the locust's microbiome have yet to be addressed. Here, using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we compared the bacterial composition of solitary desert locusts before and after a phase transition. Our findings revealed that the microbiome is altered during the phase transition, and that a major aspect of this change is the acquisition of Weissella (Firmicutes). Our findings led us to hypothesize that the locust microbiome plays a role in inducing aggregation behaviour, contributing to the formation and maintenance of a swarm. Employing a mathematical model, we demonstrate the potential evolutionary advantage of inducing aggregation under different conditions; specifically, when the aggregation-inducing microbe exhibits a relatively high horizontal transmission rate. This is the first report of a previously unknown and important aspect of locust phase transition, demonstrating that the phase shift includes a shift in the gut and integument bacterial composition.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)507-516
Number of pages10
JournalEnvironmental Microbiology
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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