Lably
Skip to content

Wigglesworthia glossinidia

Species of bacterium

  • 1 min read
  • 1 chapter

Related on Lably

Through Gram-negative bacteria and Genome

Lab · Class 4–8Money & Making ChangeLab · Class 6–12The Constitution of IndiaLab · Class 11–12DNA Journey

Phylogenetic studies suggest that the symbiotic relationship between W. glossinidia began 59-80 million years ago. Wigglesworthia synthesizes key B-complex vitamins that the fly does not get from its diet of blood. Without the vitamins Wigglesworthia produces, the tsetse fly has greatly reduced growth and reproduction. Since the tsetse fly is the primary vector of Trypanosoma brucei, the pathogen that causes African trypanosomiasis, it has been suggested that W. glossinidia may one day be used to help control the spread of this disease.

History

W. glossinidia was first described in 1995 and was named for the British entomologist Sir Vincent Brian Wigglesworth.

More in Biology

GenusTaxonomic rank above species and below familyFamily (taxonomy)Taxonomic rank between genus and orderEndemismState of species being unique to a locationCladeGroup of a common ancestor and all of their descendantsGenomeAll genetic material of an organismOrder (taxonomy)Taxonomic rank between class and family