About this Research Topic

Background

For a long time, Rickettsia spp. have been regarded as human pathogens vectored by blood-sucking arthropods, like the epidemic typhus agent R. prowazekii vectored by human body louse, the murine typhus agent R. typhi vectored by rat fleas, and others. However, since 1990's when PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing enabled identification of uncultivable and/or asymptomatic microbial infections, it has been shown that Rickettsia and other members of the order Rickettsiales are widespread and associated with diverse host organisms, to be regarded as common facultative symbionts of insects, ticks, leeches, and other invertebrates (reviewed by Perlman et al. 2006 Proc R Soc B). Metagenomic 16S rRNA gene sequencing uncovered the presence of Rickettsia-allied bacteria derived from a variety of environmental samples, uncovering further diversity of Rickettsia (reviewed by Weinert et al. 2009 BMC Biol). More recent studies have shown that aquatic microeukaryotes like ciliates, amoebae and green algae are the hosts of Rickettsia-allied endocellular symbiotic bacteria. The diversity of Rickettsia and allies has been recognized as much more diverse than previously envisioned.

Here, we propose the research topic "Rickettsia and allied members of the Rickettsiales as symbionts of insects, ticks, protists, algae, and other diverse organisms" to provide an opportunity to compile and overview the latest information emerging in this research field.

Currently, the bacterial order Rickettsiales embraces the following 4 families:

Anaplasmataceae: including such genera as Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Wolbachia, etc.
Cand. Deianiraeaceae: only Cand. Deianiraea (protists - Paramecium)
Cand. Midichloriaceae: including such genera as Aquarickettsia (marine invertebrates - corals), Euplotella (protists - Euplotes), Fokinia (protists - Paramecium), Lariskella (insects - seed bugs, weevils, etc.), Midichloria (arthropods- tick mitochondria), etc.
Rickettiaceae: Megaira (green algae - Carteria), Phycorickettsia (green algae - Eustigmatophyte), Spectririckettsia (protists - Paramecium), Orientia (chigger mites), Rickettsia (diverse arthropods and vertebrates), etc.

The research topic welcomes scientifically sound, solid and competent submissions of high quality on Rickettsia and allied members of the Rickettsiales with ecological, evolutionary, and other biological relevance, but except for:
(1) manuscripts on Wolbachia, which are repeatedly treated elsewhere
(2) manuscripts on medical and epidemiological aspects of human and animal pathogens

Also, it is noted that descriptive studies based on amplicon profiles (e.g. 16S rRNA gene) lacking a clear hypothesis and/or failing to provide new microbiological insights will be regarded as out of scope.

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Keywords: Rickettsia, Rickettsiales, Alphaproteobacteria, symbiont, endosymbiont, symbiosis, endosymbiosis, insect, tick, leech, ciliate, amoeba, green algae, Orientia, Megaira, Midichloria

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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