Symbiotic bacteria associated with stomach disc of human lice

The symbiotic bacteria associated with stomach disc, a large aggregate of bacteriocytes on the ventral side of midgut, of the human body and head lice were characterized. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the symbionts formed a distinct and well-defined clade in the γ-Proteobacteria. The sequences exhibited AT-biased nucleotide composition and accelerated molecular evolution. In situ hybridization revealed that in nymphs and adult males the symbiont was localized in the stomach disc, while in adult females the symbiont was not in the stomach disc but in the lateral oviducts and the posterior pole of the oocytes due to female-specific symbiont migration. We propose the designation “Candidatus Riesia pediculicola” for the lice symbionts.