Ojaswini, _, Pal, S., Dhibar, A., Chandra, K., Rangarajan, A., & Shukla, S.P. 2026 Cellular remodeling of ovarian follicular epithelial cells transmits an obligate nutritional endosymbiont in a scale insect. Evolution 123(16): e2532091123
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Notes: This study reports that a specific population of cells in the oocyte’s posterior region undergoes cellular remodeling, forming actin-mediated cellular protrusions that facilitate intracellular endosymbiont movement. A novel flavobacterial endosymbiont “Candidatus Insignibacter tubulum,” is described. The authors also detect features of host-symbiont genome coevolution and identify horizontally acquired genes in the host genome that complement vitamin biosynthesis, demonstrating an obligatory nutritional endosymbiosis. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2532091123
