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Analyzing Bacterial Communities in Pediculus humanus capitis
Author(s) -
Plekan Mollie,
St Amand Megan,
KlepacCeraj Vanja,
Peterson Celeste
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.29.1_supplement.575.24
Subject(s) - obligate , louse , biology , microbiome , candidatus , prevotella , zoology , human pathogen , human microbiome , ecology , 16s ribosomal rna , genetics , bacteria
Understanding the composition of the microbiome of human associated insects can shed light on the sources of potential human pathogens. The human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, is an obligate symbiont found in the hair of humans, especially children. It is known to harbor an obligate endosymbiont, Candidatus Reisia. However, a complete survey of head louse microbiome has not been described to date. The purpose of this research is to begin to analyze the louse microbiome and determine if it differs between individual human hosts. DNA was isolated from lice from individuals hosts and the 16S gene amplified for Illumina sequencing of the V3‐V5 variable region followed by analysis with Qiime. Results showed that the expected obligate endosymbiont, Candidatus Reisia, made up over 95% of the community throughout all of the samples. Other taxa that were commonly found in the samples included Prevotella, Streptoccocus and Veillonella. The communities varied among individual lice and among human hosts. This survey is the first reported measurement of the entire microbial community associated with the human head louse.