Wolbachia Bacteria and Filarial Nematodes: Mutual Benefit and the Parasite’s Achilles’ Heel

Abstract

The current information on symbiotic interrelations of the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia and filariae (parasites of human and animals), as well as evidence of the joint evolution of the symbiont and hosts, are discussed. Data on the absence of the joint distribution of this bacterium with its host in some Wolbachia supergroups are also presented. The results of morphological, genome, and transcriptomiс analyses obtained in the last ten years are provided. Insight into the biology and evolution of Wolbachia endosymbionts in the filarial organism, which were obtained by cytological, biochemical, and molecular methods, makes it possible to use the bacterium, which is obligate for filariae, in the treatment of human diseases.