Анотація:
Aims. Symbiotic bacteria are of interest to biotechnology as potential tool for pest management. The aim of the study
was to research the occurrence and diversity of secondary symbionts of specifi c genera in different species of aphids
from Belarus. Methods. Biodiversity of bacterial symbionts was studied by PCR with genus-specifi ed primers. Genetic
diversity was revealed with methods of bioinformatics. Results. The research showed that aphids of Belarusian fauna
possess a wide range of symbiotic microorganisms. Among secondary symbionts of Belarusian aphids Rickettsia and
Spiroplasma have almost 100 % frequency of occurrence despite the fact in literature they are considered as rare. Degree
of the phylogenetic homogeneity of 16S rRNA and gltA genes in symbiotic rickettsia has been studied. It is shown that
both the mean and the maximum interspecifi c genetic distances of 16S rRNA gene in pathogenic rickettsia have been
signifi cantly lower than in symbiotic ones. Phylogenetic analysis of symbiotic rickettsia, based on 16S rRNA and gltA
genes, has shown the existence of 4 separate clusters with high bootstrap value. Conclusions. The obtained data show
possible existence of at least four different species of symbiotic bacteria in Rickettsia genus.
Keywords: aphids, symbiotic bacteria, Rickettsia, PCR markers.