Arsenophonus sp. symbionts of louse flies (Hippoboscidae). Arsenophonus sp.

The Hippoboscidae-associated Arsenophonus, with multiple independent strains in different stages of evolution (Sochova et al. 2017) provide an ideal system for studying genome changes during the transition towards obligate mutualism and possible evolutionary convergences. To address this process, we reconstruct nine new Arsenophonus genomes from eight hippoboscid species representing five genera, Pseudolynchia, Hippobosca, Ornithoica, Ornithomya and Crataerina (C. hirundinis previously classified within genus Stenepteryx). Together with other available Arsenophonus genomes (including symbionts of hippoboscid species M. ovinus and L. cervi), we analyze phylogenetic relationships of these bacteria, mainly with the focus on their symbiosis establishment and evolution, i.e., the dynamics of the Arsenophonus acquisition across different host species. We use the whole-genome characteristics to evaluate the nature of their symbioses and compare their potential to provide the hosts with essential metabolites.