Sodalis

Sodalis was described in louse fly (Craterina melbae),[2] in stinkbug (Cantao ocellatus) [3] in Louse (Columbicola columbae) [4] and in other ectoparasites of water mammals (like Proechinophthirus fluctus, Louse).[5]

Species Candidatus Sodalis melophagi was described in sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus).[6]

Another species Candidatus Sodalis pierantonius str. SOPE is known as endosymbiont of rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) and can supply rice weevil with essential vitamins like pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and biotin.[7]

A species of bacteria within this genera, Sodalis glossinidius, was found in the hemolymph of the tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans).[8] This bacteria has been used in paratransgenesis approaches to fight sleeping sickness.[9] Genome analysis shows that symbiosis between Sodalis glossinidius and tsetse fly is evolutionary young. Sodalis has large genome and pseudogenes which remain, however, active in cell-free culture.[10] Fly cleared from its native symbionts can be successfully repopulated by Sodalis from other fly species.[11] This might be used in potential biological control of tsetse fly.

The Sodalis bacterium has also been identified as free-living with no association to insects.

Sodalis praecaptivus, was isolated from a hand injured by a tree branch.[12]

Sodalis ligni was found to be widely associated with decomposing wood of various tree species.[13] S. ligni, unlike other Sodalis species, contains nitrogen fixation genes. Such ecological trait might be important for other saprotrophs living in deadwood as this habitat is nitrogen-limited.[14]

Compared to endosymbionts, free-living Sodalis species are characterized by larger genomes, longer genes, and fewer pseudogenes. These characteristics point to asymbiotic lifestyle of these species. Due to known free-living species and related endosymbionts with evolutionarily young link to insect, the whole genus is important for studies about development of the insect endosymbiosis.

• NCBI Taxonomy