bacteriome

{{Short description|Specialized insect organ that hosts endosymbiotic bacteria}}

{{Distinguish|microbiome}}

A bacteriome is a specialized organ, found mainly in some insects, that hosts endosymbiotic bacteria.

Bacteriomes contain specialized cells, called bacteriocytes, that provide nutrients and shelter to the bacteria while protecting the host animal.

In exchange, the bacteria provide essentials like vitamins and amino acids to the host insect. Bacteriomes also protect the bacteria from the host's immune system, with insects secreting antimicrobial peptides such as the coleoptericin secreted by weevils to keep bacteria within the bacteriome.{{cite journal |last1=Masson |first1=Florent |last2=Zaidman-Rémy |first2=Anna |last3=Heddi |first3=Abdelaziz |title=Antimicrobial peptides and cell processes tracking endosymbiont dynamics |journal=Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences |date=26 May 2016 |volume=371 |issue=1695 |pages=1–9 |doi=10.1098/rstb.2015.0298 |jstor=24768785 |pmid=27160600 |pmc=4874395 }}

Some insects, like the glassy-winged sharpshooter, host more than one species of bacteria.{{cite web |url=http://www.physorg.com/news69083472.html |title=Three-Way Symbiosis Supplies Insect Pest With Well-Rounded Diet |first=Mari N. |last=Jensen |date=9 June 2006 |publisher=Phys.org}} In armored scale insects, bacteriomes have unique genetic and sexual properties. For example, they have five copies of each chromosome—including two copies of the mother's complete genome.{{cite journal |pmc=368156 |title=The Strange Case of the Armored Scale Insect and Its Bacteriome |journal=PLOS Biology |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=e43 |doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0020043|pmid=15024412 |year=2004 |last1=Normark |first1=Benjamin B. |doi-access=free }}