Research progress of aphid primary endosymbiont (Buchnera aphidicola)*
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Key Words：Endosymbiosis, Primary endosymbiont, Buchnera, Aphid, Genomics
Abstract：Endosymbiosis of animals with bacteria is always a hot topic in biology. Studies on endosymbiosis are important not only for understanding the growth and reproduction of animal hosts, but also for investigation of the origin and evolution of life. Aphids harbour obligatory endosymbiotic bacteria, Buchnera aphidicola, which are nutritional and developmental indispensable to aphids. Due to their obligate endosymbiotic relationship, aphids-Buchnera is a good model for investigation many significant theoretical issues in symbiosis. This paper reviews the research trends of the basic characteristic of Buchnera, evolutionary relationships between aphids and Buchnera, the roles of Buchnera in symbiotic association, as well as functional genomics of Buchnera. We then highlight some scientific questions worthy of concern in the future.