Wolbachia-supplemented B-vitamins are essential for blood protein catabolism in the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

The common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is obligately hematophagous through all life stages. While blood is rich in protein, it is deficient in B-vitamins, which insects need to develop and reproduce. To mitigate the nutritional deficiency of blood, bed bugs rely on the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia to produce vitamins B2 (riboflavin) and B7 (biotin). Previous studies have revealed that riboflavin and biotin provisioned by Wolbachia are essential for bed bug development and reproduction. However, the precise mechanisms by which Wolbachia-supplemented vitamins influence bed bug fitness remain elusive. We have maintained an aposymbiotic, or Wolbachia-free, lineage of bed bugs in our laboratory for over three years, allowing us to study the effects of Wolbachia-elimination without interference of antibiotic treatment on physiological processes. Through our investigations with Wolbachia-free bed bugs, we have established a critical link between Wolbachia and blood protein digestion. Impaired protein digestion is likely a key factor in the fitness-associated deficits observed in the absence of Wolbachia. We aim to further investigate the role of Wolbachia-supplemented B-vitamins in blood meal processing through transcriptomics and enzyme activity assays. This study will further our understanding of bed bug biology, potentially aiding in the development of novel pest management strategies. We will also broaden our understanding of bed bug digestive physiology, which can inform future studies across blood feeding arthropods.