Ukrainian Antarctic Journal

Vol 24 No 1(32) (2026): Ukrainian Antarctic Journal
Articles

Reproductive endosymbiotic bacteria of Antarctic springtails: on the verge of new discoveries?

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  • Oleksandra Protsenko,
  • Pavlo Kovalenko,
  • Yurii Protsenko,
  • Iryna Kozeretska
Oleksandra Protsenko
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine; State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine
Pavlo Kovalenko
State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine; Institute for Evolutionary Ecology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, 03143, Ukraine
Yurii Protsenko
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine; Pyriatyn National Nature Park, Pyriatyn, 37000, Ukraine
Iryna Kozeretska
State Institution National Antarctic Scientific Center, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33275/1727-7485.1.2026.760
Published July 2, 2026
Keywords
  • Arsenophonus,
  • Cardinium,
  • Collembola,
  • Rickettsia,
  • Spiroplasma,
  • Wolbachia
    • ...More
    Less
How to Cite
Protsenko, O., Kovalenko, P., Protsenko, Y., & Kozeretska, I. (2026). Reproductive endosymbiotic bacteria of Antarctic springtails: on the verge of new discoveries?. Ukrainian Antarctic Journal, 24(1(32), 87-99. https://doi.org/10.33275/1727-7485.1.2026.760

Copyright (c) 2026 Ukrainian Antarctic Journal

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Endosymbiotic bacteria infect a vast number of invertebrate representatives from diverse taxa. This study reviews the results of identifying endosymbiotic bacteria (specifically the genera Wolbachia, Cardinium, Rickettsia, Arsenophonus and Spiroplasma) that are capable of potentially influencing the reproductive strategies of the host organism in members of the Collembola fauna of the Antarctic region. Outside Antarctica, these bacteria have an important role in forming the adaptive mechanisms and population structures of arthropods in response to changing environmental conditions. This study analyses the species diversity of Antarctic Collembola and conducts a retrospective search for available data on the infection of species found in and beyond the Antarctic region by endosymbiotic bacteria. It was established that these bacteria infect springtail species, including those that may occur in Antarctica (Folsomia candida, Megalothorax minimus, Mesaphorura macrochaeta, and Parisotoma notabilis). The ecology and physiology of the region’s arthropods have already been extensively studied. However, there is currently no information available in the scientific literature indicating the presence of relevant endosymbiotic associations in Antarctic springtails. The identified lack of data may indicate either the potential isolation of local populations or the existence of environmental conditions in which infection of Antarctic springtails by bacteria of the genera Wolbachia, Cardinium, Rickettsia, Arsenophonus,
and Spiroplasma is not possible for various reasons. At the same time, more extensive molecular genetic screening using modern sequencing technologies is required to provide a definitive answer regarding the possible infection of Antarctic springtail species by endosymbiotic bacteria. The analysis of the published data highlights a promising direction for further studies of symbiotic microorganisms associated with Antarctic organisms, particularly springtails.

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