<p>Schematic drawing of a <i>B. malayi</i> female focusing on the reproductive apparatus, showing levels of apoptosis before and after <i>Wolbachia</i> removal. Apoptosis remains a rare event during germline maturation, and is developmentally programmed during embryogenesis. After <i>Wolbachia</i> depletion, cumulative apoptosis is observed in germ cell, embryo and microfilaria. The absence of <i>Wolbachia</i> (from the hypodermal chords and from the few embryonic cells derived from the C blastomere) leads to a massive non cell-autonomous, “bystander” apoptosis, in embryonic cells normally devoid of <i>Wolbachia</i> (green nuclei).</p
