"Candidatus Midichloria" bacteria seem to consume the mitochondria they parasitize, possibly using them as a source of energy and/or molecules to multiply.
[1] In I. ricinus, between 10 and 20 bacteria are known to produce deleterious effects, leading to the conclusion that "Candidatus Midichloria" consume mitochondria.
[5] Some poorly studied candidate species belonging to this family may include Nicolleia massiliensis and the unclassified Montezuma strain.
Pelagibacter Subgroups Ib, II, IIIa, IIIb, IV and V Proto-mitochondria Neorickettsia Wolbachia Anaplasma Ehrlichia Midichloria Orientia Rickettsia The Rickettsiales are widely believed to be the closest relatives to mitochondria.
M. mitochondrii" allowed an improved reconstruction of the mitochondrion's hypothetical free-living ancestor: It was a motile bacterium able to survive in microaerophilic conditions.