Browsing by Subject "Wolbachia"
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Item Analysis of bacterial-host interactions in Wolbachia infection(2016-05) Li, YangWolbachia (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) is a genus of cytoplasmically inherited alpha-proteobacterium that infects arthropods (especially insects) and filarial nematodes. In arthropods, upon infection, Wolbachia alters the host reproduction in a variety of ways including cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, male-killing and feminization to enhance its own transmission. My doctoral research has been focusing on molecular and biochemical interactions between Wolbachia and its arthropod host. In chapter one, I made an introduction of Wolbachia including its biology, phylogeny and potential in disease control. I also reviewed the studies on Wolbachia-host interactions with an emphasis on Wolbachia Type IV Secretion System (T4SS). In chapter two, I presented the research I carried out in order to understand Wolbachia-mosquito interactions through T4SS. I molecular cloned the T4SS coupling protein VirD4 from wPip and analyzed the co-transcription between T4SS and Wolbachia surface protein in wStr. In chapter three, I amplified and sequenced five ribosomal protein (rp) genes of wFol from its host Folsomia candida, and phylogenetic analyzed 17 Wolbachia strains based on the available rp sequences. I also detected a DNase activity in isolated F. candida DNA. In chapter four, I further studied the DNase activity that co-purified with F. candida DNA, including characterizing the DNase active conditions and estimating the molecular weight of the DNase. In chapter five, I described an approach to estimate the biomass of F. candida with a protein stain, Ponceau S.Item Molecular Mechanism of Wolbachia Induced Cytoplasmic Incompatibility(2014-05) Beckmann, John FrederickWolbachia are obligate intracellular endosymbionts which live in the gonads of many arthropods of economic and medical importance. In insects, Wolbachia manipulate reproduction in a way that favors the spread of their infection. Cytoplasmic Incompatibility (CI), is a particular effect induced by Wolbachia infection in mosquitoes and other insects. CI causes conditional male sterility and produces a selective pressure in mixed populations of infected and uninfected mosquitoes giving Wolbachia-infected females a reproductive advantage. CI has been proposed as a gene drive tool which could be used to replace wild arthropod disease vectors with genetically modified ones less capable of transmitting diseases. CI has been demonstrated to be an effective agent at manipulating vector populations in the wild. When I began my research on Wolbachia in 2009, a central unresolved question, which has remained unanswered since the 1950's, concerned the molecular basis of CI; my doctoral research has wholly focused on answering this basic question, "What is the Wolbachia gene/protein that induces CI in mosquitoes?"