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How does Wolbachia kill male insects?

ReferenceS15317
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor Gregory Hurst
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Dr Henk Braig
Institution University College London
DepartmentGenetics Evolution and Environment
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 174,112
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 01/01/2002
End date 01/01/2005
Duration36 months

Abstract

Wolbachia is an intracellular bacterium found in over 20 percent of insect species. In many species, it shows sex specific virulence, killing male hosts only, death occurring during embryogenesis. This study will investigate how males are killed. We will examine the anatomy of male death in a natural host, Drosophila bifasciata, and assess the timing of and cellular pathology of death, and the role of bacterial proliferation. We will transfect D. melanogaster with the bacterium, and determine the cue used by the bacterium to detect host maleness by examining male-killing efficiency in hosts mutant for a variety of genes involved with sex determination.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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