Transcriptomes of key Neotropical solitary wasps to unravel prey preference

• Grant number: 23/12873-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: February 03, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Santos do Nascimento
• Grantee: Fábio Santos do Nascimento
• Visiting researcher: Cintia Akemi Oi
• Visiting researcher institution: University College London (UCL), England
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

One of the least-studied groups are the solitary hunting wasps - which provide important ecosystem services as predators of other arthropods, and have evolved unprecedented sensory mechanisms to detect, catch and paralyse their prey. We have an ongoing Bilateral Nerc-Fapesp grant (2021/03040-0 Secrets to a Successful Hunt), in which we are assembling high-quality, chromosome-level genomes for 8 species of solitary wasps, following the regulations of ICMBIO (87012) e SISGEN. However, to maximise the utility of these high-quality genomes, we require species-specific information on transcription (how genes are expressed) across phenotypes (i.e. sexes, life stages); this information will facilitate a comprehensive and accurate annotation of the genes in the genomes. This aim of this project, therefore, is to generate the samples, RNA sequences (transcriptomes) and data for our target solitary wasps in Brazil. This is made possible through the collaboration with Prof. Fabio Nascimento, an expert on Brazilian wasps, who is able to facilitate locating samples and also provide the wet-lab facilities required for RNA work in the campus of Ribeirão Preto in the University of São Paulo. (AU)