Localization of a selfish bacteria (Spiroplasma poulsonii) in Drosophila melanogaster

• Grant number: 14/05987-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2014
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Louis Bernard Klaczko
• Grantee: Thais da Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Selfish cytoplasmic elements, which are maternally inherited, are able to increase their own population frequency by manipulating their hosts reproduction, leading to the appearance of female-biased off spring. The study of the interaction between selfish organisms and their hosts has wide theoretical importance, especially in evolutionary biology, genetics and ecology, as well as a possible practical application in the control of agricultural pests and disease vectors. In Drosophila, it has been reported the infection by Wolbachia and Spiroplasma. Our group discovered and characterized the effect caused by the male-killer bacteria Spiroplasma poulsonii in Drosophila melanogaster, in which the sons of infected mothers dies during embryogenesis. There are also non-male-killing lineages infecting D. melanogaster populations. In this work, we aim to localize Spiroplasma in larvae and adults organs and embryos of D. melanogaster, using FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization). We pretend to compare the differences on Spiroplasma distribution between different treatments. (AU)