The incidence of sigma viruses in drosophilids collected in an Atlantic forest altitudinal gradient

• Grant number: 18/20088-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2018
• End date: August 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Rodrigo Cogni
• Grantee: Arthur Herminio Bressan Martins
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/25991-0 - Ecological genomics of insects: climate adaptations and evolution of ecological interactions, AP.JP

Abstract

This project main goal is to estimate the frequency of infection by sigma virus in communities of drosophilids collected along an Atlantic Forest altitudinal gradient. The student will work with the principal investigator in sorting and identifying the Drosophila species collected in the field. The student will determine the frequency of individuals infected with sigma viruses by testing sensibility to CO2, and confirmation by sequencing the infected individuals.