| Grant number: | 21/10022-8 |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct) |
| Start date: | September 01, 2021 |
| End date: | August 31, 2026 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Genetics - Animal Genetics |
| Agreement: | NSF - Dimensions of Biodiversity and BIOTA |
| Principal Investigator: | Tatiana Teixeira Torres |
| Grantee: | Diniz Lima Ferreira |
| Host Institution: | Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil |
| Associated research grant: | 20/05636-4 - Dimensions US-BIOTA-São Paulo: more to the blow fly than meets the eye: understanding evolutionary and genetic origins of diverse trophic specializations, AP.BTA.TEM |
| Associated scholarship(s): | 24/08829-9 - Dynamics of Genetic Diversity Maintenance in Inbred Populations, BE.EP.DD |
Abstract Blowflies are members of the Calliphoridae family and are characterized by a wide range of feeding habits. Possible origins of the different habits in Calliphoridae are unknown, but it has been proposed that the extant feeding preferences reflect the progressive evolution of parasitism in Calliphoridae. The ability of some species to survive on different substrates is particularly interesting and allows us to analyze, on an intraspecific scale, the components potentially involved in the evolution of parasitism. Chrysomya albiceps is a facultative parasite, as it can colonize and develop on decomposing material as well as live tissues, inducing myiasis, mainly in sheep. One untested hypothesis is that the different preferences are influenced by polymorphisms segregating in natural populations. In this project, we will explore this hypothesis to identify genes underlying oviposition/feeding preference by selecting, in the lab, of populations on contrasting diets. Artificial selection followed by sequencing ("Evolve and Resequence" or E&R) will be used to investigate the facultative habit of C. albiceps. This strategy allows polymorphisms associated with the conditions tested to be identified. We will create strains of C. albiceps that will develop (and evolve), over several generations (20-30), in a decomposing or fresh substrate. The selected strains will be used to analyze patterns of gene expression and selection signals in the genome. We will also use the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system to insert/delete candidate sequences into C. albiceps. Up to five candidate genes will be selected for functional analysis. We will test the hypothesis that divergent genes or gene pathways underlie the trophic specializations in the family, and that species with similar lifestyles share genetic similarities in their genes or in their genetic pathways. (AU) | |
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