Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Drosophila melanogaster larval testes with and without the wMel strain of Wolbachia and found that 296 genes had at least a 1.5 fold change [q-value (%)<5%] in transcript levels, with 167 genes up-regulated and 129 genes down-regulated when comparing Wolbachia-infected flies to uninfected ones. Differential expression of genes related to metabolism, immunity, reproduction and other functions were observed.
Project description:Using microarray-based comparative genome hybridizations (mCGH), the genomic content of Wolbachia pipientis wMel from Drosophila melanogaster was compared to the Wolbachia from D. innubila (wInn), D. santomea (wSan), and three strains from D. simulans (wAu, wRi, wSim).
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Drosophila melanogaster larval testes with and without the wMel strain of Wolbachia and found that 296 genes had at least a 1.5 fold change [q-value (%)<5%] in transcript levels, with 167 genes up-regulated and 129 genes down-regulated when comparing Wolbachia-infected flies to uninfected ones. Differential expression of genes related to metabolism, immunity, reproduction and other functions were observed. Two-condition experiment, Wolbachia-infected vs. Wolbachia-uninfected testes. Biological replicates: 3 control, 3 infected, independently grown and dissected. One replicate per array.
Project description:Wolbachia pipientis is a ubiquitous intracellular bacterium that is known for its manipulation of reproduction in arthropod hosts. Wolbachia has also been shown to colonize virtually all somatic tissues, including the brain, but little is known about the interaction between host and bacterium in these locations. To this end, we studied the effects of Wolbachia infection on the brain of Drosophila melanogaster. Using comparative proteomics, we uncovered the post-translational modification of many proteins within the Drosophila head and body upon infection, with glutamic acid decarboxylase being modified within the head only. Given this enzyme’s role in neurotransmitter synthesis, we next tested how Wolbachia infection impacts various behaviors and GABA production within Drosophila. We discovered an improved response to yeast odors in Wolbachia-infected, mated females compared to their uninfected counterparts. Gross measurements of GABA in whole brains showed no detectable change in GABA abundance upon infection. Treatments with GABA agonist indicated that the behavioral change was not GABA-dependent, leaving the mechanism behind Wolbachia-mediated changes in behavior obscure. Given the multiple protein changes in the Drosophila head upon infection, we propose a model in which Wolbachia drives the modification of glutamic acid decarboxylase, and several metabolic proteins, to increase survival in the specialized niche of the brain. These results give rise to new questions about the Wolbachia-Drosophila relationship and future work will focus on the mechanism through which Wolbachia confers these protein changes.
Project description:Wolbachia pipientis is an intracellular symbiotic bacterium found in insects and arthropods. Wolbachia can decrease the vectorial capacity for various pathogens, such as the dengue virus, in Aedes aegypti. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Wolbachia (wMel strain) on the vectorial capacity of Ae. aegypti for Dirofilaria immitis. We analyzed gene expression patterns by RNA-seq in addition to the D. immitis infection phenotype in Ae. aegypti infected with and without wMel. Four Ae. aegypti strains, MGYP2.tet, MGYP2, Liverpol (LVP)-Obihiro (OB), and LVP-OB-wMel (OB-wMel) were analyzed for transcriptome comparison in Malpighian tubule at 2 days post infection. The correlation between Wolbachia infection, D. immitis infection phenotype and immune-related genes expression in Ae. aegypti was investigated.
Project description:Using microarray-based comparative genome hybridizations (mCGH), the genomic content of Wolbachia pipientis wMel from Drosophila melanogaster was compared to the Wolbachia from D. innubila (wInn), D. santomea (wSan), and three strains from D. simulans (wAu, wRi, wSim). Cy3- and Cy5-labeled probes were synthesized from a pool of three distinct GenomiPhi amplifications to reduce bias. One flip-dye experiment (two hybridizations) was performed with each of three independent pools, yielding a total of six hybridizations/strain. With 4-8 printed replicates per slide this yielded 24-48 replicated spots per gene to compare across the study. Ratios were normalized using iterative log mode centering. The geometric mean ratio was calculated for all good spots in each flip-dye experiment.