Investigating the effects of the two Wolbachia supergroups infecting Nasonia vitripennis

Abstract

The endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia is estimated to infect around 66% of insect species in existence. This widespread infection is a result of many effects the endosymbiont has on its host biology, especially reproductive biology. They are a class of maternally inherited endosymbionts and they try to increase the number of infected females in a population to ensure their spreading. This is carried out by phenotypic effects induced by Wolbachia like cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, feminization of genetic males, male-killing etc. (Werren et al. 2008). The parasitoid wasp genus Nasonia is infected by 11 different strains of Wolbachia. Nasonia vitripennis is a species which has two strains of Wolbachia infection. The haplodiploid sex determination of Nasonia vitripennis makes it a very good model system to study the genetics of Wolbachia effects on its host. The purpose of this study is to investigate the consequences of single and multiple Wolbachia infections in its host Nasonia vitripennis. Different assays like effect on progeny size, mating potential etc. are studied. The study also aims to understand the reasons behind these consequences that are observed