Cytoplasmic incompatibility in Drosophila: Biochemical and cellular analysis of factors influencing its expression

Wolbachia, an endocellular bacterium closely associated with cytoplasmic incompatibility in insects (CI), was purified from infected eggs and microinjected into two strains of D. melanogaster, a highly inbred laboratory strain (Oregon R), and a recently caught wild-type strain from Arizona. Infection status of the progeny from the microinjections was monitored by the polymerase chain reaction and indirect immunofluorescence using a Wolbachia specific monoclonal antibody. One infected line was established from the Arizona stock. This transinfected line expressed CI at significant, but slightly lower levels seen in the original host strain, D. simulans. The level of infection of Wolbachia in the transinfected D. melanogaster strain was estimated from bacterial counts in eggs from infected mothers and shown to be similar to those in the parental D. simulans host strain. These results suggest that (1) highly purified Wolbachia remain viable and capable of infecting a new host and (2) host factors may play an important role in the establishment and maintenance of the infected state and in the expression of cytoplasmic incompatibility.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biochemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Chang, Wanlin

Contributors dc:contributor

• Hager, Lowell P.

• Biology, Cell
• Biology, Microbiology
• Health Sciences, Immunology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1995 Chang, Wanlin

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9543550
(UMI)AAI9543550

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/21121