A5056426860- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Insect behavior and control techniques
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Agricultural pest management studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Malaria Research and Control
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Cassava research and cyanide
The University of Melbourne
2019-2025
Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness
2019-2025
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
2015-2025
CSIRO Health and Biosecurity
2014-2023
Australian e-Health Research Centre
2022-2023
Imperial College London
2014-2022
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
2022
University of Cambridge
2018
Natural History Museum
2014
University of California, Riverside
2014
Helicoverpa armigera and zea are major caterpillar pests of Old New World agriculture, respectively. Both, particularly H. armigera, extremely polyphagous, has developed resistance to many insecticides. Here we use comparative genomics, transcriptomics resequencing elucidate the genetic basis for their properties as pests.
Abstract Hybridization between invasive and native species has raised global concern, given the dramatic increase in range shifts pest outbreaks due to anthropogenic dispersal. Nevertheless, secondary contact sister lineages of local provides a natural laboratory understand factors that determine introgression maintenance or loss barriers. Here, we characterize early evolutionary outcomes following Helicoverpa armigera H. zea Brazil. We carried out whole-genome resequencing moths from Brazil...
Native to the Americas, invasive Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm; FAW) was reported in West Africa 2016, followed by its chronological detection across Old World and hypothesis of an eastward Asia expansion. We explored population genomic signatures American FAW identified 12 maternal mitochondrial DNA genome lineages range. 870 high-quality nuclear single nucleotide polymorphic markers five distinct New clusters, broadly reflecting native geographical ranges absence host-plant...
•Population genomics reveals global population connectivity in the cotton bollworm.•Adaptation highly connected populations of a major agricultural pest.•Genetic variation enables evolution cold tolerance bollworm.•Climate and human activity shape crop pest Helicoverpa armigera. The bollworm, armigera, is set to become most economically devastating world, threatening food security biosafety as its range expands across globe. Key understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics H. thus management, an...
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying self-spreading, virus-blocking Wolbachia bacteria are being deployed to suppress dengue transmission. However, there challenges in applying this technology extreme environments. We introduced two strains into Ae . from Saudi Arabia for a release program the hot coastal city of Jeddah. reduced infection and dissemination virus (DENV2) Arabian showed complete maternal transmission cytoplasmic incompatibility. egg hatch under range environmental conditions,...
Once considered a single species, the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, is complex of numerous morphologically indistinguishable species. Within last three decades, two its members (MED and MEAM1) have become some world's most damaging agricultural pests invading countries across Europe, Africa, Asia Americas affecting vast range agriculturally important food fiber crops through both feeding-related damage transmission plant viruses. For time now, researchers relied on mitochondrial gene and/or...
Museum specimens represent valuable genomic resources for understanding host-endosymbiont/parasitoid evolutionary relationships, resolving species complexes and nomenclatural problems. However, museum collections suffer DNA degradation, making them challenging molecular-based studies. Here, the mitogenomes of a single 1912 Sri Lankan Bemisia emiliae cotype puparium, 1942 Japanese puparium are characterised using Next-Generation Sequencing approach. Whiteflies small sap-sucking insects...
Molecular species identification using suboptimal PCR primers can over-estimate diversity due to coamplification of nuclear mitochondrial (NUMT) DNA/pseudogenes. For the agriculturally important whitefly Bemisia tabaci cryptic pest complex, depends primarily on characterization DNA cytochrome oxidase I (mtDNA COI) gene. The lack robust for mtDNA COI gene undermine correct which in turn compromises management strategies. This problem is identified B. Africa/Middle East/Asia Minor clade...
Abstract An investigation into proteins involved in chemosensory perception the melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae) is described here using a newly generated transcriptome dataset. The fly major agricultural pest, widely distributed Asia-Pacific region and some parts of Africa. For this study, dataset was RNA extracted from 4-day-old adult specimens fly. assembled annotated via Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. Based on similarity searches to data other species, number protein...
Abstract BACKGROUND The whitefly Bemisia tabaci complex harbours over 40 cryptic species that have been placed in 11 phylogenetically distinct clades based on the molecular characterization of partial mitochondrial DNA COI (mtCOI) gene region. Four are currently within invasive clade, i.e. MED, MEAM1, MEAM2 and IO. Correct identification these is a critical step towards implementing reliable measures for plant biosecurity border protection; however, no standardized B. ‐ specific primers...
The complete length of the Asia I member Bemisia tabaci species complex mitochondrial DNA genome (mitogenome) is 15,210 bp (GenBank accession no. KJ778614) with an A-T biased nucleotide composition (A: 32.7%; T: 42.4%; G: 14.0%; C: 10.8%). mitogenome consists 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNAs) and a 467 putative control region which also includes A+T rich repeat region. All PCGs have ATA (n = 8) or ATG 5) start codon. Gene synteny overall...
Abstract Native to the Americas, invasive Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm; FAW) was reported in West Africa 2016, followed by chronological order of detections across Old World and hypothesis an eastward Asia expansion. We explored population genomic signatures American FAW identified 12 maternal mitochondrial DNA genome lineages range, while from 870 high-quality nuclear single nucleotide polymorphic markers five distinct New clusters were identified, broadly reflected their native...
The Bemisia cassava whitefly complex includes species that cause severe crop damage through vectoring viruses in eastern Africa. Currently, this is divided into and subgroups (SG) based on very limited molecular markers do not allow clear definition of population structure. Based 14,358 genome-wide SNPs from 62 individuals belonging to sub-Saharan African (SSA1, SSA2 SSA4), using a well-curated mtCOI gene database, we show incongruities previous taxonomic approaches underpinned by effects...
Microbial identification methods have evolved rapidly over the last few decades. One such method is multilocus sequence typing (MLST). MLST a powerful tool for understanding evolutionary dynamics of pathogens and to gain insight into their genetic diversity. We illustrate importance accurate by reporting on three problems that arisen in study single bacterial species, plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa. Two these were particularly serious since they concerned contamination important research...
Microbial identification methods have evolved rapidly over the last few decades. One such method is multilocus sequence typing (MLST). MLST a powerful tool for understanding evolutionary dynamics of pathogens and to gain insight into their genetic diversity. We illustrate importance accurate by reporting on three problems that arisen in study single bacterial species, plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa. Two these were particularly serious since they concerned contamination important research...
Abstract Identification of Bemisia tabaci cryptic whitefly species complex currently relies on molecular characterisation the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) partial gene, however, nuclear sequences (NUMTs), PCR-derived pseudogenes and/or poor sequence editing have hindered this effort. To-date, ca. 5,175 (≥ 300bp) mtCOI for identification purposes been reported. We reviewed 10% representing standard B. dataset. found that 333 (64.9%) were NUMTs, affected by quality....
Abstract Invasive species are among the most important, growing threats to food security and agricultural systems. The Mediterranean medfly, Ceratitis capitata , is one of damaging representatives a group rapidly expanding in family Tephritidae, due their wide host range high invasiveness potential. Here, we used restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) investigate population genomic structure phylogeographical history medflies collected from six sampling sites, including Africa...
Wild Mediterranean fruit fly specimens collected from various regions worldwide were screened for the glycine to alanine (Gly->Ala) point mutation (G328A) in acetylcholinesterase enzyme, presumably causing resistance organophosphates. We found that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) responsible this amino acid change is located at beginning of exon 6 Ccace2 gene. The identification exact location SNP permitted PCR primer design around site and direct sequencing corresponding genomic...
AbstractThe movement of individuals through continuous space is typically constrained by dispersal ability and barriers. A range approaches have been developed to investigate these. Kindisperse a new approach that infers recent intergenerational (σ) from close kin dyads appears particularly useful for investigating taxa are difficult observe individually. This study, focusing on the mosquito Aedes aegypti, shows how same data can also be used barrier detection. We empirically demonstrate...
AbstractWe investigate the complete mitogenome of a pheromone-trapped morpho-species Chloridea subflexa from Brazil (initially identified by Sanger sequencing partial mtCOI gene) as 15 323 bp (KT598688) via next generation platform. The has an A/T rich base composition (A: 40.4%; T: 40.3%; C: 11.5%; G: 7.8%), and included 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs putative replication region (ca. bp). All PCGs start with methionine (M) amino acid except COI gene which...
Dengue suppression often relies on control of the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, through applications insecticides which pyrethroid group has played a dominant role. Insecticide resistance is prevalent in Ae. aegypti around world, and resulting reduction insecticide efficacy likely to exacerbate impact dengue. been public health problem Saudi Arabia, particularly Jeddah, since its discovery there 1990s, use for vector widespread throughout city. An alternative approach use, based blocking...
Abstract Background Domestication is a complex, multi-stage and species-specific process that results in organisms living close to humans. In the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti adaptation proximity with anthropogenic environments has been recognized as major evolutionary shift, separating generalist form, formosus (Aaf), from domestic form (Aaa), which tends deposit eggs artificial containers bite humans for blood meal. These behaviors enhance mosquito vectorial capacity. The extent...
Background Invasive species are a growing threat to food biosecurity and cause significant economic losses in agricultural systems. Despite their damaging effect, they attractive models for the study of evolution adaptation newly colonised environments. The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata , as member family Tephritidae, is one most studied invasive feeding on many crops tropics subtropics worldwide. This aims determine global macrogeographic population structure reconstruct its...