Mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia endosymbionts are being released in many countries for arbovirus control. The wMel strain of blocks Aedes-borne virus transmission and can spread throughout mosquito populations by inducing cytoplasmic incompatibility. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were first into the field Cairns, Australia, over a decade ago, with wider releases have resulted near elimination local dengue transmission. long-term stability effects is critical ongoing disease suppression, requiring...

Wolbachia are maternally inherited bacterial endosymbionts that naturally infect a diverse array of arthropods. They primarily known for their manipulation host reproductive biology, and recently, infections with have been proposed as new strategy controlling insect vectors subsequent human-transmissible diseases. Yet, abundance has shown to vary greatly between individuals the magnitude effects infection on life-history traits protection against is correlated within-host abundance. It...

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling can provide accurate, cost-effective, landscape-level data on species distributions. Previous studies have compared the sensitivity of eDNA to traditional methods for single species, but similar comparative multispecies metabarcoding are rare. Using hierarchical site occupancy detection models, we examined whether key choices associated with (primer selection, low-abundance read filtering and number positive water samples used classify a as present at site)...

Abstract Immunity and nutrition are two essential modulators of individual fitness. However, while the implications immune function on an individual's lifespan reproduction well established, interplay between feeding behaviour, infection remains poorly understood. Asking how ecological physiological factors affect responses resistance to infections is a central theme eco‐immunology. In this study, we used fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster , investigate through septic injury modulates...

Summary Mosquito‐borne diseases remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Population replacement strategies involving the w Mel strain Wolbachia are being used widely to control mosquito‐borne diseases. However, these may be influenced by temperature because is vulnerable heat. infections in Drosophila melanogaster genetically diverse, but few transinfections variants have been generated Aedes aegypti . Here, we successfully transferred variant (termed MelM) originating from...

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, is globally distributed and an important pest of many economically valuable food crops, largely due to its ability transmit plant viruses. Almost all aphids, including M. carry the obligate symbiont Buchnera aphidicola, which provides essential amino acids that aphids cannot obtain from phloem plants themselves. Many also harbor facultative (secondary) endosymbionts, provide benefits under specific ecological conditions. In this study, we screened for...

Aedes mosquitoes harboring intracellular Wolbachia bacteria are being released in arbovirus and mosquito control programs. With releases taking place around the world, understanding contribution of host variation to phenotype is crucial. We generated a transinfection (wAlbBQ) aegypti performed backcrossing introduce infection into Australian or Malaysian nuclear backgrounds. Whole genome sequencing shows that wAlbBQ nearly identical reference wAlbB genome, suggesting few changes since was...

Abstract There is increasing interest in the use of endosymbionts pest control, which will benefit from identification potential donor species for transfer to species. Here, we screened 123 Australian aphid samples across 32 using 16S DNA metabarcoding. We then developed a qPCR method validate metabarcoding data set and monitor endosymbiont persistence cultures. Pea aphids ( Acyrthosiphon pisum ) were frequently coinfected with Rickettsiella Serratia , glasshouse potato Aulacorthum solani...

The importance of DNA methylation in mammalian and plant systems is well established. In recent years there has been renewed interest insects. Accumulating evidence, both from mammals insects, points towards an emerging role for the regulation phenotypic plasticity. migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) a model organism study Despite this, little information available about degree to which genome methylated this species genes encoding machinery have not previously identified. We therefore...

Abstract Despite the importance of locust density‐dependent polyphenism as a model system for understanding phenotypic plasticity, there is still much to be learnt about its underlying molecular control. Here we describe first investigation into expression genes encoding DNA methylation machinery in migratory ( Locusta migratoria ). We show that alternative solitarious and gregarious states induced by different rearing densities are associated with significant differences target...

The arbovirus vector Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) is common throughout the Indo-Pacific region, where most global dengue transmission occurs. We analysed population genomic data and tested for cryptic species in 160 Ae . sampled from 16 locations across this region. found no evidence of but multiple intraspecific COI haplotypes partitioned into groups representing three Asian lineages: East Asia, Southeast Asia Indonesia. Papua New Guinea (PNG), Vanuatu Christmas Island shared...

Varroa destructor is a major pest of European honey bees ( Apis mellifera ), causing significant economic and welfare impacts. Australia remained the last continent free from V. . In June 2022, detection was reported in sentinel colonies at Port Newcastle, Australia. Rapid accurate identification species critical for timely response management. this case study, two Nanopore DNA sequencing methods, PCR amplicon Cas9-targeted sequencing, were used to rapidly diagnose mitochondrial haplotype...

As a result of anthropogenic influences and global climate change, emerging infectious marine diseases are thought to be increasingly more common severe than in the past. The aim our investigation was confirm presence Labyrinthula, aetiological agent seagrass wasting disease, Southeastern Australia provide first isolation characterisation this protist, Australia. Colonies individual cells were positively identified as Labyrinthula using published descriptions, diagrams, photographs. Their...

Abstract Macroinvertebrates are commonly sampled for bioassessment of freshwater ecosystems. However, current protocols involve laborious sorting the animals from debris (sample matrix) and morphological identification, where species level identifications often difficult. DNA metabarcoding has potential to improve by reducing time taken process samples accuracy speed macroinvertebrate identification. In this study, we evaluated samples, which include macroinvertebrates collected in sample...

Context Acarina are commonly collected in macroinvertebrate surveys used to monitor freshwater ecosystems. However, they can be difficult identify morphologically requiring considerable taxonomic skill for identification finer levels. Therefore, biomonitoring identified subclass despite high species diversity and varied environmental responses. DNA barcoding individuals metabarcoding of bulk samples enables accurately routinely identified. poor barcode coverage Australian aquatic mites has...

Abstract Evolution of Buchnera –aphid host symbioses is often studied among species at macroevolutionary scales. Investigations within offer a different perspective about how eco‐evolutionary processes shape patterns genetic variation microevolutionary Our study leverages new and publicly available whole‐genome sequencing data to evolution in Myzus persicae , the peach potato aphid, globally invasive polyphagous pest. Across 43 asexual, clonally reproducing isofemale strains, we examined...

The staphylococcal TetA(K) tetracycline exporter is classified within the major facilitator superfamily of transport proteins and contains 14 alpha-helical transmembrane segments (TMS). Using cysteine-scanning mutagenesis, 27 amino acid residues across flanking putative TMS 10 transporter were individually replaced with cysteine. level solvent accessibility to each targeted positions was determined as a measure fluorescein maleimide reactivity demonstrated that has cytoplasmic boundary at...

Macroinvertebrate biodiversity is routinely used to assess the ecological condition of freshwater environments. Macroinvertebrates are traditionally identified morphologically mostly family level, but by using DNA metabarcoding, they can be rapidly and reliably species. Developing standardized, robust, cost-effective protocols would enable metabarcoding broadly for routine biological assessments leading both potential cost savings increased taxonomic resolution. To further reduce time it...

Summary Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika and chikungunya remain a major cause of morbidity mortality across tropical regions. Population replacement strategies involving the w Mel strain Wolbachia are being used widely to control mosquito-borne transmitted by Aedes aegypti . However, these may be influenced environmental temperature because is vulnerable heat stress. infections in their native host Drosophila melanogaster genetically diverse, but few transinfections variants have...

Because turtles have come under increasing pressures from habitat loss and over-exploitation as food sources traditional medicine, efforts focused on options for conservation, including head-starting programs. Success of programs depends establishing economical means rearing hatchlings over relatively short time frames to sizes resistant predation. We examined effects three different diets growth a clutch captive Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtles (Podocnemis unifilis) two-year period in...

ABSTRACT Evolution of Buchnera –aphid host symbioses is often studied among species at macroevolutionary scales. Investigations within offer a different perspective about how eco-evolutionary processes shape patterns genetic variation microevolutionary Our study leverages new and publicly available whole-genome sequencing data to evolution in Myzus persicae , the peach potato aphid, globally invasive polyphagous pest. Across 43 asexual, clonally reproducing isofemale strains, we examined...