Investigation into the molecular mechanisms of reproductive manipulation of host insect by endosymbiotic bacteria.

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This study has been conducted using the endosymbiotic system consists of host insects, Drosophila fruit flies, and symbiotic bacteria, Spiroplasma, which cause "male killing" on its hosts. From the three Spiroplasma strains, genome sequences of their phages were identified and characterized. It was shown that Spiroplasma infections neither induced nor suppressed the systemic immune response of the host. In addition, it was also determined that the male-killing Spiroplasma is capable of suppressing the constitutive immune response and is resistant to mounted immune attacks. Sixteen insertion lines, which showed extremely male-biased sex ratio, have been obtained and the possible causative genes have been identified.