多重共生菌协同调控截形叶螨生殖及适合度的分子机制研究

共生菌在节肢动物中普遍感染且能够引起宿主生殖及适合度的改变。多重感染，即多种共生菌感染同一宿主个体的现象普遍发生。多重共生菌对宿主生殖及适合度产生协同调控，然而其机制尚不清楚。项目组前期已获得同时感染Wolbachia、Cardinium和Spiroplasma3种共生菌的截形叶螨品系，并发现共生菌感染显著调控叶螨的生殖方式及适合度。本项目拟采用遗传学、生物学、高通量测序及基因功能分析等手段，调查多重共生菌感染对叶螨生殖及适合度指标的影响；研究共生菌在叶螨中的滴度及组织分布，明确共生菌间的协作或竞争关系；验证参与调控截形叶螨生物学相关基因；构建叶螨与共生菌蛋白相互作用网络。研究结果有助于揭示多重共生菌感染的稳定发生及对宿主生态及进化的影响机理，为了解该螨遗传和灾变机理奠定基础。

Symbiotic bacteria are widespread in arthropods and alter their hosts’ reproduction and fitness. Multiple infections, a variety of symbiotic bacteria infecting the same host individual, are common. These symbiotic bacteria will synergistically manipulate their hosts’ reproduction and fitness, while the underlying mechanism is unclear. Our laboratory has established the Tetranychus truncatus line that was infected with Wolbachia, Cardinium and Spiroplsma, and found that the hosts’ reproduction and fitness were significantly manipulated by symbiotic bacteria. By using the methods of genetics, biology, high-throughput sequencing and gene function analyses, the project will investigate the effects of symbiotic bacteria on spider mite’s reproduction and fitness, study the titers and tissue distribution of these bacteria to reveal cooperative or competitive relationship between them, verify the related genes regulating the biology of the spider mite and construct the mutual network of spider mite and symbionts proteins. The results will help to clarify the multiple symbiotic bacterial infection stability and their effect on host ecology and evolution and lay foundation of understanding the genetics and damage of the spider mite.