共生菌Wolbachia广泛分布在叶螨中，能够通过诱导宿主产生胞质不亲和（cytoplasmic incompatibility，CI）来调控宿主生殖，但其诱导CI的机制尚不明确。前期研究发现不同种群二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae的Wolbachia诱导宿主产生的CI强度有差异。在此基础上，本项目拟利用遗传学、生物学、共生菌基因组学、分子生物学基因功能分析等手段，测定叶螨Wolbachia的基因组，比较不同Wolbachia基因组的差异；鉴定Wolbachia调控宿主CI强度的关键因子，并验证CI因子的功能；通过体外蛋白互作试验寻找与CI因子相互作用的叶螨蛋白，明确CI因子对宿主的作用方式。研究结果将阐明共生菌Wolbachia诱导宿主CI的作用机理，揭示其调控叶螨生殖的机制，为将来开发叶螨防控新技术提供理论基础。

The symbiont Wolbachia, a symbiotic bacterium widely distributed in spider mites, can manipulate host reproduction by inducing cytoplasmic compatibility (CI). However, the key factors and mechanisms of the manipulation are yet poorly understood. Previous studies have found Wolbachia infecting different populations of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, induce different levels of CI in host mites. On the basis of that, in this proposal, using methods of genetics, biology, symbiont genomics and functional genomics in molecular biology, we will sequence and compare the genomes of different Wolbachia strains, identify candidate key CI factors that are associated with CI, and verify their functions. In addition, host proteins that may interact with CI factors will also be screened. Our objectives are to unravel the mechanism of Wolbachia-induced CI in hosts, deepen our understanding of reproductive regulation of spider mites, and provide the scientific basis for the development of novel technology for the management of mites.