Meeting Abstract
As more studies regarding host-microbe interaction are being published the trend shows just how much of an impact microbes can have on a host. Whether a microbe acts commensally, mutualistically, or pathogenically the impact that they have on the host species can exhibit a variety of effects. Specifically, one way that microbes can affect a host is through altering their sex-determination mechanism. Among arthropods one of the most widespread bacterial infections is Wolbachia. Wolbachia is transmitted vertically, directly from mother to offspring through the eggs, and is known to cause four different types of reproductive changes to its host species: feminization, cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, and male-killing. In terrestrial isopods, feminization by Wolbachia is thought to skew sex ratios in favor females, but cytoplasmic incompatibility has also been observed. Both Porcellio laevis and Trachelipus rathkei follow the ZZ/ZW sex-chromosome determination system. Ultimately, feminization theoretically could lead to the loss of the W chromosome. To begin to understand the effects of Wolbachia infection in these two isopod species, we tested for the presence of Wolbachia using PCR. We are in the process of setting up crosses to further examine the effects of Wolbachia in these hosts.
