Calling for Identified Insects for Wolbachia Screening

[wolb]

Colleagues,

Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria that are incredibly
widespread in insects. These bacteria cause reproductive
alterations in insects ranging from sperm-egg
incompatibility to parthenogenesis induction, feminization
to male-killing.  We are surveying insects for Wolbachia to
determine their patterns of movement within global insect
communities, and the biological diversity of these bacteria
in different host taxa.

If you work on a particular group of insects, and have a
series of excess identified specimens (or DNA extractions
that include the gonads), we would be very interested in
screening these for Wolbachia and also testing a subsample
using our set of Wolbachia primers for strain
identification.  We are looking for collections that include
different species from different geographic regions around
the world.

At a minimum, you would gain from this information on the
distribution and type of Wolbachia in your favorite taxa,
and an acknowledgement in the resulting larger survey.  In
cases where your sample of species is extensive, a separate
collaborative publication could result.

If you are interested in participating in this effort, could
you please reply to this message (wolb at mail.rochester.edu)
with the information below filled out.  We will then get
back in touch with you to discuss possible arrangements.

If you know others not on this list also collecting insects
into alcohol, please inform them as well.

Your Name:
Dept/Institution
Email:
Phone:
Taxa (Order/Family):
Approximate Number of Species:
Level of Identification (Genus, species or other):
Geographic Region (s):
Excess Insect Samples Preserved How?
a. ETOH %______ or Other _____________
b. Stored in refrigerator or freezer?______  or Other
____________
DNA extractions from what body parts:


Sincerely,


Robert Minckley
John (Jack) Werren
Univ. of Rochester, Rochester New York