Wolbachia, 1st ed. 2024 Methods and Protocols Methods in Molecular Biology Series, Vol. 2739

This book provides insight into the biology of Wolbachia with a particular focus on methodology.  Chapters guide readers through reproductive phenotypes caused by Wolbachia, survival and replication of Wolbachia in insect cell lines, artificial introduction of Wolbachia into novel hosts, and analysis of Wolbachia gene functions. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

 1. Wolbachia:  Advancing into a second century

Ann M Fallon  

Part 1.  Wolbachia-Mediated Phenotypes

2. Investigation of cytoplasmic incompatibility patterns in Culex pipiens: from field samples to laboratory isofemale lines

3. Maintenance and Evaluation of Wolbachia Male-Killers of Dipterans

Margaret E. Schedl, Ngoc Huan Nguyen, Robert L. Unckless, and Jessamyn I. Perlmutter

4. Examining Wolbachia-Induced Parthenogenesis in Hymenoptera

5. Pillbug: a toolbox for feminisation

Joanne Bertaux, Maryline Raimond, and Pierre Grève

6. Detection, Quantification and Elimination of Wolbachia in Bed Bugs,

Madhavi L. Kakumanu, Mauri L. Hickin, and Coby Schal

7. Detection and analysis of Wolbachia in plant-parasitic nematodes and insights into Wolbachia evolution

Amandeep Kaur and Amanda M. V. Brown

Part 2.  Wolbachia in cell culture

8. Developing Wolbachia-infected cell lines from insects,

Mukund Madhav and Peter James

9. Use of antibiotics to eliminate Wolbachia from mosquitos and cell culture

Cameron Bishop and Sassan Asgari

10. Preparation of infectious Wolbachia from a mosquito cell line

Ann M Fallon

Part III:  Wolbachia for vector control

11. Wolbachia transinfection via embryonic microinjection

12. Measuring host fitness effects and transmission of Wolbachia strains in Aedesaegypti mosquitoes,

Perran A. Ross

13. Detection of natural Wolbachia strains in Anopheles mosquitoes

Thomas Walker

14. Procedures for detection of Wolbachia-conferred antiviral protection in Drosophila melanogaster

16. Validating a mitochondrial sweep accompanying the rapid spread of a maternally-inherited symbiont

Anne Duplouy

Part 4:  Investigating Wolbachia and its effects

16. Screening host genomic data for Wolbachia infections

Federica Valerio^, Victoria G. Twort, and Anne Duplouy

17.  A worked example of screening genomic material for the presence of Wolbachia infection

18. Use of Drosophila Transgenics to Identify Functions for Symbiont Effectors

19. Using Baker’s Yeast to Determine Functions of Novel Wolbachia (and other prokaryotic) Effectors  

Richard O. Murphy and John F. Beckmann

20. Isolation of Phage WO Particles from Wolbachia-infected Arthropods

Sarah R. Bordenstein

21. A light in the dark: Uncovering Wolbachia-host interactions using fluorescence imaging

Laura Renee Serbus

Includes cutting-edge methods and protocols

Provides step-by-step detail essential for reproducible results

Contains key notes and implementation advice from the experts