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Natural History Of A Beetle-Yeast Association, Tanya E. Berkers
Natural History Of A Beetle-Yeast Association, Tanya E. Berkers
Digitized Theses
This project explores the ecology of the yeast Metschnikowia borealis, its relationship to the nitidulid beetle Conotelus obscurus and to nematodes found in the beetle. It was hypothesized that the yeasts parasitize the nematodes, and are therefore beneficial to the beetles. Adult beetle survival in the presence or absence of nematodes and M. borealis was assessed, as was larval yeast tolerance. Although the nematodes did decrease female beetles’ longevity, adult beetles with yeast did not survive longer than those without. Larvae require yeast but not specifically M. borealis. The adaptive value of the yeasts’ barbed spores therefore remains unclear. Previous …
The Role Of Antimicrobial Peptides In A Yeast-Beetle Association, Lulu Wang
The Role Of Antimicrobial Peptides In A Yeast-Beetle Association, Lulu Wang
Digitized Theses
Each species of Nitidulid beetle in the genus Conotelus is associated with a specific yeast species in the genus Metschnikowia. However, the reason for this selectivity is still unknown. Insects produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that inhibit the growth of microorganisms. I hypothesized that Conotelus obscurus would produce specific AMPs that select in favor of its associated Metschnikowia species and that peptides produced by a particular Conotelus species can be induced by other yeast species. I investigated the antifungal activity of Conotelus obscurus larval extracts and compared their effect on three yeast species, Metschnikowia borealis, which is normally found in association …