2022
Heme-induced genes facilitate endosymbiont (Sodalis glossinidius) colonization of the tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans) midgut
Runyen-Janecky L, Scheutzow J, Farsin R, Cabo L, Wall K, Kuhn K, Amador R, D’Souza S, Vigneron A, Weiss B. Heme-induced genes facilitate endosymbiont (Sodalis glossinidius) colonization of the tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans) midgut. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2022, 16: e0010833. PMID: 36441823, PMCID: PMC9731421, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010833.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTsetse midgutHeme environmentDNA-binding proteinsGene Ontology termsBlood mealTsetse fly midgutVertebrate bloodBacterial genesHost midgutOntology termsDisease-causing pathogensBiological functionsGene expressionMutant strainFucose transporterInsertion mutationsMetabolic processesHost competencyEnvironmental stressorsFly midgutMidgutGenesSodalisTsetse fliesHeme
2021
Infection with endosymbiotic Spiroplasma disrupts tsetse (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) metabolic and reproductive homeostasis
Son JH, Weiss BL, Schneider DI, Dera KM, Gstöttenmayer F, Opiro R, Echodu R, Saarman NP, Attardo GM, Onyango M, Abdalla A, Aksoy S. Infection with endosymbiotic Spiroplasma disrupts tsetse (Glossina fuscipes fuscipes) metabolic and reproductive homeostasis. PLOS Pathogens 2021, 17: e1009539. PMID: 34529715, PMCID: PMC8478229, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009539.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsReproductive fitnessSpiroplasma infectionSex-biased gene expressionHigh-throughput RNA sequencingReproductive physiologyIntrauterine larval developmentMale reproductive fitnessPathogenic African trypanosomesEndosymbiotic bacteriaFly resistanceTsetse fecundityFemale spermathecaFemale fecundityRNA sequencingLarval developmentSpiroplasmaGene expressionAfrican trypanosomesReproductive tissuesReproductive homeostasisTsetse hostHuman diseasesPopulation sizeProtective phenotypeLab lines