Maintenance and Evaluation of Wolbachia Male-Killers of Dipterans

Overview

Journal Methods Mol Biol

Specialty Molecular Biology

Date 2023 Nov 25

PMID 38006544

Authors

Margaret E Schedl

Ngoc Huan Nguyen

Robert L Unckless

Jessamyn I Perlmutter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

As research on Wolbachia male-killers of dipterans increases over time, several standard methods have emerged for the validation and characterization of these Wolbachia strains. Here, we describe typical steps for maintenance and evaluation of male-killers in the laboratory. Drosophila that host Wolbachia male-killers include both mushroom-feeders and flies reared on standard media, which require different maintenance protocols. In addition, male killing in flies typically occurs during embryonic development, and as such, many experiments require embryo tissue samples. We provide step-by-step instructions for standard methods of isolation, rearing, confirmation of Wolbachia male-killing as the basis of a sex ratio bias, and collection of embryos from these species. Thus, anyone intending to study a male-killer in the lab will have the complete set of protocols necessary to collect and rear them, validate them, and collect embryonic tissue for further study.

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