ENDOSYMBIONT-HOST-PATHOGEN EVOLUTION: THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMUNITY GENES IN HOW INSECT HOSTS INTERACT WITH ENDOSYMBIONTS AND PATHOGENS

Animal and plant diversity is dramatically changing due to urbanisation and climate change. This causes diseases such as Dengue fever to rapidly spread into new areas. One way to combat Dengue is to infect mosquitoes with a bacterium, Wolbachia. Wolbachia has a range of effects on the insects it inhabits. This thesis examines the genetic basis of how Wolbachia interacts with new and old hosts, and identifies that there are similarities even between the most distant invertebrates. In addition, the impact of temperature on disease spread is also explored. This research will inform disease control as the natural environment changes.

Author requested conversion to open access 03 Mar 2023