Prisutnost bakterije Wolbachia sp. u mravima u Hrvatskoj

master's thesis

• Title (english): The presence of bacteria Wolbachia sp. in ants in Croatia
• Author: Sabina Ranogajec Blažeka
• Mentor: Dubravko Pavoković (mentor)
• Committee member: Dubravko Pavoković (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Petar Kružić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Duje Lisičić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Željka Vidaković-Cifrek (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-09-27, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Bakterija Wolbachia sp. je najrasprostranjenija endosimbiotska bakterija u životinjskome svijetu. Živi u velikom broju vrsta člankonožaca i oblića kao parazit ili mutualist. Glavni put prijenosa između jedinki domaćina je vertikalni prijenos s majke na potomke, a moguć je i horizontalni prijenos između jedinki. Ove bakterije imaju karakteristične fenotipske učinke na reprodukciju i plodnost domaćina kako bi povećale svoje širenje. U ovom radu istražena je prisutnost bakterije Wolbachia sp. u mravima (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) u Republici Hrvatskoj. Metodom lančane reakcije polimerazom (PCR) na prisutnost bakterije, preko gena wsp, testirana su 92 uzorka mrava s 20 lokaliteta u Hrvatskoj. Bakterija je detektirana u uzorcima mrava s područja Svete Nedelje, Osijeka, Korčule, Kleka, Gorskog kotara, Kalnika i Visa. Učestalost infekcije u ukupnom uzorku mrava iz cijele Hrvatske iznosila je 8 %. U mravima iz kontinentalne regije učestalost infekcije bila je 12 %, iz gorsko - kotlinske regije 20 %, a iz primorske regije 4 %. Sekvenciranjem po Sangeru i BLAST analizom PCR produkata dvaju uzoraka pozitivnih na bakteriju potvrđena je 100 % - tna sličnost sa sekvencom gena wsp vrste Wolbachia pipientis. Zaključeno je da mravi u Hrvatskoj imaju nisku razinu infekcije bakterijom Wolbachia sp. te da su mjesta zaraze rijetka i izolirana.

Abstract (english)

Wolbachia sp. is the most widespread endosymbiotic bacteria in the animal kingdom. It lives as a parasite or mutualist in a large number of arthropods and nematodes. Its main transmission route is vertical transmission from mother to offspring, but horizontal transmission is also possible. They have characteristic phenotypic effects on host reproduction and fertility to maximize their spread. In this study, the presence of Wolbachia sp. in ants in Croatia was investigated. A total of 92 ant samples from 20 different locations of Croatia were tested by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of the bacterial gene wsp. The bacterium was detected in 7 samples originating from Sveta Nedelja, Osijek, Korčula, Klek, Gorski kotar, Kalnik and Vis. The frequency of Wolbachia infection in the total sample of analyzed ants was 8%. In the ants from continental, mountainous and coastal region the frequency of infection was 12, 20 and 4 %, respectively. Sanger sequencing and BLAST analysis of PCR products from two samples confirmed the 100 % similarity with the wsp gene sequence of the species Wolbachia pipientis. It was concluded that the analyzed ants in Croatia have a low level of infection with Wolbachia sp. and that sites of infection are rare and isolated.

• Keywords: endosimbiont; reproduktivni parazit; PCR; wsp; učestalost infekcije; sekvencioniranje; BLAST
• Keywords (english): endosymbiont; reproductive parasite; PCR; wsp; infection frequency; sequencing; BLAST
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:839598
• Study programme: Title: Experimental Biology; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra eksperimentalne biologije (magistar/magistra eksperimentalne biologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-10-05 12:50:01