Primary Areas of Interest
1. WOLBACHIA 感染昆蟲寄主之生態意義
WOLBACHIA ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF INFECTING INSECT HOSTS
Wolbachia 調控寄主繁殖模式特性，主要經由寄主母體繁殖傳播。從親緣關係中已證實其能夠藉由繁殖以外的水平轉移傳播。本實驗室利用卵寄生蜂釐清影響水平轉移發生的關鍵因素，有助於掌握 Wolbachia 於寄生蜂族群間水平轉移與應用於生物防治的策略。
Wolbachia 會因為果蠅寄主體內的甲基化降低感染。利用白線斑蚊為試驗材料，釐清白線斑蚊體內 Wolbachia 是否會受到甲基化影響而消長，並進一步探討 Wolbachia 與甲基化調控途徑，以利生物防治的應用。
1.Wolbachia regulates the characteristics of the host's reproduction mode, which is mainly transmitted through the reproduction of the host's mother. It has been confirmed that Wolbachia can spread by horizontal transfer as well. We adopted different hosts of Wolbachia to clarify the key factors that affect the occurrence of horizontal transfer, which is helpful to understand the strategies of Wolbachia's transfer process and to improve its application in biological control.
2.Wolbachia infection reduces due to methylation in the host body of the drosophila. Using Aedes albopictus, we clarified that the Wolbachia in the Aedes albopictus has ceased the methylation level of their hosts.