Drew, GC
(2019)
The interaction between Arsenophonus and its eusocial host.
PhD thesis, University of Liverpool.
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Abstract
Endosymbiotic bacteria of the genus Arsenophonus form associations with a diverse range of arthropod hosts. These symbiotic interactions are varied, ranging from reproductive parasites to coevolving obligate mutualists, and the predominant mode of symbiont transmission within the clade is vertical. Previous metagenomic studies indicate that Arsenophonus forms associations with the European honey bee, Apis mellifera. Despite the evolutionary and ecological significance of Apis mellifera, and the potentially important impacts of Arsenophonus on Apis biology, interactions between these players have remained uncharacterised. This thesis reports Arsenophonus is common within UK populations of A. mellifera and the genetic diversity of circulating strains appears to be low. Phylogenomic analysis confirms the position of the symbiont within the genus Arsenophonus, most closely related to the male-killer strain associated with the parasitoid wasp, Nasonia vitripennis. Epidemiological patterns are detected, with Arsenophonus occurrence varying over space and time. Spatial variation is evident at local scales but infection prevalence remains uniform with larger geography. Conserved seasonal dynamics, with prevalence ... (continues)
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Aug 2019 12:56 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jul 2025 15:53 |
| DOI: | 10.17638/03046590 |
| Supervisors: |
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| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3046590 |
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