Evolution of host-symbiont molecular interactions in reed beetles at Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology on FindAPhD.com

Evolution of host-symbiont molecular interactions in reed beetles

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Prof Martin Kaltenpoth, Dr Heiko Vogel No more applications being accepted Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Jena Germany Bacteriology Bioinformatics Entomology Evolution Genomics Microbiology Molecular Biology

About the Project

Background:

Many insects engage in specialized associations with microbial partners that provide nutrients, digestive or detoxifying enzymes, or protective metabolites to their host. In cases where the symbionts are strictly vertically transmitted, they commonly co-diversify with their host and experience rapid reductive genome evolution. However, the evolutionary dynamics of gene regulatory networks involved in mediating host-symbiont interactions on the molecular level remain poorly understood.

Project description:

Reed beetles (Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae) harbor symbiotic bacteria in modified Malpighian tubules and transmit them vertically to their offspring, resulting in co-diversification of hosts and symbionts. Based on genomic evidence, the symbionts are inferred to support the host’s larval development by provisioning essential amino acids, and they enhance the adult’s nutrition by producing pectinases that aid in digestion of their folivorous diet. In the proposed project, dual transcriptome sequencing of hosts and symbionts across 15-20 different reed beetle species is planned to assess co-adaptations of hosts and symbionts on the genetic and gene regulatory level, by characterizing changes in immune responses as well as differences in metabolism and transport coinciding with observed losses of amino acid biosynthetic pathways in the symbiont genomes. Candidate host genes of interest can be silenced by RNAi, and proteins can be localized by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, bioassays can be developed to assess host-symbiont specificity and symbiont functional importance.

Candidate profile:

An ideal candidate should bring:

A deep interest in the evolutionary ecology of insect-microbe interactions
A strong background in bioinformatics, insect or bacterial physiology, immunohistochemistry, and/or molecular biology
Critical scientific thinking skills
Curiosity, creativity, and ambition
Excellent time management and organizational skills
The ability and willingness to interact with other scientists in the group
Very good communication skills
Proficiency in written and spoken English

References

Reading:
Douglas AE (2016) How multi-partner endosymbioses function. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 14: 731-743.
Kölsch G, Matz-Grund C, Pedersen B (2009) Ultrastructural and molecular characterization of endosymbionts of the reed beetle genus Macroplea (Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae), and proposal of "Candidatus Macropleicola appendiculatae" and "Candidatus Macropleicola muticae". Can. J. Microbiol. 55: 1250-1260.
Kölsch G, Pedersen BV (2008) Molecular phylogeny of reed beetles (Col., Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae): The signature of ecological specialization and geographical isolation. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 48: 936-952.
Kölsch G, Pedersen BV (2010) Can the tight co-speciation between reed beetles (Col., Chrysomelidae, Donaciinae) and their bacterial endosymbionts, which provide cocoon material, clarify the deeper phylogeny of the hosts? Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 54: 810-821.
Reis F, Kirsch R, Pauchet Y, Bauer E, Bilz LC, Fukumori K, Fukatsu T, Kölsch G, Kaltenpoth M (2020) Bacterial symbionts support larval sap feeding and adult folivory in (semi-)aquatic reed beetles. Nat. Commun. 11: 2964.
Salem H, Bauer E, Kirsch R, Berasategui A, Cripps M, Weiss B, Koga R, Fukumori K, Vogel H, Fukatsu T, Kaltenpoth M (2017) Drastic genome reduction in an herbivore's pectinolytic symbiont. Cell 171: 1520-1531.