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Extracting Venom from the Parasitoid Wasp Trichogramma dendrolimi Using an Artificial Host

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Host inbreeding increases susceptibility to ectoparasitism.

L T Luong¹, B D Heath, M Polak

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.

Journal of Evolutionary Biology

|January 11, 2007

Summary

Host inbreeding increases susceptibility to parasites by reducing physiological competence. This makes them unable to sustain defensive behaviors, highlighting the link between heterozygosity and resistance in fruit flies.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Ecology
Genetics

Background:

Inbreeding increases homozygosity, potentially compromising host resistance to parasites.
Parasitism is a significant selective pressure in natural populations.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of host inbreeding on susceptibility to ectoparasitism in Drosophila nigrospiracula.
To determine if host genetic background influences the effect of inbreeding on parasite resistance.
To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying inbreeding depression in host defense.

Main Methods:

Studied the association between the fruit fly Drosophila nigrospiracula and the mite Macrocheles subbadius.
Utilized reciprocal crosses between inbred lines to assess the role of heterozygosity.
Measured host susceptibility to mites and evaluated host energetic expenditure and physiological competence.

Main Results:

Host inbreeding significantly increased susceptibility to mite ectoparasitism.
The effect of inbreeding on susceptibility was dependent on the host's genetic background.
Reciprocal crosses between inbred lines restored resistance, confirming the link between heterozygosity and resistance.
Inbreeding reduced the host's ability to sustain energetically expensive behaviors, leading to exhaustion and increased susceptibility.

Conclusions:

Inbreeding depression for parasite resistance in fruit flies is linked to compromised physiological competence.
Inability to sustain defensive behaviors due to inbreeding contributes to increased susceptibility.
Heterozygosity plays a crucial role in maintaining host defense mechanisms against parasitism.