The Costs of Being a Vector: Effects of Serratia Marcescens Infection and Environment on Anasa Tristis Performance Open Access
Wynn, Cameron (Spring 2020)
Published
Abstract
A vector is an organism that carries pathogens from one host to another. Certain vectors may also experience a disease state, or otherwise detrimental effects caused by the pathogens that they carry. The extent of these possible negative effects may be influenced by the environment that the vector lives in. Factors such as different stressors and types of nutrients available may alter the vector's possible immune response to a vectored pathogen. This thesis investigates these ideas using the relationship between the Anasa tristis insect vector and the phytopathogenic strain of Serratia marcescens that it carries. We performed experiments to test whether the presence of S. marcescens and the environmental rearing conditions of A. tristis affects the survival, development, and size of the insects. Though Serratia infection does appear to have an effect on the rate of development of insects in poorer environmental conditions, by most metrics the S. marcescens was not significantly detrimental to the insects’ performance. This may show how pathogens must strike a balance so they can exploit the resources of the vector but not to such an extent that the vector is unable to spread the pathogen to other hosts.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
2. Methods ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
2.1 Squash Bug Rearing and Burkholderia Inoculation ----------------------------------------------------------- 6
2.2 Treatment Groups, Diet, and Serratia Inoculation------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Figure 2.1----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
2.3 Serratia Clearance Groups-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------9
2.4 Data Collection and Analysis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9
3. Results ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
Figure 3.1----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
Figure 3.2----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
Figure 3.3----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13
Figure 3.4----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------17
Figure 3.5----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21
Figure 3.6----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------23
Figure 3.7----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------25
4. Discussion --------------------------------------------------------------------------------25
5. References---------------------------------------------------------------------------------28
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