Date of Award:

5-1-1988

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Joseph K. K. Li

Committee

Joseph K. K. Li

Committee

Ting H. Hsiao

Committee

Jon Y. Takemoto

Abstract

The rickettsia Wolbachia postica is the cause of hybrid incompatibility between males of the western alfalfa weevil and females of eastern or Egyptian weevils. Studies were carried out to obtain information about the biochemical and immunological characteristics of this microorganism. Because of the similarity between rickettsia and mycoplasma under the electron microscope, hybridization of DNA from this microorganism with a mycoplasma-specific gene probe confirmed a previous observation that this microorganism is a rickettsia. A rapid and accurate diagnostic assay for the infection of alfalfa weevils by wolbachia has been accomplished by the production of a polyclonal antibody against Wolbachia postica. The antiserum shows high sensitivity for detecting the microorganism in even one adult weevil and is specific for Wolbachia-infected weevils. In immunoblotting, a 135 KD protein was detected in weevils which possess wolbachiae which appeared to be a major band for detecting the presence of Wolbachia postica in alfalfa weevils. The immunoblotting method was shown to be 92.9% reliable and reproducible in known infected weevils. The immunoblotting method also demonstrated greater sensitivity than the Giemsa stain procedure. Male weevil infections could be more easily detected. No dissection was required for the analysis of the female weevils.

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