Tag: endosymbionts
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Breaking Bad bugs: Testing potential biocontrol agents for pesticide tolerance
I have a passion for playing mad scientist with pesticides, all in the name of making agricultural pest control safer and more sustainable. If you’re fond of growing roses, you’re probably familiar with the frustrating critters that invade them in your garden. The critters, in this case aphids, are unfortunately fond of your roses, along […] -
Scientists and government agencies are targeting mosquitoes with bacteria
by Nancy Endersby-Harshman and Ary Hoffmann This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article Dengue fever is one of the most common tropical diseases in the world, affecting several million people every year. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, particularly a species known as Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito. Dengue is a […] -
The fly DNA fighting killer bacteria
Dr Perran Stott-Ross and Professor Ary Hoffmann Artwork by Tank Monsternova https://www.monsternova.art/ This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article. The more we learn about the biological world, the more complex it becomes. Nowhere is this more apparent than in recent discoveries about the ways in which microorganisms influence their hosts. The […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2023/03/29/the-fly-dna-fighting-killer-bacteria
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A self-spreading bacterial infection in an agricultural pest that stops the pest from spreading plant viruses
Words: Ary Hoffmann Banner image: Natasha Wright, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. In Asia, one of the most damaging pests of rise is the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. This pest damages plants directly but more importantly it acts as a vector for damaging plant viruses, including the “rice ragged stunt virus” (RRSV). This […] -
The resistance advantage – a field genetic background is important for survival of our Wolbachia mosquitoes in Malaysia and reduction of dengue
Banner image: Nancy with scientists from the Wolbachia dengue program at the Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Words and photos: Nancy M. Endersby-Harshman Our paper published two weeks ago in Insects is the result of a research collaboration between PEARG at the University of Melbourne, the Institute for Medical Research […] -
Targeting the bacteria inside insects for improved pest management
This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article Francesca Noakes and Professor Ary Hoffmann Any home gardener knows of the long-running battle against insect pests. The little critters that sneak into your garden beds and strip leaves are irritating among prized kale, but for farmers these tiny pests can have devastating economic […] -
Looking for a funded PhD or MPhil scholarship?
The Australian Grains Pest Innovation Program (AGPIP) is offering 4 fully funded scholarships at the University of Melbourne for potential PhD or MPhil students interested in cutting-edge science, environmental sustainability and agricultural innovation. AGPIP is a collaboration between the PEARG and cesar. The program is aimed at improving the sustainability of invertebrate pest management practices […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2020/04/06/looking-for-a-phd-or-mphil-scholarship
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Dengue-blocking bacteria endure the heat
“This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article.” Dr Perran Stott-Ross and Professor Ary Hoffmann Bushfires. Coral bleaching. Heatwaves. These disastrous events are a harsh reality in Australia. And they’re only going to become more frequent and severe with climate change. Last year, 2019, was Australia’s hottest year ever recorded, and records […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2020/01/24/dengue-blocking-bacteria-endure-the-heat
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Wolbachia infections in Aedes aegypti: The ‘Bigfoot’ of endosymbionts
Words: Perran Ross Wolbachia are endosymbiotic bacteria found within the cells of many insects, from butterflies and bees to cockroaches and dung beetles. Wolbachia are so common because they often provide their insect hosts with an advantage, aiding their spread through populations. Whether an insect carries Wolbachia is an important question, especially if they’re a […] -
Variability in mosquito host-seeking ability
Words and images: Meng-Jia Lau Behaviour is one of the most complex study areas in biology because it involves a combination of many factors that are often quite variable. In mosquitoes, host-seeking is the behaviour of females seeking a blood meal which provides the extra protein they need in order to lay eggs. The biting […]blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2019/11/28/variability-in-mosquito-host-seeking-ability
Number of posts found: 24