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    Molecular basis of photoperiodic diapause in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus

    Cover for Molecular basis of photoperiodic diapause in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus
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    View/Open: Huang_georgetown_0076D_13451.pdf (4.4MB) Bookview
    View/Open: Huang et al_TableS2.xlsx (4.5MB)
    View/Open: TableS4_GenesOnScaffold_DE.xlsx (67.kB)

    Creator
    Huang, Xin
    Advisor
    Armbruster, Peter A
    ORCID
    0000-0003-2466-4373
    Abstract
    My dissertation examines the molecular basis of photoperiodic diapause in the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, using high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies. Photoperiodic diapause is a developmental arrest in response to the seasonal change in photoperiod. Diapause enables the insects to synchronize growth and reproduction with favorable conditions, and developmental arrest with harsh conditions, such as winter in the temperate zone. Previous studies from our laboratory have established extensive global transcriptional profiles of diapause in Ae. albopictus at the diapause preparation and the actual developmental arrest stages. My dissertation research has elucidated global transcriptional dynamics during the diapause induction phase that initiates the diapause program. I discovered that essential components of the circadian clock governing daily rhythmic gene expression are implicated in photoperiodic time measurement. Also, energy metabolism and offspring provisioning were discovered to be crucial physiological processes during diapause induction.
     
    I also compared and evaluated four common approaches to transcriptome assembly, using the extensive transcriptomic resources for Ae. albopictus and its recently published genome assembly. I recommended general guidelines for transcriptome assembly, especially for non-model organisms. These guidelines will help to establish consistent methodological standards for the research community conducting high-throughput sequencing studies, a rapidly expanding field of research.
     
    In another study, I took advantage of a natural evolutionary experiment that has occurred between tropical and temperate populations of Ae. albopictus. Tropical populations do not undergo photoperiodic diapause whereas the temperate populations do. Therefore, crossing genetic backgrounds from distinct geographic regions of the same species allowed me to examine the genetic basis of photoperiodic diapause. I utilized a bulked segregant analysis coupled with RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify genomic regions associated with diapause. Using a novel approach to leverage the unique expression information provided by RNA-Seq, combined with traditional single nucleotide polymorphism discovery, I identified candidate genomic regions and candidate genes likely involved in regulating diapause. Overall, this research helps to fill in important gaps in our understanding of the molecular basis of diapause and provides candidate genes for further functional interrogations.
     
    Description
    Ph.D.
    Permanent Link
    http://hdl.handle.net/10822/1041813
    Date Published
    2016
    Subject
    Aedes albopictus; Diapause; Diapause induction; Genetic basis; RNA-Seq; Transcriptome assembly; Ecology; Bioinformatics; Genetics; Ecology; Bioinformatics; Genetics;
    Type
    thesis
    Publisher
    Georgetown University
    Extent
    191 leaves
    Collections
    • Graduate Theses and Dissertations - Biology
    Metadata
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    • Cover for Molecular Mechanisms and Rapid Adaptation of Photoperiodic Diapause in the Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus

      Molecular Mechanisms and Rapid Adaptation of Photoperiodic Diapause in the Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus 

      Batz, Zachary Aaron (Georgetown University, 2019)
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    Georgetown University Seal
    ©2009 - 2023 Georgetown University Library
    37th & O Streets NW
    Washington DC 20057-1174
    202.687.7385
    digitalscholarship@georgetown.edu
    Accessibility