**Group 3**
Microbial Matriarchy
Wiki site of the practical exercise of the [[http://www.ictp-saifr.org/ix-southern-summer-school-on-mathematical-biology/|IX Southern-Summer School on Mathematical Biology]].
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===== Introduction =====
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//Wolbachia// is a bacteria that infects a wide range of Arthropods. This particular bacterial infection is maternally inherited and often result in bacterial manipulation of host reproduction dynamics. One of the main host reproduction manipulations of //Wolbachia// is Male-killing (MK).
MK //Wolbachia// leads to the mortality of all female’s male offspring in the fruitfly //Drosophila// //innubila//, resulting in an all-female cohort (**Figure 1**). Due to a high frequency of this mechanism in nature it was investigated the possible advantages MK could provide to host. In an experimental study, Unckless & Jaenike (2011) found that surviving (and infected) daughters benefit from the death of their brothers through some form of fitness compensation (e.g. resource reallocation) and that //Wolbachia// infection could increase fecundity in nutrient-deprived flies. These mechanisms are beneficial to //Wolbachia// since it ensures the vertical spread of infection.
It is expected that the interplay between infected and healthy females and healthy males can lead to different scenarios. In one extreme, MK //Wolbachia// becomes its own executioner, leading to the collapse of the whole system; in the other, //Wolbachia// infected and uninfected hosts can coexist. Nevertheless, the conditions leading to either system extinction or population coexistence are poorly understood.
===== Assignment =====
Propose and analyze a mathematical model to elucidate this dynamics.
===== Suggested questions =====
* Investigate the system's response to varying degrees of maternal inheritance of MK //Wolbachia// infection. How can infected host population establish and dominate?
* It has been proposed that //Wolbachia// infections can lead to an increase in fecundity. According to your model, in which situations does infected and uninfected females coexist?
* Under which circumstances MK //Wolbachia// infection can lead to system collapse?
Further well-grounded questions from the group are welcome.
===== References =====
* Unckless, R. L., & Jaenike, J. (2011). Maintenance of a male-killing //Wolbachia// in //Drosophila innubila// by male-killing dependent and male-killing independent mechanisms. Evolution, 66(3), 678–689. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01485.x [[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01485.x]]
* Sullivan, J., & Jaenike, J. (2006). Male-killing Wolbachia and male mate choice: a test with Drosophila innubila. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 8(1), 91-102. [[http://www.evolutionary-ecology.com/abstracts/v08/1968.html]]