Differential Genomic Profiling of Solenopsis invicta Buren Subtypes via Gene Transcript Counter-regulations and Functional Annotation
- UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Marcus D. Sherman (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
- Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library
- Advisor
- Conner Sandefur
Abstract: Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant) poses a significant ecological threat to the southeastern United States by way of competing native species and disturbing native ecological communities. The two social forms of red imported fire ants, polygyne (multiple reproducing queens per colony) and monogyne (one reproductive queen per colony), have major morphological and behavioral differences. Polygene colonies tend to have populations with much greater density, whereas monogyne queens tend to be much larger than polygyne queens. It was hypothesized that a distinct genomic profile could be ascertained linking development with social form. Using publicly available microarray datasets, the data were interrogated using custom Python pipeline. The pipeline was developed to identify differentially expressed gene transcripts (p<0.001) across social forms and development stages and characterize the genetic profiles using Gene Ontology (GO). Differentially expressed gene transcripts were found across both social forms and for each age class (pupa, 1 day virgin, 11 day virgin, and fully reproductive). Coupling differentially expressed gene transcripts with GO annotation, relationships were identified to discern a link between social form and age class. Examples of these trends were an enrichment for signal transduction in 11 day virgin queens that was not present elsewhere, and polygene queens of both 11 day and reproductive age classes up-regulating gene transcripts associated with lipid metabolism and odorant binding while monogyne queens down-regulated these same transcripts. These data, while subject to lack of annotation due to the model organism, indicate relationships between development age class and social form.
Differential Genomic Profiling of Solenopsis invicta Buren Subtypes via Gene Transcript Counter-regulations and Functional Annotation
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Created on 4/30/2015
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Honors Project
- Language: English
- Date: 2015
- Keywords
- Solenopsis invicta, Red Imported Fire Ant, Polygyne Queens, Monogyne Queen, Ant Colonies, Social Forms, Age Class, Pupa, Reproductive,