Project-, Bachelor-, or Master Thesis: Characterization of a mouthpart aphrodisiac in parasitic wasp

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Background:
The parasitoid jewel wasp species complex Nasonia is an excellent model system for studying sexual communication. Males of this genus mount the female wasps and perform a series of characteristic headnods for courtship, which usually triggers female receptivity and is followed by copulation. However, when the males have their mouthparts glued, female receptivity cannot be achieved. It has been hypothesized for decades that a volatile male aphrodisiac/pheromone is required to trigger female receptivity, though it has thus far eluded detection and chemical identification. With newly developed sensitive detection methods such as SPME on-fiver derivatization, we now have the unique opportunity to solve this almost 50 year old chemical conundrum and finally reveal this mysterious signaling molecule playing such a vital role in parasitoid reproduction.

Methodological approach:
SPME on-fiber derivatization to compare the headspace between control and male mouthpart sealed couples and detect minute differences in short highly volatile molecules, behavioral female receptivity assays with the identified candidate compounds.

Research question:
What pheromonal molecular structure triggers receptivity in female parasitoid wasps?

Time frame:
This project can be started year-round, start date flexible, project time can be adjusted according to the type of thesis, internship, “Forschungspraktikum” etc.

Requirements:
Self-sufficient, reliable and precise work ethic in the lab. Experience with handling insects and conducting behavioral experiments is desirable. Experience with analytical chemistry not required as this will be taught in the project, but some experience with data analysis through statistical programs such as R would be beneficial.

  • Fachbereiche

    Agrar-, Forst- & Lebensmittelwissenschaften, Lebens- und Gesundheitswissenschaften, Medizin, Naturwissenschaften & Mathematik

  • Kontakt

    Technical University of Munich
    Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2
    85354 Freising, Deutschland

    Jan Buellesbach
    08161714621
    jan.buellesbach@tum.de

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