Cloaks and Daggers: Fitness Effects of Ceratotoxin Antimicrobials In A Global Fruitfly Pest

Project Code: CHAPMAN_UEA_ARIES27

Cloaks and Daggers: Fitness Effects of Ceratotoxin Antimicrobials In A Global Fruitfly Pest

Project Code: CHAPMAN_UEA_ARIES27

Project Description

Supervisors

Professor Tracey Chapman, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia – contact me

Dr William Nash, UEA

Dr Phil Leftwich, UEA

Dr Emily Fowler, UEA

Dr Lucy Friend (RA), UEA

 

Scientific Background:

In all species that lay eggs externally – in nests, ponds, mudpiles, food or other substrates – eggs and young may face unpredictable exposure to harmful or beneficial microbes. Mothers may manipulate the immediate microbial environment by provisioning eggs with protective antimicrobial compounds. One enigmatic example – the focus here – occurs in a global agricultural pest, the medfly (Ceratitis capitata). Medfly mothers ‘cloak’ their eggs with potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides comprising four ‘Ceratotoxins’ encoded by 7 genes. These kill microbes by punching holes in them. Offspring from eggs lacking protective antimicrobials are slower to develop, giving the first insight into potential benefits and providing a springboard for you to use phenotype engineering, sequencing and gene-editing tools to determine:

(i)       Overall fitness benefits of Ceratotoxin egg cloaks under natural conditions

(ii)       Functional significance of Ceratotoxin redundancy

(iii)      Potential of Ceratotoxins for insect control

 

Research methodology:

(i)       Fitness benefits

Test major hypotheses for protective egg cloaks:

  • Protecting eggs and larvae from harmful microbes
  • Protecting the female reproductive tract from sexually transmitted infections
  • Creating a beneficial microbial community for larvae and eggs
  • Facilitating vertical transmission of beneficial microbes

Assays of key fitness measures (survival, fertility, semi-natural conditions) using phenotypic manipulations (egg cloak removal, microbial add-backs), sequencing (16S rDNA of microbial communities) and molecular genetics (CRISPR-Cas9 knock-outs of Ceratotoxin gene combinations).

(ii)       Functional redundancy

To determine if Ceratotoxin redundancy is adaptive: (i) test antimicrobial spectrum and potency of synthetic Ceratotoxin peptide mixtures, (ii) assay key fitness measures of gene-edited medflies lacking Ceratotoxins.

(iii)      Insect control

Depending upon interests, explore (via experimentation, modelling, or quantitative literature synthesis) different possibilities for Ceratotoxin use in control, including via female-specific lethality, fertility loss, X-chromosome shredding, probiotics.

 

Training:

High-in-demand technical (bioinformatics, molecular genetics, microbiology, phenotype engineering) and transferrable (critical thinking, ethics, Open Research) skills. Embedded in thriving, respectful and inclusive research environment.

Acceptable first degree subject(s): Biological Sciences, Genetics, Ecology.

References

  • Siddall, A., Harvey-Samuel, T., Chapman, T. and Leftwich, P.T., 2022. Manipulating insect sex determination pathways for genetic pest management: opportunities and challenges. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, p.867851.
  • Leftwich, P.T., Koukidou, M., Rempoulakis, P., Gong, H.F., Zacharopoulou, A., Fu, G., Chapman, T., Economopoulos, A., Vontas, J. and Alphey, L., 2014. Genetic elimination of field-cage populations of Mediterranean fruit flies. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281(1792), p.20141372.
  • Leftwich, P.T., Nash, W.J., Friend, L.A. and Chapman, T., 2017. Adaptation to divergent larval diets in the medfly, Ceratitis capitata. Evolution, 71(2), pp.289-303.
  • Mitchell, C., Leigh, S., Alphey, L., Haerty, W. and Chapman, T., 2022. Reproductive interference and Satyrisation: mechanisms, outcomes and potential use for insect control. Journal of Pest Science, 95(3), pp.1023-1036.
  • Rosetto, M., Marchini, D., De Filippis, T., Ciolfi, S., Frati, F., Quilici, S. and Dallai, R., 2003. The ceratotoxin gene family in the medfly Ceratitis capitata and the Natal fruit fly Ceratitis rosa (Diptera: Tephritidae). Heredity, 90(5), pp.382-389.

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2027. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 16 December 2026.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgraduate researchers (PGRs) benefit from bespoke training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or immigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns, please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship, follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential and will be stored on the UEA SharePoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be asked to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. Please see https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information.

Apply Now

Apply now via the University of East Anglia Application Portal