Research
I am currently working with Drosophila melanogaster viruses in the Wayne Lab at the University of Florida.
Research Interests:
My master's thesis focuses on sperm competition and cryptic female mate choice under the influence of sigma virus (DMelSV) infection.
Research Interests:
- Behavioral Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Parasitology
My master's thesis focuses on sperm competition and cryptic female mate choice under the influence of sigma virus (DMelSV) infection.
The virus I am working with is called Drosophila sigma virus (DMelSV).
DMelSV is a vertically, biparentally transmitted virus that renders adult flies paralyzed or dead in the presence of carbon dioxide. Despite reproductive costs (low egg count, low hatching success, and long development times), DMelSV persists in wild fruit fly populations due to the biparental aspect of its transmission.
DMelSV is carried inside the Drosophila gametes. Female flies have a sperm storage organ (spermathecae) that can store the sperm of multiple males. Uninfected females are less likely to remate with infected than with uninfected males, and they preferentially use the sperm of uninfected males. However, studies to date have been carried out with uninfected females only. The effect of DMelSV infection in females on mate choice is unknown. This is what I will study for my masters thesis research.
DMelSV is a vertically, biparentally transmitted virus that renders adult flies paralyzed or dead in the presence of carbon dioxide. Despite reproductive costs (low egg count, low hatching success, and long development times), DMelSV persists in wild fruit fly populations due to the biparental aspect of its transmission.
DMelSV is carried inside the Drosophila gametes. Female flies have a sperm storage organ (spermathecae) that can store the sperm of multiple males. Uninfected females are less likely to remate with infected than with uninfected males, and they preferentially use the sperm of uninfected males. However, studies to date have been carried out with uninfected females only. The effect of DMelSV infection in females on mate choice is unknown. This is what I will study for my masters thesis research.
Professional Skills & Experience
- D. melanogaster viral injections (micro injector)
- PCR
- Gel Electrophoresis
- A. domesticus and D. melanogaster husbandry
- DNA and RNA extraction from blood and tissue
- D. melanogaster dissections (testes and lower female reproductive system)
Conferences & Presentations
Bentz, M. 2016. Lovesick Flies: Cryptic female mate choice as mediated by sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster. Population Biology class, University of Florida (Talk)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2016. Drosophila melanogaster sigma virus: Genetic trends in a model system. Emerging Pathogens Institute Research Day, University of Florida (Poster)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2015. Lovesick Flies: Cryptic female mate choice as mediated by sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics Research Symposium (Poster)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2015. Lovesick Flies: Cryptic female mate choice as mediated by sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster. Graduate Student Research Day, University of Florida (Poster)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2015. Cryptic female mate choice as mediated by sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster. Southeastern Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics Conference (Talk)
Bentz, M. 2015. Marine Parasites. Marine Biology Summer Semester, University of Florida (Talk)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2015. Lovesick Flies: Cryptic female mate choice as mediated by sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster. Emerging Pathogens Institute Research Day, University of Florida (Poster)
Bentz, M. 2015. Dealing with Problem students: Overeager, Silent, Disorderly, etc. Peer2Peer Discussion Panel, University of Florida (Talk)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2016. Drosophila melanogaster sigma virus: Genetic trends in a model system. Emerging Pathogens Institute Research Day, University of Florida (Poster)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2015. Lovesick Flies: Cryptic female mate choice as mediated by sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics Research Symposium (Poster)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2015. Lovesick Flies: Cryptic female mate choice as mediated by sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster. Graduate Student Research Day, University of Florida (Poster)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2015. Cryptic female mate choice as mediated by sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster. Southeastern Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics Conference (Talk)
Bentz, M. 2015. Marine Parasites. Marine Biology Summer Semester, University of Florida (Talk)
Bentz, M and Wayne, M. 2015. Lovesick Flies: Cryptic female mate choice as mediated by sigma virus in Drosophila melanogaster. Emerging Pathogens Institute Research Day, University of Florida (Poster)
Bentz, M. 2015. Dealing with Problem students: Overeager, Silent, Disorderly, etc. Peer2Peer Discussion Panel, University of Florida (Talk)
Awards & Honors
Brian Riewald Memorial Fund – University of Florida, Department of Biology (2016)
Invited to participate in the clinic on Dynamical Approaches to Infectious Disease Data (2015), Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida Sigma Xi, Student member University of Florida Department of Biology Travel Grant (2015) Funding granted for travel to Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Conference Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research (2015) Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society Golden Key National Honors Society The National Scholars Honors Society |