Metagenomic survey of Solenopsis invicta Buren (red imported fire ant) colonies in the presence and absence of Solenopsis invicta virus (SINV)

Bacterial symbionts are contributors to many essential biological functions of insects and can also influence fecundity.  A major physiological contribution made by symbiants is aiding in immune response and xenobiotic detoxification. Both of these factors can directly impact biological and chemical control strategies. The Solenopsis invicta Virus (SINV; Dicistroviridae), a ssRNA, virus has been proposed as a potential biological control agent for the urban pest Solenopsis invicta Buren or Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA). SINV has been shown to be prevalent in RIFA populations of Texas.  In Drosophila melanogaster, presence of the Wolbachia pipientis has been shown to induce resistance against Drosophila C virus (DCV), another member of Dicistroviridae.  If this type of relationship is present in the RIFA-SINV system, it could affect the effectiveness of SINV as a biological control system.  To date, sequences from 30 species have been recovered from bacteria associated with RIFA; however, this limited amount of data is insufficient to draw conclusions.  The advantage of 454 pyro-sequencing is that it can classify unculturable bacteria species, allowing study of previously unavailable data.  This study will consist of a comparison of the metagenomic content of foragers, workers, and reproductive cast members from colonies with and without SINV infection. Exploiting the differences in the microbiome of the sample colonies, and the possible isolation of bacteria for characterization, may provide important data supporting new biological control agents and help refine current control strategies for this important urban pest.