Publications by authors named "Mary Katherine Kelly"
Unlabelled: Insects frequently form heritable associations with beneficial bacteria that are vertically transmitted from parent to offspring. Long-term vertical transmission has repeatedly resulted in genome reduction and gene loss, rendering many such bacteria incapable of establishment in axenic culture. Among aphids, heritable endosymbionts often provide context-specific benefits to their hosts.
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- Insects often have beneficial bacteria that they pass on to their offspring, but these bacteria typically can't be cultured independently due to loss of essential genes over time.
- Researchers successfully cultured a specific strain of bacteria from the pea aphid, showing it can reinfect embryos and is passed down through generations.
- This breakthrough allows for more experimental study of symbiotic relationships and could help explore how these bacteria protect aphids against pathogens.