Wen-Jer Wu - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Wen-Jer Wu

ZooKeys, 2011

A new species of horsehair worm, Chordodes formosanus sp. n., is described and compared to a clos... more A new species of horsehair worm, Chordodes formosanus sp. n., is described and compared to a closely related species, C. japonensis. Although both species possess the same six cuticular structures of areoles on the surface, the significantly longer filaments on the female crowned areoles can be used as diagnostic characters for the new species. The different taxonomic status of these two species was also confirmed after analyzing the partial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequence, and the mantid hosts, which are respectively limited to the genus Tenodera for C. japonensis and Hierodula for C. formosanus sp. n. In addition, the immature stages of eggs and larvae of the new species are also described and discussed in detail.

A description of a new species of horsehair worm, Acutogordius taiwanensis sp. n., a redescriptio... more A description of a new species of horsehair worm, Acutogordius taiwanensis sp. n., a redescription of Chordodes formosanus, and novel host records for the latter are provided. Acutogordius taiwanensis sp. n. is morphologically similar to A. protectus with moderately flat areoles on its tail tips, but is distinguishable by small mid-body ornamentations. Despite the distinct differences in the post-cloacal crescents between 14 male samples, their conspecific status, along with that of nine female samples, was upheld by a phylogenetic comparison of partial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences. Chordodes formosanus is another common horsehair worm species in Taiwan, which was previously believed to specifically parasitize Hierodula mantids. However, in this study, five C. formosanus were observed emerging from an Acromantis mantid, and two long-horned grasshopper hosts (Leptoteratura sp. and Holochlora japonica). These five worms showed high degrees of similarity in COI sequences and morphology, but one of these individuals bore abnormal crowned areoles, which has never been observed in C. formosanus, and may be attributed to the incomplete development of this particular individual.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2011

Ants have evolved very complex societies and are key ecosystem members. Some ants, such as the fi... more Ants have evolved very complex societies and are key ecosystem members. Some ants, such as the fire ant Solenopsis invicta , are also major pests. Here, we present a draft genome of S. invicta , assembled from Roche 454 and Illumina sequencing reads obtained from a focal haploid male and his brothers. We used comparative genomic methods to obtain insight into the unique features of the S. invicta genome. For example, we found that this genome harbors four adjacent copies of vitellogenin. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that an ancestral vitellogenin gene first underwent a duplication that was followed by possibly independent duplications of each of the daughter vitellogenins. The vitellogenin genes have undergone subfunctionalization with queen- and worker-specific expression, possibly reflecting differential selection acting on the queen and worker castes. Additionally, we identified more than 400 putative olfactory receptors of which at least 297 are intact. This represents the l...

Parasitology, Jan 20, 2015

Parasitic castration is a strategy used by parasites to minimize damage to the host by consuming ... more Parasitic castration is a strategy used by parasites to minimize damage to the host by consuming its reproductive system, which results in the morphological alteration of the host. We determined that the forewing shape and density of the antennal sensilla of field-collected adult male mantids (Hierodula formosana), infected by horsehair worms (Chordodes formosanus) was partially feminized (intersexuality), and both male and female mantids infected by horsehair worms exhibited allometric changes in their wings and walking legs. In addition, the testes of most infected male adults disappeared or reduced in size, whereas the number of ovarioles in infected female adults was unaffected. The infection mainly influenced the structures related to host reproduction and locomotion, suggesting unbalanced energy exploitation and the reduction of parasitic virulence. In addition, the intersexuality of infected male adults indicated that sexual differentiation in insects, which researchers have ...

Applied Entomology and Zoology, 2010

ABSTRACT Since overwintering populations of brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) and white-back... more ABSTRACT Since overwintering populations of brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) and white-backed planthopper (Sogatella furcifera) in Taiwan are very low based on field observations, immigrant planthoppers have become the most important source of serious damage to rice crops (Oryza sativa). Backward trajectory analysis was conducted using trap catch data from 1990 to 2005 to estimate the source of immigrant planthoppers, taking into account the emigration periods and weather conditions, and showed that southern China, Vietnam and the Philippines (Luzon Island) were possible source areas. Southern China was found to be the most important source of emigration. Of all the immigration cases tested, the sources from southern China were estimated to be about 77% in the first rice crop and 65% in the second rice crop. Vietnam came second with about 37% and 56% in the first and second rice crops, respectively. Typhoons were the most important weather factor, inducing mass emigrations from China and Vietnam. Since the population properties are known to differ among the emigration regions and Taiwan, careful monitoring of these insects in the emigration sources and Taiwan is needed in order to establish better pest management practices.

Journal of Medical Entomology, 2005

The endosymbiont Wolbachia, extensively occurring in arthropods, usually causes reproductive dist... more The endosymbiont Wolbachia, extensively occurring in arthropods, usually causes reproductive distortions of the host, such as mosquitoes. In past years, detection of Wolbachia in host tissues has highly relied on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) that is tedious and usually unable to gain satisfactory results without experienced techniques and expensive instruments. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) recently has become popular in Wolbachia identification. However, necessity of DNA extraction from host individuals or dissected tissues has limited its application in extensiveness and versatility. At present, in situ hybridization has increased its role in examination of various microbes. This report provides a technique for rapid detection and localization of Wolbachia in tissues dissected from mosquitoes and possibly other infected organisms. To detect Wolbachia and to localize them in host tissues more precisely, in situ hybridization by using digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled probes was invented and applied to Wolbachia detection in this study. The results showed that Wolbachia preferentially aggregate in ovarioles, which is consistent with previous observations by TEM. The endobacteria also were detected in salivary glands, mostly in lateral lobes. Ultrastructurally, Wolbachia has been shown to occur in the cytoplasma of salivary gland cells.

Bioresource Technology, 2008

Eleven compounds from indigenous cinnamon (Cinnamomum osmophloeum) leaf essential oil were identi... more Eleven compounds from indigenous cinnamon (Cinnamomum osmophloeum) leaf essential oil were identified by GC-MS and the dominant constituent was trans-cinnamaldehyde (79.85%). The toxicity of leaf essential oil and trans-cinnamaldehyde were then determined to study their effectiveness in controlling the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. The results of the toxicity tests indicated that both the indigenous cinnamon leaf essential oil and trans-cinnamaldehyde had an excellent inhibitory effect in controlling the red imported fire ant. The LT 50 values for both 2% leaf essential oil and 2% trans-cinnamaldehyde after open exposure were 105.0 min and 32.2 min; after close exposure were 18.5 min and 21.2 min, respectively.

Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Rickettsia spp. are zoonotic pathogens and mainly transmitted by various arthropod vectors, such ... more Rickettsia spp. are zoonotic pathogens and mainly transmitted by various arthropod vectors, such as fleas, ticks, and lice. Previous epidemiological studies indicated that ectoparasites infested on dogs or cats may be infected by Rickettsia spp., and transmit them to human beings accidentally. In this study, the prevalence of Rickettsia infection was evaluated using fleas and ticks from stray dogs and cats in Taiwan. A total of 158 pools made by 451 cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) from 37 dogs and 4 cats were used for analysis. Besides, 386 Rhipicephalus ticks collected from the other 62 stray dogs were included in this study. Nymphal and adult ticks were individually analyzed but larvae were separated into 21 pools for molecular detection. Partial sequencing analysis of the gltA gene was applied for Rickettsia identification. The results showed that 44.3% (70/158) of the cat flea pools were harboring Rickettsia DNA. Although 6.9% (13/187) of adult ticks were infected with Rickettsia, neither larval pools nor nymphal ticks were found to contain Rickettsia DNA. According to the results of sequencing analyses, all Rickettsia PCR-positive cat flea pools were infected with R. felis, and all Rickettsia PCR-positive adult ticks were infected with R. rhipicephali. The results of this study demonstrated that C. felis but not Rhipicephlus sanguineus (the brown dog tick) and Rh. haemaphysaloides collected from stray animals in could be infected the zoonotic pathogen R. felis. Moreover, R. rhipicephali was only identified in adult stage of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Rh. haemaphysaloides. (C.-C. Chang). pathogens. Based on serological studies, Rickettsia spp. are divided into three groups: typhus group (TG), spotted fever group (SFG), and scrub typhus group (STG) [1]. The TG includes lice-transmitted R. prowazekii causing epidemic typhus [2], and flea-transmitted R. typhi causing endemic typhus [3]. The SFG contains R. rickettsii causing Rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) [4], and R. conorii subsp. conorii causing Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) [5]. The replication of Rickettsia spp. can only occur within the host cells [1]. Arthropod vectors (such as fleas, ticks, and 0147-9571/$ -see front matter

Journal of Medical Entomology, 2004

Journal of Medical Entomology, 2006

The endosymbiont Wolbachia usually causes cytoplasmic incompatibility in dipteran hosts, includin... more The endosymbiont Wolbachia usually causes cytoplasmic incompatibility in dipteran hosts, including mosquitoes. However, some important arbovirus-transmitting mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti (L.) are not heritably infected by Wolbachia. In Wolbachia-harboring mosquito Armigeres subalbatus Coquillett, colocalization of Wolbachia and inoculated Japanese encephalitis virus (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus, JEV) in salivary gland (SG) cells was shown by electron microscopy. The infection rate of JEV in SGs, detected with either immunoßuorescent antibody test or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, did not show signiÞcant differences between Wolbachia-infected and -free colonies. It is suggested that Wolbachia did not mediate resistance of SG cells to superinfection by JEV, although both microorgamisms coexist in the same niche, i.e., the same SG cell. Therefore, a SG escape barrier may not be elevated due to Wolbachia infection, which presumably has no deleterious effects on vector competence in Wolbachia-harboring mosquitoes.