Driven by Yuta Ohata, we published our first study of CI strength variation in leaf-mining Liriomyza flies - https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.242137.
We uncovered paternal transmission of Wolbachia genic elements (including Type I and Type V cif operons!) in Liriomyza sativae, collecting strong evidence of horizontal genome transfer. We further established a wLtri transinfection in L. sativae and observed suppression of CI. Our labs are currently testing the hypothesis that host suppression of CI might evolve through horizontal transfer of cif operons into the host nuclear genome.

Also, Felipe Kauai obtained a three-year postdoctoral FWO fellowship and will be joining the Wybouw lab in October!