D. J. Obbard

A diverse gut virome from Drosophila melanogaster

The paper uses deep metagenomic sequencing to characterize the viral component of the Drosophila melanogaster gut microbiome, identifying novel bacteriophages and known pathogens.

Single-fly assemblies fill major phylogenomic gaps across the Drosophilidae Tree of Life

The paper presents 183 new genome assemblies for 179 drosophilid species using single-fly long-read sequencing, improving phylogenomic coverage and enabling a well-resolved multi-locus phylogeny.

Naturally occurring viruses of Drosophila reduce offspring number and lifespan

This study infects Drosophila melanogaster with 23 naturally occurring viruses and finds that five reduce lifespan and three reduce offspring number.

Experimental estimates of germline mutation rate in eukaryotes: a phylogenetic meta-analysis

This paper estimates germline mutation rates across eukaryotes using a phylogenetic meta-analysis of 140 studies, finding higher rates in mammals and plants compared to arthropods and unicellular eukaryotes.

Variation in mutation, recombination, and transposition rates in Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans

The paper estimates mutation, recombination, and transposition rates in Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans populations, finding variation between species, populations, and sexes.

Predictors of virus prevalence and diversity across a wild bumblebee community

This study identifies ecological predictors of virus prevalence and diversity in wild bumblebees, showing genetic diversity differences and coinfection effects among viruses.

The discovery, distribution and diversity of DNA viruses associated with Drosophila melanogaster in Europe

The paper identifies and characterizes DNA viruses in Drosophila melanogaster across Europe, revealing new viral lineages and prevalence patterns.

A new lineage of segmented RNA viruses infecting animals

The paper identifies a new lineage of segmented RNA viruses using small RNA data from Drosophila and meta-transcriptomic datasets, showing evidence of vertebrate infections.

Host evolutionary history predicts virus prevalence across bumblebee species

The paper investigates how the evolutionary history of bumblebee species influences the prevalence of associated viruses, finding that related species share similar viral assemblages and infection patterns.

Induction and suppression of NF-κB signalling by a DNA virus of Drosophila

This study investigates how a Drosophila DNA virus, Kallithea virus, interacts with the insect immune system, identifying gp83 as a Toll pathway inhibitor.

RNA interference pathways display high rates of adaptive protein evolution across multiple invertebrates

The paper examines adaptive protein evolution in RNAi pathway genes across eight invertebrates, finding higher rates of adaptive substitution in these genes compared to others.

Isolation of a natural DNA virus of Drosophila melanogaster, and characterisation of host resistance and immune responses

The paper isolates and characterizes Kallithea virus, a DNA virus of Drosophila melanogaster, and examines its impact on host survival, reproduction, and gene expression.

Metagenomic sequencing suggests a diversity of RNA interference-like responses to viruses across multicellular eukaryotes

The paper uses metagenomic sequencing to investigate virus-derived small RNAs across diverse multicellular eukaryotes, finding variability in antiviral RNAi responses and identifying novel small RNA types.

The virome of Drosophila suzukii, an invasive pest of soft fruit

The paper identifies 18 new RNA viruses and 18 previously described viruses in Drosophila suzukii across its native and invasive ranges using metatranscriptomic analysis.

Vertically transmitted rhabdoviruses are found across three insect families and have dynamic interactions with their hosts

The paper identifies vertically transmitted rhabdoviruses in three insect species and shows they spread rapidly through host populations with high maternal transmission rates.