What we do
We study the role of defensive microbes in host-parasite interactions
In multicellular organisms, the immune system is finely-tuned to identify and disable parasites and pathogens. These invaders are not inert targets, they bring their own arsenal of adaptations to evade and subvert host defenses. However, in recent years it has become increasingly clear that many animals drastically change the landscape of infection by partnering with defensive microbial symbionts. Our group is focused on understanding how defensive relationships evolve, what the effector and target genes are, and how they change the evolutionary dynamics in host-parasite interactions.
How we do it
In our lab, we use multidisciplinary research approaches to study parasite-host interactions. Our experiments use Drosophila, its symbiont Spiroplasma, and several of its natural parasites to understand fitness and survival outcomes of infection and protection, and the molecular biology going on behind the scenes. We regularly use quantitative PCR and sequencing to investigate host, symbiont, and parasite gene expression and genome evolution. We also use purified symbiont proteins in both in vitro and in vivo assays to better understand how protein evolution has influenced specificity of defensive phenotypes in this microbial symbiosis.
Research spotlight
Ribosome-inactivating proteins and parasite defense
Spiroplasma is a common bacterial symbiont of insects, and in species of Drosophila, it defends against parasitic nematodes and wasps. Defense is linked to the activity of Spiroplasma toxins called ribosome-inactivating proteins. We are using this system to study the evolution of specificity in defensive symbiosis.
Spiroplasma is a common bacterial symbiont of insects, and in species of Drosophila, it defends against parasitic nematodes and wasps. Defense is linked to the activity of Spiroplasma toxins called ribosome-inactivating proteins. We are using this system to study the evolution of specificity in defensive symbiosis.
Lab news
April 2023 Rebecca graduates with her Master's degree! Congrats!
April 2023 Logan's Spiroplasma toxins paper is accepted at Frontiers Microbial Symbiosis!
March 2023 The lab discovers an exciting new parasitoid wasp species!
Nov 2022 Logan presents his Spiroplasma RIP research at Entomology in Vancouver
Aug 2022 Liz joins the lab as a Master's student
Aug 2022 Caleb joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher
June 2022 Logan, Rebecca, and Tolu present their research at ASM Microbe in DC
May 2022 Tolu joins the lab as a PhD student
May 2022 Parth joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher
May 2022 Logan passes his comprehensive exams and is a PhD candidate! Congrats!
April 2022 Logan and Marie's paper on CI Spiroplasma is accepted at iScience!
March 2022 Lab paper on inherited insect viruses is accepted at Virus Evolution!
Dec 2021 Matt’s NSF CAREER proposal is recommended for funding!
April 2021 Rebecca successfully defends her Master’s research proposal
Dec 2020 Logan successfully defends his PhD research proposal
Aug 2020 Tolu joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher
Aug 2020 Rebecca joins the lab as an MSc student
Feb 2020 Matt visits the UGA Department of Entomology for a seminar
July 2019 Matt's phasmavirus paper with Derek is accepted at Virus Evolution!
June 2019 Matt presents a poster at the GRC Animal-Microbe Symbiosis meeting in VT
June 2019 Matt's COBRE pilot project proposal is funded!
Dec 2018 Matt's toxin evolution paper with Ryan and Steve is accepted at GBE!
Nov 2018 Matt presents a talk at the ASM Southeastern Branch meeting in MS
Oct 2018 Matt and Steve's review of defensive Spiroplasma is accepted!
Aug 2018 Logan is the lab's first grad student
Aug 2018 The lab is open at MSState!
April 2023 Logan's Spiroplasma toxins paper is accepted at Frontiers Microbial Symbiosis!
March 2023 The lab discovers an exciting new parasitoid wasp species!
Nov 2022 Logan presents his Spiroplasma RIP research at Entomology in Vancouver
Aug 2022 Liz joins the lab as a Master's student
Aug 2022 Caleb joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher
June 2022 Logan, Rebecca, and Tolu present their research at ASM Microbe in DC
May 2022 Tolu joins the lab as a PhD student
May 2022 Parth joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher
May 2022 Logan passes his comprehensive exams and is a PhD candidate! Congrats!
April 2022 Logan and Marie's paper on CI Spiroplasma is accepted at iScience!
March 2022 Lab paper on inherited insect viruses is accepted at Virus Evolution!
Dec 2021 Matt’s NSF CAREER proposal is recommended for funding!
April 2021 Rebecca successfully defends her Master’s research proposal
Dec 2020 Logan successfully defends his PhD research proposal
Aug 2020 Tolu joins the lab as an undergraduate researcher
Aug 2020 Rebecca joins the lab as an MSc student
Feb 2020 Matt visits the UGA Department of Entomology for a seminar
July 2019 Matt's phasmavirus paper with Derek is accepted at Virus Evolution!
June 2019 Matt presents a poster at the GRC Animal-Microbe Symbiosis meeting in VT
June 2019 Matt's COBRE pilot project proposal is funded!
Dec 2018 Matt's toxin evolution paper with Ryan and Steve is accepted at GBE!
Nov 2018 Matt presents a talk at the ASM Southeastern Branch meeting in MS
Oct 2018 Matt and Steve's review of defensive Spiroplasma is accepted!
Aug 2018 Logan is the lab's first grad student
Aug 2018 The lab is open at MSState!