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Research Area: Disease Ecology and Evolution

  1. Laura Harrington, Entomolgy

    Laura Harrington

    My research focuses on the biology, ecology and behavior of mosquitoes that transmit human diseases such as dengue fever, West Nile virus and malaria. I have developed methods for studying blood feeding patterns, survival and longevity, mating behavior and feeding behavior of mosquitoes in both[...]
  2. Megan Greischar

    Megan Greischar

    Parasite life history strategies within the host, especially the timing of replication and transmission, influence disease severity and spread. I study how subtle differences in ecology within and outside the host can generate dramatic differences in parasite strategies. My research program uses two major approaches:[...]
  3. Stephen Ellner, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

    Stephen Ellner

    I am a theoretical ecologist working on disease transmission in multi-species communities characterized by functional traits. Students and postdocs in my research group have worked on a variety of projects related to control of invasive species in heterogeneous landscapes.
  4. Tobias Dörr, Cell & Molecular Biology

    Tobias Dörr

    We study how bacteria respond to and survive stressful conditions, particularly damage to the cell envelope. Students in the Doerr lab learn techniques ranging from microscopy and image analysis to molecular biology. The lab is very active with undergraduate research and has extensive experience in[...]
  5. Clare Casteel, PPPMB

    Clare Casteel

    Numerous studies demonstrate that vector-borne pathogens influence host characteristics, resulting in altered host-vector interactions and enhanced transmission. We seek to determine the molecular mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon and use this knowledge to develop innovative control strategies using genetic and biochemical approaches. Current focuses are[...]
  6. Nicholas Buchon, Department of Entomology

    Nicolas Buchon

    The Buchon lab focuses on the impact of pathogens and the microbiota on body homeostasis. We use systemic infection as a model for septicemia, and the gut response to infection as a model for mucosal immunity. Genomic and genetic approaches allow us to characterize new[...]
  7. Ilana Brito

    I study how microbes in the human microbiome are transmitted among individuals, using a wide range of approached including shotgun metagenomics of microbiome communities, culture-based methods, and single-cell analyses. Another main focus is horizontal transmission of genes between members of the microbiome, specifically focusing on[...]
  8. Avery August

    The August lab is interested in infection-based and environment signals that trigger inflammation. We are particularly interested in signals regulated by the Tec family kinases, and how they regulate activation of cells such as mast cells and T cells to drive their differentiation and production[...]
  9. Esther Angert

    Our research explores the impact of host behavior and nutritional needs on the evolution of intestinal symbionts. Current projects include the study of signals that coordinate the physiology and development of intestinal bacteria with the feeding activity of their host. We are also interested in[...]
  10. Brian Lazzaro

    My lab group studies insect-pathogen interactions, using opportunistic bacterial infection in the model host Drosophila. For instance, students may measure pathogen proliferation when the host is provided with diets that vary in quality. Specific methods include microbiology and molecular biology, as well as genetic manipulations[...]