Sophie Brown
Evolution of host–microbe symbioses: linking horizontal gene transfer to ecological function
Email: s.a.brown@qmul.ac.uk
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Evolution of host–microbe symbioses: linking horizontal gene transfer to ecological function
Microbial symbiosis is a key adaptation in many animals to gain traits such as improved nutrition or defensive properties against natural enemies. However the ways in which these beneficial genes in bacteria evolve and spread in symbiont communities is unclear.
Using aphids and their defensive symbiont Hamiltonella defensa, I aim to investigate the relationships and mechanism behind the protection against parasitoid wasps conferred to the host insect. Through this study I hope to expand our understanding of how horizontal gene transfer impacts the ecological system it takes place in. This research will involve techniques in molecular biology/imaging, genome analysis, experimental manipulations, and quantitative evolutionary analysis.