GotSym: Arthropod Symbioses Lab

Welcome to the home of the GotSym - Arthropod Symbioses Lab, our research is dedicated to unraveling the complex, hidden relationships between arthropod hosts—including ticks, spiders, biting midges, and parasitic wasps—and their diverse microbial symbionts. We study symbiont influence on host biology, from nutritional symbiosis to reproductive manipulatiors.

By combining genomics, proteomics, and molecular ecology, we aim to map these intricate intracellular networks and understand how they drive host evolution and fitness.In an era of rapid environmental change, we also focus heavily on how external stressors, such as rising ambient temperatures, disrupt these delicate symbiotic interactions and reshape microbial communities across host generations.

Our work extends directly into the realms of vector biology, epidemiology, and disease control, as well as to biocontrol agents. Ultimately, we seek to translate our fundamental discoveries into innovative, eco-friendly strategies for pest management and the prevention of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, contributing to the health of animals, humans, and ecosystems alike.