Host – Symbiont Interactions, Symbiosis Research in Evolutionary Biology
Functional and evolutionary long- & short-term dynamics of mobile genetic elements and endosymbiotic bacteria such as Wolbachia in different eukaryotic host systems.
Symbiotic Systems
1. Classic cases for nuclear symbionts that have triggered evolutionary novelities
Innovation | Symbiont Type | Function | Theory |
Eukaryotic Telomeres | Reverse Transcriptase | Linear Chromosomes | Transposon Domestication |
Cell organelles | α-proteobacteria | Metabolism | Endosymbiotic Theory |
DNA-Methylation Histone-Code RNA-interference | Mobile DNAs | Epigenetics | Nuclear Defense |
VDJ-Joining | DNA Transposon | Immune System | Cellular Defense |
2. The impact of the endosymbiont Wolbachia on modulating insect host biology
Target | Effect | Theory |
Mating Incompatibilities | Spreading | Vertical Transmission |
Sex Ratio | Female-biased | Vertical Transmission |
Longevity | Life Shortening | Trade Off |
Immunity | Multi Resistance | Trade Off |
Assortative Mating | Prezygotic Isolation | Obligate Mutualism |
Host Speciation | Radiation | Symbiotic Speciation |