The graduate program of microbiology at the University of Connecticut, has four research teams working on beneficial symbioses involving plants and animals. The approaches range from molecular genetics to microscopy and of course genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. For more information visit the website from Drs. Benson, Gage, Graf and Nyholm.

 

Aeromonas - Medicinal leech symbiosis:

Graf lab at the University of Connectiuct: We are currently searching for two postdoctoral fellows (search # 2011343) and one technician (search # 2011357) . For more information visit the UConn jobs site or contact Joerg Graf. The main focus of my lab is the digestive-tract symbiosis of A. veronii and a Rikenella-like bacterium with Hirudo verbana. The unusual simplicity of this association allows us to discover how bacteria colonize the digestive tract and communicate with the host animal. Our current projects include monitoring the microbial physiology over time using a combination of metatransriptomics and physiological measurements. We also use molecular techniques to identify genes that are essential for the bacteria to colonize the medicinal leech. For more information contact: J. Graf.

Rio lab at West Virginia University. For more information contact R. Rio.

 

Buchnera - aphid symbiosis:

Baumann lab at the University of California at Davis. For more information contact P. Baumann.

Angela Douglas at Cornell University: Many animals require symbiotic micro-organisms. Our research concerns two complementary systems: bacterial symbioses in aphids, and algal symbioses in corals. We have shown that aphids derive essential amino acids from their symbiotic bacteria and we are currently exploring the molecular and physiological basis of amino acid provisioning and its effect on the plant range of aphids. Our research on algal-coral symbioses concerns the impact of algal genotype and environmental conditions on nutrient exchange in the symbiosis and susceptibility to bleaching. We apply molecular and biochemical techniques to resolve key ecological questions.
For more information, please see http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/cals/entomology/people/angela-douglas.cfm; or contact us at aes326@cornell.edu.

 

Moran lab: For more information contact N. Moran.

 

Vibrio - squid symbiosis:

McFall-Ngai lab: For more information contact M. McFall-Ngai.

Nishiguchi lab: For more information contact M. Nishiguchi.

Nyholm lab: For more information contact S. Nyholm.

Ruby lab: We wish to define the biochemical and molecular events that characterize the bacterial colonization of animal epithelial tissue, using as a model the Vibrio-squid association. The doctoral and postdoctoral students in our group are interested in applying molecular genetics to manipulate and assay the complex succession of signaling and responses through which the bacterium and host communicate. More information can be found at our website: http://www.medmicro.wisc.edu/department/faculty/ruby.html.

Stabb lab: My lab is broadly interested in the genetics, physiology, and signaling pathways of V. fischeri symbionts. In particularly, we are exploring the regulation of bioluminescence and addressing why bioluminescence enables V. fischeri symbionts to fully colonize the host light organ.For more information contact E. Stabb or visit his website http://www.uga.edu/mib/people/stabb.htm.

Visick lab: My lab investigates the genetic requirements for the bacterium Vibrio fischeri to colonize the squid Euprymna scolopes. We have recently identified a histidine sensor kinase that plays an essential role in this process and are currently further characterizing this regulatory gene. Please contact K. Visick K. Visick if you are interested in working in this area.

Whistler lab: For more information contact Cheryl Whistler.

 

The nematode symbioses: Xenorhabdus/Photorhabdus - Steinernema/Heterorhabditis symbiosis:

Ciche lab: For more information contact T. Ciche .

Goodrich-Blair lab: For more information contact H. Goodrich-Blair.

Forst lab: For more information contact S. Forst.

 

© 2010, J.Graf. Last updated December 2010 by Joerg.Graf@uconn.edu