Research

Our research centers on questions relating to host-parasite interactions. The study of these interactions touches wide range of fields, from ecology to population biology, genetics, evolution, behaviour, to molecular biology and immunology. Using model systems of insect hosts and their parasites, we are especially interested in how host genetic diversity is affected and maintained by parasites and vice versa. Similarly, parasite virulence and host resistance are the major elements that determine the outcome of an interaction. Parasitism also affects the population and communities of hosts at a larger scale, for example, in terms of abundance and geographical distribution. Finally, the interactions are embedded in an ongoing process of host-parasite co-evolution that has left its traces in the respective populations and species.

Projects

• Parasites and genetic diversity
• Parasites and recombination
• Immune defense strategies
• Parasite virulence
• Genetics of trypanosomes
• Parasites and host ecology
• Host-parasite co-evolution
• Parasitism and social life
• Bumble bees
• Red Flour Beetle
• The parasites

Publications

• got to the Publication List