The research program explores the eco-evolutionary and developmental mechanisms that shape insect development and host-microbe interactions. Projects investigate how microbial symbionts are developmentally integrated into their hosts, examining the molecular signaling, gene regulatory networks, and comparative morphology that guide this process. By studying bacteriocytes—specialized cells that harbor intracellular bacteria—the research uncovers how novel cell types and tissue architectures evolve in response to ecological pressures, dietary adaptations, and evolutionary innovation.
Additional work focuses on the eco-evolutionary dynamics of host-associated microbiota and their impact on health, immunity, and adaptation. Studies include gut microbiota shifts following infection, as well as applied approaches such as paratransgenesis, where genetically engineered microbes are used to block pathogen transmission in insect vectors. By combining developmental biology, evolution, and ecology, the program highlights how gene regulatory networks, signaling pathways, and endosymbiont integration drive the origin of novelty and the evolution of complex biological systems.
Active Labs within Eco Evo Devo
Rafiqi lab
