Innate immune evolution to parasites and pathogens
Noah Whiteman, Professor
Integrative Biology
Applications for Fall 2025 are closed for this project.
Drosophila has been an excellent model system to uncover basic principles underlying innate immune responses. In fact, much of what we know about antimicrobial immune responses in humans was first discovered in flies! This URAP project will dive into the evolution of innate immunity in flies against two different immune challenges: parasitoid wasps and pathogenic bacteria.
In the fall semester, the student will assist with experiments to characterize the receptor for a novel anti-parasitoid toxin encoded by a gene that flies acquired through horizontal gene transfer from ancient bacteriophages. Understanding how this toxin interacts with host and parasite receptors is key to our understanding of how flies deploy this toxin during their normal immune response to parasitoids without harming themselves (causing autoimmunity) in the process. During this phase of the project, the student will gain experience in Drosophila genetics and husbandry as part of a collaborative project.
In the spring semester, the student will transition more fully to a new project developing a fly model for Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and its toxins, which are used worldwide as pesticides and are the most economically important toxins on Earth. The student will build on their fly genetics skills they gained in the fall to understand how Bt bacteria, their toxins, and insects interact with each other and the contribution of toxins to the pathogenic lifestyle of Bt bacteria.
Role: This project will include:
1) Techniques in molecular genetics and microbiology (i.e. DNA extraction, PCR, electrophoresis, sequencing, bacterial cell culture)
2) Drosophila genetics and husbandry
3) Training in scientific methodologies, such as reading primary scientific literature and experimental design
Qualifications: I am looking for a student who is able to dedicate at least 8-10 hours/week to research.
No specific qualifications required, but an interest in genetics, host-pathogen interactions, and evolutionary biology are pluses!
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Rebecca Tarnopol, Post-Doc
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Related website: http://www.noahwhiteman.org
Biological & Health Sciences