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Research

Molecular Mechanisms of Symbiosis Team is interested  in all interactions between organisms and their microbial partners, ranging from beneficial to harmful ones. Our main focus is on Wolbachia, an antiviral bacterium that has garnered significant attention for its ability to protect insects from viruses, including human pathogens: dengue and Zika viruses. We study molecular mechanisms of Wolbachia-conferred protection in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster and mosquito Aedes aegypti. We are also interested in factors affecting Wolbachia-insect relationship and antiviral protection, including temperature and host diet.

The study of microbial symbionts has revolutionized our understanding of the intimate relationship between hosts and microbes, and has shown the crucial role these microbes play in shaping the health and survival of both. Microbial symbionts are not only important for their direct benefits to the host, but also for the impact they have on the wider ecosystem, as well as for their potential applications in biotechnology and medicine.

For more information about our research please visit www.chrosteklab.com