Wilfert lab
Molecular evolution
Our research
We study the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions. We currently focus on the epidemiology of multi-host pathogens, infectious diseases that can infect more than one host species and that can lead to emerging diseases. We use rapidly evolving viral pathogens as well as gut parasites of pollinators as our main model system in the field and the lab. Insect pollinators, from eusocial and partly domesticated species such as honeybees and bumblebees to solitary bees and many species of flies and lepidoptera are key to maintaining biodiversity and for our food security. Many of these species share RNA viruses, such as Deformed Wing Virus, which can be highly virulent in some species. We study how such pathogens interact with the pollinator community in the field and the lab, combining field work, phylogenetics and experimental approaches.
Andrena cineraria on Dandelion
News
10/2016 - Apply for a PhD position on multi-host pathogens in pollinators - linked to our agri-environment project
10/2016 - Apply for a 4 year PhD position investigating the effects of environmental antibiotic exposure on host-pathogen interactions in bees (competitive funding via BBSRC DTP)
7/2016 - Short blog on our BBSRC fieldwork live now
7/2016 - Another paper co-authored by Vincent coming out of Robert Paxton's lab - Elevated virulence of an emerging viral genotype as a driver of honeybee loss
6/2016 - Second bout of fieldwork under way for our Agri-environment disease transmission project! See our twitter for updates.
5/2016 - New paper co-authored by Vincent - The bee microbiome: impact on bee health and model for evolution and ecology of host-microbe interactions.
4/2016 - Good luck to Lewis Bartlett, who is starting fieldwork in Georgia, USA
2/2016 - Wide spread media coverage of recent paper out in Science by Lena Wilfert - Deformed wing virus is a recent global epidemic in honeybees driven by Varroa mites
Dom Cram 2015
Bombus terrestris colony - new workers emerge grey, gaining their distinctive yellow bands as they get older
Conferences 2017
Members of our group will be attending the following conferences:
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Lena Wilfert, 28th August - 1st September 2017. Ecological Immunology Workshop 2017, Blossin, Germany - "Insect Immunity: genomics, microbiome, applications"
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Lena Wilfert & Vincent Doublet , 30th October - 3rd November 2017. Jacques Monod Conference, Roscoff, France - "Open questions in disease ecology and evolution: from basic research to evolutionary medicine”