Faculty:
Galen Dively, Dan Gruner, Michael Raupp, Raymond St. Leger, Paula Shrewsbury
Description of Focus Area:
Insect pathogens are studied principally because 1) the complexity of their
interactions with insects parallels similar processes in mammalian hosts,
and thus they provide very useful model systems, and 2) pressure to minimize
chemical insecticides in insect control programs has led to increased interest
in the use of pathogens capable of limiting insect populations. The focus
of our pathology group is the interface between insects and their associated
pathogens, with particular emphasis placed on the basic biology, biochemistry,
and molecular biology of these intimate and intriguing relationships. Most
of our studies involve fungal pathogens as they are key regulatory factors
in insect pest populations. We are employing high throughput genomic
technologies
to provide exciting new insights into the evolution of fungal virulence,
host adaptation, and gene function. In terms of microbial control, which depends
on detailed knowledge of the properties of pathogens in their environments,
functional genomics is also generating valuable knowledge that we are using
for strain improvement. Some examples are to predict and improve responses
to various host-related stimuli, to develop novel insecticidal properties,
to direct metabolic engineering efforts, and to determine side effects of
genetic alterations on functionality in products. An enhanced insect pathogen
produced as a result of this program was recently field tested at a University
of Maryland research farm. Other projects include using genomic and proteomic
approaches
to monitor the biochemical, immunological, metabolic, and behavioral alterations
in insects infected with parasitoids and pathogens, and exploiting this
knowledge
in the manipulation of insect pests. We are also exploring the co-evolutionary
implications of symbiotic relationships between insect pathogens and plants.
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